Huw Griffiths is plotting away yet another upset in what has been a remarkable twelve months for Welsh football’s oldest club Cefn Druids.
Few expected Cefn Druids to avoid the Welsh Premier League’s relegation battle last season, and even fewer then expected them to go on and win the league’s Europa League Play-Off final.
Now, with their UEFA Europa League preliminary qualifying round tie finely poised at 1-1 from the first leg, Griffiths is hoping his side can once again thrive in their underdog status.
Cefn Druids are in Lithuania this week and their tie against FK Trakai (Thursday 5.30) is very much alive.
23-year-old striker James Davies, who has just completed his first season playing in the Welsh Premier, opened the scoring in last week’s first leg at Park Hall as Cefn Druids took a shock lead.
Sustained late pressure from the Lithuanians paid off as Trakai claimed a crucial away goal four minutes from time to deny Cefn Druids of memorable European win.
Griffiths told the WPL official site: “It is incredible, what we’ve achieved throughout the game to get a 1-1 draw. It is beyond anybody’s wildest dreams to be in this position, but we were a little bit disappointed to concede so late on, really.
“Don’t get me wrong, we’re facing a top side, and I think they dominated the last 20 minutes or so of the game, but up until then I thought we were more than in it and possibly deserved our lead. They had the better chances, but we knew they had quality, fitness, and a lot of options.
“I’m a hugely proud manager, without a doubt, but there is still a lot to play for and we’re looking forward to the second leg.”
Cefn Druids will no doubt be tested by a full-time professional Trakai side, who are still in the middle of their season, although Griffiths has every confidence in his own team’s ability.
“A lot of the boys were humbled very quickly because after securing such a fantastic result they were back in work on Friday morning. 15 out of the 20 in the squad had worked in the morning of the game, so it comes and go so quickly.
“We will put the same performance in on Thursday again, because this group of players won’t allow anything less. The opposition are going to have to be at their ultimate best to beat us – if they don’t do that, we’ll cause some problems, because I’ve got no qualms that my lads will perform on the day.
“I think Trakai put in a good performance in the first leg, but I don’t think they were expecting to come up against us putting in a performance like we did, so they’ll be prepared for the second leg.
“I’ve got no doubts at all about my players performing, I know they will reach the same level as they did last Thursday at the very least.
“They’ve performed against the odds week in, week out, for so long, and why can’t we upset the odds one last time in a one-off game away from home? Why can’t we dream?
“We’ll be giving our utmost to represent our great league to the very best of our ability.”
