Penybont’s European adventure may have come to an end with a 4-1 aggregate loss to Kauno Žalgiris of Lithuania, but manager Rhys Griffiths was full of pride in his players after they pushed their opponents to the limit in Cardiff.
Despite heading into the second leg of their UEFA Conference League first qualifying round tie trailing 3-0, Griffiths' side produced a spirited display at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium.
Even though they had a mountain to climb, the Bridgend-based club showed the kind of fight and resilience that left their manager in genuine admiration.
"I've learned some stuff. I think I made a mistake in the first game being a bit too aggressive probably," said Griffiths, reflecting honestly on the two-legged tie.
"Not to make excuses, we're playing against a team with an €11m budget a year, that's probably six, seven times what TNS's is.
“So it was always going to be a tall order, but I'm really proud of the way we competed with them."
That pride was well-earned. Penybont fell behind early when Aldayr Hernandez powered home a header from a corner after just 13 minutes, but the Cymru Premier side responded immediately.
Nathan Wood, once of Newport County, calmly slotted into the bottom corner to give the home crowd something to cheer and reduce the deficit on the night.
Griffiths’ side didn’t let up, even after substitute Owain Warlow was shown a red card for violent conduct before he could even enter the pitch.
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Penybont had appeals for a penalty waved away and saw Chris Venables go close, while goalkeeper Adam Armstrong made an outstanding double save to keep the tie alive.
Although the odds were stacked against them from the outset, Griffiths’ side showed heart, organisation, and a willingness to battle a team with far greater resources — qualities their manager was keen to highlight.
READ MORE: Bont battle to a 1-1 draw as we exit the UEFA Conference League.
The result, coupled with Haverfordwest’s defeat to Floriana of Malta, means The New Saints are now the sole Welsh club remaining in European competition, where they will take on Luxembourg’s Differdange.
But for Griffiths, the outcome was about more than just the scoreline — it was about the effort and identity of a Cymru Premier club that continues to progress.
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