Nev urges Bangor Heroics against Honka
UEFA Europa Cup, Second Qualifying Round, Second Leg
Racecourse Ground, Wrexham. Thursday, 22, July. Kick-off: 19:30
Bangor City Manager Neville Powell hailed his team's 1-1 Europa Cup draw in Finland to FC Honka as one the Principality Welsh Premier's finest hours in Europe since its formation in 1992.
Now the Bangor boss has urged his men to set up a third-round showdown with Ireland's Sporting Fingal or Maderia's Portugal League club Maritimo. Bangor welcome Finnish full-timers Honka to Wrexham's Racecourse Ground on Thursday with Powell hoping for glory.
"I did it as a Bangor player in 1985 when we beat Fredrikstad," said Powell.
"We were massive underdogs, but the boys have done Wales and the league proud and it is probably one of the best results the league has had.
"We wanted to keep the tie alive to bring Honka back to Wales and we have done that with the bonus of an away goal - it is fairytale stuff."
Bangor have enjoyed big European nights against Atletico Madrid, the Spanish giants, and famous Italian side Napoli.
But Friday's draw gave them the prospect of facing the League of Ireland Premier Division club or the Madeira-based Portuguese League side.
Debutant Chris Jones was Bangor's goal hero in Honka on Thursday to set-up a now hugely-anticipated second qualifying round second-leg return at Wrexham next week. Having lost strikers Jamie Reed and Ashley Stott, Powell signed the ex-Leeds youngster who was at Porthmadog last season and it has already proved a shrewd signing for the Citizens in his partnership with Bangor legend Les Davies.
Jones equalised Demba Savage's opener after City 'keeper Paul Smith had saved a Markus Paatelainen penalty. An the Citizens 'keeper knows tha a clean sheet this evening will see his side progress to unchartered territory for the thrice consecutive Welsh Cup Champions.
Their 1-1 draw in Honka is Bangor's first away positive result in Europe since their Welsh Premier entry in 1992 and is just the ninth time in 75 European trips that a Welsh Premier side has not been beaten.
Llanelli beat Scottish Premier side Motherwell at Fir Park last year before losing the tie on aggregate after a 3-0 defeat in Llanelli.
Llanelli, Rhyl and Carmarthen Town have all won Europa Cup ties and progressed to the second qualifying round - while Barry Town progressed to the Champions League second round in 2001. And Bangor will be hoping to keep the momentum going after TNS's outstanding midweek triumph.
But Powell has challenged his Bangor boys to become the first Welsh Premier team to progress to the third qualifying round of the Europa League, formerly the UEFA Cup.
"The boys have kept the tie open against a top professional side who are in the middle of their campaign while this was our first competitive game this season," said Powell.
"A lot of teams could have come here and be turned over five or six nil but we stuck to our game-plan, were professional and Honka were rightly disappointed after the game.
"It sets it up for the return leg in Wrexham fantastically. They are still hot favourites to go through but what a night it promises to be," he told the BBC.
"Our result is fantastic for Welsh football and it is about time the league got a team through to the third round in Europe.
"We must start trying to compete with these teams despite the massive disadvantage that they are in the middle of their season.
"We are slowly getting there. Now we have a fighting chance. We have nothing to lose, the pressure is not on us."
But after allowing his players to celebrate in Finland, Powell warned; "The odds are still stacked against us because we are playing a top Finnish side.
"However, if we play like we can, we can cause an upset. What a night it will be at the Racecourse.
"We had 100 fans over here in Finland and hopefully there will be a large turnout next week, the fans should come out as we have a chance of getting into the third round."
