Bala Town are flying out to Northern Ireland this morning confident that they can overturn a one-goal deficit to progress from the qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.

The Lakesiders were beaten 1-0 by Larne FC in the first leg held at The New Saints’ Park Hall ground last Thursday and manager Colin Caton is looking for an improved performance to give them a chance of progressing.

The visitors surged ahead after just two minutes at Park Hall, David McDaid put clear through on goal to lob the ball over keeper Alex Ramsay from the edge of the area.

And that goal proved decisive with both sides struggling to create clear-cut openings.

Caton said: “We didn’t really play as well as we could in the first leg, it was a tough game in the first half and then the second half was a stalemate up until the last 10 minutes when they made a few substitutions and caused us a few problems.

“But they didn’t have any shots on target, but nor did we.

“The game was a tight affair but horrendous defending by us let in a goal in the second minute.

“It gave them something to hold on to, especially in the first game.

“But we’ve got to defend better and show more quality in their half.”

He added: “The team that we played have unbelievable resources compared to us, they’re full time and they will be prepping every day whilst we’ve only trained once because of Covid testing and things.

“But we’ve got no excuses, we’ve got to go over there and compete with them and I’m sure we’ll give a good account of ourselves but we need to give a better account than we did at TNS.”

Antony Kay, one of Bala’s better players last season, missed the first leg with a calf strain.

Caton added: “Were hoping he’ll be available but we won’t risk him if he’s 50-50. We need him to be 100 per cent fit which I’m not sure he will be.”

This is Northern Irish outfit Larne FC’s first foray into European competition having being taken over by Purplebricks co-founder Kenny Bruce in October 2018, and backed to the hilt to the 2018–19 NIFL Championship title.