Ancients and Lakesiders discover their UEFA Europa League preliminary round opponents
Cefn Druids celebrate qualifying for the Europa League in the 2017/18 season.
Bala Town and Cefn Druids have been drawn to play S.P Tre Fiori and FK Trakai respectively in the preliminary round of the 2018/19 UEFA Europa League.
The draw took place this lunchtime at UEFA’s HQ in Nyon, Switzerland.
The Druids’ reward for winning the final qualification spot from the Welsh Premier League is a trip to Lithuania to face FK Trakai; who play in the country’s capital, Vilnius.
They last featured in the Europa League in the 2012/13 season, where they lost 0-5 on aggregate to Finnish side MYPA.
Trakai, who were founded in 2005, finished third in last season’s A Lyga, the top division of Lithuanian football.
Huw Griffiths’ men will be at home in the first leg, before travelling to the LFF Stadium for the away match.
Bala Town, who finished fourth in last season’s Welsh Premier League, will travel to Fiorentino, San Marino, to face S.P. Tre Flori.
The side, nicknamed ‘The Ultras’, finished third in Group B of last season’s Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio, qualifying for the championship play-offs where they were knocked out in the semi-finals by Folgore.
Colin Caton’s team will play away in the first leg, before returning to Wales, looking to reach the first qualifying round.
The Maes Tegid outfit will be looking to improve on last season’s performance; where they were defeated 1-5 on aggregate by Vaduz from Liechtenstein.
Connah’s Quay Nomads, who finished third in last season’s Welsh Premier League, advance through to the first qualifying round by virtue of winning the Welsh Cup.
Their (Nomads) place in the first round proper was confirmed when Atletico Madrid defeated Marseille to win last season’s UEFA Europa League.
The ties will take place on Thursday, June 28 and a week later on July 5.
(Featured image: Jordan Jones)
