Soccer

Michael Duffy’s goal helps Dundalk complete the double over Newtown

Vinny Perth’s side enjoy their biggest aggregate victory in Europe

Dundalk’s Michael Duffy scores their goal during the Uefa Europa Conference League first qualifying round, second leg match against Newtown at Park Hall Stadium in Oswestry, Shropshire. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

Tue Jul 13 2021 - 20:12

Newtown 0 Dundalk 1 (Dundalk win 5-0 on agg)

Dundalk became the first side to advance to the second qualifying round of the new Uefa Europa Conference League with victory over Newtown at Park Hall on Tuesday evening.

Already 4-0 up from Thursday's first leg at Oriel Park, the Co Louth men made sure of their advancement with a 52nd-minute strike from Michael Duffy ensuring the club's biggest aggregate victory in Europe.

Vinny Perth’s side never really had to get out of second gear against the Welsh outfit and can now look forward to a meeting against either Levadia Tallinn of Estonia or St Joseph’s of Gibraltar in the next round.

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The game itself was a poor affair with Chris Hughes’ men starting well without ever really threatening to cut the deficit. Perhaps their best chance came inside four minutes when a loose pass from Patrick McEleney inside his own penalty area was intercepted by James Davies who was unable to punish the mistake before Andy Boyle cut the chance out.

In a half of few chances, Dundalk’s best would fall to Daniel Kelly on 40 minutes when Duffy’s pull back fell to him but he could only blaze over.

McEleney then almost broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion four minutes after the restart when a quick free-kick from about 45 yards out caught out Dave Jones only for the goalkeeper’s blushes to be spared by the upright.

The breakthrough did arrive on 52 minutes when Dundalk broke at pace following a Newtown free kick with Duffy racing from halfway on to Kelly’s pass before slotting under Jones.

Alessio Abibi was forced to make a few good saves after that to ensure the clean sheet – tipping over a Nick Rushton shot late on before saving at point-blank range from Jamie Breese from the resultant corner.

NEWTOWN AFC: Jones; C Williams, Mills-Evans, Roberts, Arsan; Fletcher, Rowland (Rushton, 61 mins), Hughes (McAllister, 87 mins); Davies, A Williams, Mwandwe (Breese, 73 mins).

DUNDALK: Abibi; Jurkovskis, Boyle, Nattestad, Leahy (Adedokun, 57 mins); Stanton, McEleney (Han, 77 mins); Kelly (O'Kane, 69 mins), Patching, Duffy (Zahibo, 57 mins); McMillan (Midtskogen, 69 mins).

Referee: Andrei Chivulete (Romania).

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