Glentoran 1
(McDonagh 83)

The New Saints 1 
(Smith 13)

The tie remains in the balance - after the New Saints were forced to settle for a draw following a promising Europa Conference first leg encounter in Northern Ireland this evening.

After a spell of early pressure from the hosts, Leo Smith got TNS off to the perfect start with a wonder-strike after thirteen minutes.

Collecting the ball around 35 yards from goal, he ghosted in from the right, evading desperate challenges from four Glentoran defenders before sliding the ball past Coleing, low to the goalkeeper's right.

Sights at goal were few and far between in the first half for the Saints, although new signing Declan McManus tried his luck from distance on the half hour mark without ever looking likely to trouble the goalkeeper.

Right before the interval, Glentoran should have been level, Robbie McDaid missing a gilt-edged chance to equalise.

Glens defender Gael Bigirimana's speculative effort deflected into the path of Robbie McDaid, who was clear through on goal with only Harrison to beat, only to blaze wide with the crowd on their feet and the goal at his mercy.

But after an improved second half display, the hosts grabbed a deserved equaliser with ten minutes left on the clock.

Robbie McDaid won the ball wide on the right before playing in Jamie McDonagh, who skipped past the outstretched legs of Paul Harrison and slotted the ball into an empty net to equalise. 

The two teams will meet again in Oswestry next week on Thursday, July 15 for a place in the next round.

TNS: Harrison, Davies, Davies, Astles, Dayukin, Clarke, Routledge, Smith, McManus, Ebbe, Cieslewicz    
Subs: Roberts, Brobbel, J Williams, Robles, Canavan, T Williams, Rees, Cornish

Glentoran: Coleing, Kane, McLean, McCullough, Marron, Marshall, Bigirimana, Smith, McDaid, Donnelly, McMenamin
Subs: Glendinning, Morris, McDonagh, Mitchell, McCarthy, Cushnie, Wightman