Cefn Druids are ‘Rock-ing All Over Europe’.
Wrexham-based Druids qualified to play in Europe thanks to a 1-0 win against Cardiff Met at Cefn’s Rock Stadium home.
Man of the match Neil Ashton described it as ‘the proudest moment of my football career’ and the Scouser, 33, said: “I’ve been playing a long time and probably have only a few years left.
“This win tops the lot, the proudest moment of my career.”
Cefn Druids are into Europe beating Cardiff 1:0.
Go on you druids…@CefnDruids @wrexham pic.twitter.com/kz6UvCFFN1— Paul Turnbull (@pt4496) May 20, 2018
Former Tranmere, Wrexham, Shrewsbury and Chester player Ashton and Druids manager Huw Griffiths were among those soaked by champagne after the final whistle at their Rock stadium home.
“People thought we would be relegated when we started the season and here we are qualifying for Europe,” said Ashton. “I could not be prouder.
“Met dominated the first few minutes, but we got into the game and scored a good goal. We had chances to have killed the final off, but Met hit back and we were fighting to keep a clean sheet in the second half.
“Maybe we were a little lucky to win, but earned the prize.”
EGWYL | HALF-TIME@CefnDruids 1-0 @CardiffMetFC
James Davies yn rhwydo unig gôl yr hanner cyntaf. | James Davies with the only goal of the first half. pic.twitter.com/G8fgLS5CnT— Sgorio ⚽️ (@sgorio) May 20, 2018
Druids player Matty Owen said: “We knew it was our day at our stadium in front of our fans. To do it with these lads is fantastic.”
Manager Griffiths says: “We were favourites to go down with the bookies and yet again this group has defied the odds and produced a fantastic season.
“This is my greatest achievement and the club’s greatest achievement.”
Druids have played in Europe once before, when they represented Wales in the Europa League having lost 2-0 to the Welsh Premier Champions The New Saints in the 2012 Welsh Cup final.
That was during Griffiths’ first spell in charge of the club, the Ancients drew 0-0 against MyPa of Finland in the first leg at Wrexham’s Racecourse and lost 5-0 in the return.
North Wales clubs are dominating European football in Wales for 2018-19.
Cefn Druids left South Wales teams out in the cold when they defeated Cardiff Met 1-0 in the JD Welsh Premier League play-off final at the Rock.
Druids’ victory means they qualify to play in Europe, having finished in an all-time club high sixth in WPL, and left Met in despair.
The students lost in this play-off final against Bangor City a year ago and suffered again.
Met went into the game full of confidence following a 4-1 semi-final success against Barry Town United to set up the winner-takes-all clash with Druids, who had home advantage at their Rock stadium.
Four Welsh teams will compete in Europe during 2018-19 with Druids joining Welsh Cup winners Connah’s Quay and Bala Town in the Europa League.
WPL champions The New Saints complete the quartet Uefa Champions League football.
Druids, who finished fifth in the table, earned a healthy cash sum by winning the final and will receive €220,000 from Uefa.
The students set up with a back three, but failed to settle against aggressive, all-action opponents.
Druids dominated the first half, winning the majority of challenges in all areas of the pitch, and created a series of big chances.
Met were wobbling at times and coach Christian Edwards tweaked their formation and team in bids to wrestle control from Druids.
Edwards switched to a back four with Lloyd McCarthy operating in a defensive midfield role. McCarthy, usually a defender, looked ill at ease and Met changed again when substitute Chris Baker went on for Matt Swindlehurst.
That allowed McCarthy to slot into a sweeper role, where he looked far more effective, and Baker added a physical edge through midfield.
Wrexham-based Druids went ahead after 16 minutes when, after a flowing passing move, Arek Piskorski ran at a defender and whipped in a cross. Goalkeeper Will Fuller saved the first effort from James Davies, but the Cefn hit-man tucked the loose ball away from close range.
Met were second best for most of the first, but they created one huge chance when Jordan Lam ran at Swindlehurst and picked out Eliot Evans when his cross.
The Met hitman, with 14 League goals and 10 assists this season, looked certain to score, but blazed his effort over the bar.
Edwards’ half-time team talk and changes gave Cardiff Met a far more potent look, but Druids’ defended solidly and held on to their one-goal advantage.
Dan Spencer was sent on at centre-forward with 16 minutes, taking over from leading goalscorer Evans.
Cefn Druids: Michael Jones, Naim Arsan, Nathan Peate, Matty Owen, Alec Mudimu, Michael Pritchard, James Davies, Ben Burrows, Fisnik Hajdari, Arek Piskorski (Ashley Ruane 67), Neil Ashton (capt). Subs: Joel Thompson (gk), Aaron Simpson, Ilan ap Gareth, Jonny Taylor.
Cardiff Met: Will Fuller, Kyle McCarthy (capt), Emlyn Lewis, Eliot Evans (Dan Spencer 74), Adam Roscrow, Charlie Corsey, Jordan Lam, Joel Edwards, Will Evans (Gwion Howell 88), Matt Swindlehurst (Chris Baker 50), Rhydian Morgan. Subs: Tim Parker, Harri Lloyd.
Sgorio Man of the match: Neil Ashton.
Referee: Nick Pratt.