The continued rise in standard of Welsh football was reflected in the historic achievement by the South Wales FA in becoming the first Welsh side to qualify for the Intermediate Round of the UEFA Regions Cup.

As well as hosting a Preliminary Round pool stage at the Cyncoed Campus and Barry’s Jenner Park, the South Wales side managed to finish as runners-up to Amateurs FYR Macedonia thanks to a thumping 4-0 victory over the Greek team Evia on Sunday.

A first minute goal from Connor Keating settled home nerves and then three second half goals decided the issue.

Alex Long drove home a penalty and then Alex Lloyd and Andrew Phillips also got on the scoresheet.

It meant the South Wales team finished as top scorers in the group with 10 goals, but finished second on the head-to-head ruling despite matching Macedonia’s six points with two wins. They were beaten 2-1 in their clash with the Macedonians.

Now they will have to wait and see where they go to play in the Intermediate Round as one of two best runners-up in the Preliminary Round Group stages.

They will either travel to Bulgaria in October to face Istanbul (Turkey), Energetik-BGATU Minsk (Belarus) and the Bulgarian nominees, or join Group 5 to face German, Serbian and Maltese opponents at a venue still to be decided.

The eight Group winners will then proceed to the finals in June, 2019.