As we prepare to travel to Northern Ireland to play Glentoran in the UEFA Europa Conference League, in this article we go back to the last time our path crossed with a team from that part of the United Kingdom.

The first qualifying round of the 2011/2012 UEFA Europa League saw The New Saints paired against Cliftonville. The home leg came first for the former, as Park Hall witnessed Alex Darlington open the scoring in the 26th minute.

Unfortunately, when Barry Johnson levelled six minutes before the break, it wasn’t what TNS wanted. At that time, away goals were crucial, and the final score of 1-1 meant that the odds were stacked in favour of the Belfast-based club for the second-leg.

However, cometh the hour, cometh the man and in the fourth minute Phil Baker got on the end of a Chris Marriott free-kick to nod home.

Cliftonville did their best to haul themselves back into the game, and although they hit the woodwork on several occasions, it was the visitors who were celebrating come the final whistle.

The 2-1 aggregate victory set up a second round tie with Danish side, FC Midtjylland. Unfortunately for The New Saints, that proved a mountain too high, as a 3-1 home defeat was followed by a 5-2 reversal on the road.

The lead image is from the game in Northern Ireland with four club legends – Steve Evans, Greg Draper, Phil Baker and Scott Ruscoe – all captured as they celebrated Baker’s early goal.

The starting line-up that day was as follows: Harrison, Spender, Marriott, Baker, Evans, Ruscoe, Hogan, Matty Williams, Jones, Draper and Partridge.

On the bench were: Ramsay, Johnson, Sharp, Craig Williams, Seargeant, Darlington, Edwards.