This coming Thursday (July, 15), we host Northern Ireland Football League Premiership side, Glentoran FC, in the UEFA Europa Conference League second-leg game.

The first qualifying round first-leg encounter last week in Belfast ended 1-1, as Leo Smith’s superb solo effort was cancelled out by a late Jamie McDonagh equaliser.

TNS’ first competitive fixture of the 2021/22 season saw all three new signings – Danny Davies, Declan McManus and Jordan Williams – make their club debuts.

In addition, Beau Cornish and Morgan Daykin also featured in the game, with the latter in from the start.

Prior to this season, all The New Saints needed to do this Thursday was to avoid conceding, and the side would progress in the competition. However, since the abolition of the away goals rule, there has to be a winner on the night.

If the scores are level after ninety minutes, then there will be extra-time. If the teams are still drawing, then there will be a penalty shoot-out.

The New Saints will be wearing green and white hoops, white shirts and white socks. The goalkeepers will be in all royal blue.

The officials are from Iceland and are as follows: Ivar Orri Kristjansson (referee), Birkir Sigurdarson and Egill Gudvardur Gudlaugsson (assistant referees) and Thorvaldur Árnason (fourth official).

No general sale tickets are available.

The game has a 6.15 p.m. kick-off time and is being streamed live on a pay-per-view basis. Details here.

Lead image: Action from last week’s game at The Oval, courtesy of Brian Jones.