Champions League qualifier, second round, first leg: The New Saints 0 APOEL Nicosia 0

Despite on the back foot for long spells against a side brimming with European pedigree, the Saints held firm in the first leg of the second qualifying round to give themselves everything to play for in next Tuesday's return in Cyprus.

It promises to be a tough task in the heat of the Mediterranean, but the Welsh Premier champions can take heart from the way they stifled their visitors who lacked attacking poise despite all their possession.

The Oswestry hosts defended stoutly throughout with Phil Baker rock solid in the heart of the backline as he made his 30th European start, a record for a Welsh Premier player.

The Cypriots enjoyed the bulk of possession, but TNS held firm with confidence as they restricted their visitors largely to stray long range efforts.

For TNS, Jamie Mullan saw an early cross clutched low down by keeper Boy Waterman, while Scott Quigley's header was comfortably saved after Adrian Cieslewicz had pulled back a Chris Marriott cross.

APOEL enjoyed the bulk of territory and possession as they forced the Welsh domestic treble winners deep, but clear-cut opportunities were in short supply.

Pieros Soteriou cut in from left to force a routine save from keeper Paul Harrison, and Brazilian Vander fired wide moments later from edge of box.

Strong and composed in possession, APOEL continued to dictate matters with patient build up, keeping their hosts at full stretch.

Argentinian Tomas De Vincenti pulled the ball wide from edge of box midway through the half after latching onto a stray pass from defender Connell Rawlinson, and another Brazilian Vincius volleyed over from close range moments later.

TNS, who were already without fullback Simon Spender before kick off, suffered another setback 10 minutes from half time when energetic midfielder Aeron Edwards was forced off with injury.

To their credit, however, they ran and harried APOEL, happy to sit deep as the Cypriots struggled to find the finishing touch despite posting several promising moves in and around the box.

The game continued in similar fashion after the break, with Georgios Efrem curling an exquisite 25-yarder from the left just past the far post as the Cypriots lacked any end product to their attacking endeavours.

TNS themselves were feeding on scraps of possession, but had a couple of half chances with substitute Chris Seargeant seeing a low shot easily saved by keeper Waterman and Ryan Brobbel blazed a couple of efforts high and wide.

At the other end, captain Harrison pulled off a smart diving save to deny former Chelsea man Nuno Morais from outside the box, while Vicenti volleyed over when well placed to underline the visitors' frustration.

Vander had a shot blocked late on, while the Saints survived a couple of late skirmishes to deservedly finish all square on the night.

The New Saints: P Harrison, Marriott, Rawlinson, Baker, Pryce, Routledge, Edwards (Sergeant 35), Cieslewicz (Parry 88), Brobel (Williams 72), Mullan, Quigley. Subs not used: Mullock, Saunders, Draper, Darlington.

APOEL Nicosia: Waterman, Milanov, Carlao, Astiz, Alexandrou, De Vincenti, Efrem (Aloneftis 82), Vinicius (Orlandi 70), Morais, Vander, Soteriou. Subs not used. Artymatas, Bressan, Pardo, Merkis, Sergio.

Referee: Hugo Miguel (Portugal),