The New Saints 4-0 Shkendija - Report and pictures
The New Saints saw their Champions League hopes come to an end despite a rousing fightback in a remarkable first qualifying round tie against KF Shkendija at Park Hall.
Trailing 5-0 from the first leg, the Saints had it all to do in the return.
But they gave themselves real chance by scoring three times in the first half through Dean Ebbe, Danny Redmond and Ben Cabango.
The Welsh Premier champions continued to carve chances after the break, but despite a fourth goal deep in injury time from substitute Kurtis Byrne, their brave efforts just fell short.
Boss Scott Ruscoe wanted to restore some pride after a poor first-leg display, but the Saints did more than enough to have progressed to the next round.
Shkendija looked sloppy and uncomfortable in defence, a pale shadow of the side that dominated the week before, and fell behind on 16 minutes as Ebbe drove home from the right.
The Macedonians, with star striker Besart Ibraimi on the bench, were all at sea as Chris Marriott and Jon Routledge both narrowly missed the target, while more hesitation almost let in Ebbe.
With their tails up, TNS struck twice more before half-time to give them real hope of a famous European comeback.
Redmond steered in a second from close range from Jamie Mullan's right wing cross, before Cabango got on the end of a free-kick five minutes later.
The drama continued after the break with substitute Greg Draper failing to convert from close range, while Routledge volleyed against the post and Aeron Edwards was denied by a fine save from the rebound.
The Macedonians were hanging on as Byrne gave the Saints a glimmer of hope when converting Marriott's cross in the closing moments of the match.
But it was not to be for the gutsy Saints who now play in the Europa League when they take on Gibraltar side Lincoln Red Imps, with the first leg at Park Hall next Thursday.
The New Saints: Harrison, Marriott, Lewis, Cabango, Hudson, Holland (Byrne 88), Routledge, Redmond (Cieslewicz 83), Mullan, Edwards, Ebbe (Draper 56). Subs not used: Spender, Seargeant, Nembjard, Roberts.
