THE northern lights have work to do if they are to maintain their hopes of competing in Serbia next season.

A Cymru North XI is tackling a Cymru South side with qualification to represent Wales in the UEFA Regions’ Cup at stake.

The first leg of the play-off was staged at Denbigh Town’s Central Park ground and it’s Cymru South who hold a 2-0 advantage heading into this weekend’s return encounter.

Cambrian & Clydach Vale full-back Cam Strinati couldn’t have picked a better time to grab his first goal in more than two years.

His last goal came back in December 2021, but Strinati gave the South Walians the ideal start with his early strike.

There was also an early goal in the second half.

Alex Bonthron, Cymru South’s golden boot winner this season with 30 goals, headed home his side’s second goal after the restart, leaving Nathan Leonard’s Cymru North side with a mountain to climb.

North East Wales was well represented in the squad, with Mold Alex quartet Alex Swindell, Matty Lewis, Henry Nash and Danny Warren included.

They were joined by two of Holywell Town’s Cymru North-winning squad - Danny Sullivan and Morgan Murray - along with Gresford Athletic’s Haci Ozlu and Chirk AAA’s Josh Evans.

All is not lost for the North Wales side, though, and they only need to look back a couple of years for inspiration.

Two seasons ago, Denbigh also hosted the first leg between the sides and that tussle ended up 0-0.

Cymru South appeared to have the tie in the bag when they went into a two-goal lead via Aiden Lewis’ brace in the return at Briton Ferry, however an epic fightback saw Cymru North turn things around to triumph 4-2 on that occasion.

Liam Morris, Jamie Cumming, Dylan Allshorn and Jake Cooke got the goals for Guy Handscombe’s charges.

Cymru North will have more work to do on this occasion, with the return leg being played at Ynys Park, in Trefelin, on Sunday.

Winners of the tie will go forward to represent Wales in the intermediate round of the 2024/25 UEFA Regions’ Cup in Serbia in September.

The UEFA Regions’ Cup is a unique amateur tournament held every two years which features players who have never competed at any professional level. European associations select regional sides to compete against each other.

Wales have been drawn in a group with the regional amateur teams from Serbia, Slovakia and North Macedonia in the intermediate round, with matches to be played in Serbia in September.

Two seasons ago, Wales performed well in the intermediate round, which was held in Northern Ireland.

Wales won two of their three matches at the event – including an 8-0 victory over Sweden’s regional amateur team – but they agonisingly missed out on topping the group by one point.

Porthmadog’s Rhys Alun Williams finished as the joint-top scorer in the intermediate round with four goals.