NEIL GIBSON couldn’t contain his joy at masterminding one of the best night’s in Connah’s Quay Nomads’ history.

Nomads returned from Slovenia win a 1-0 win in the first round qualifier first leg at NK Bravo in a a match played in 30 degree temperatures.

Substitute Ben Maher scored the winner seven minutes from time after coming on for his club debut.

“I’m ecstatic with the result and the performance of the players, their workrate and their application,” said boss Gibson, who will now hope to see the job through in Thursday’s second leg in Bangor to earn a second round crack at Bosnian Premier League side Zrinjski Mostar.

“I’m a big believer that if you put the work in you get the rewards. We’ve come away to a full time team and I think were 16/1 or 20/1 so that’s the level of the underdog status that we came into the game at.

“The players were absolutely fantastic in taking into account the gameplan we set up.

“The players carried that out to the best of their ability and it was good enough to get us the 1-0 victory.”

Gibson is pleased with his side’s ability to make the most of the chances that come their way - and pointed to last April’s Welsh Cup Final win over The New Saints as a sign that Nomads know how to win big games.

“You have a gameplan that sets you up to keep you in games of football and then big moments will win and or lose football matches,” he added.

“We took the big moments in the Welsh Cup final and we’ve done that today

“I’m over the moon for Benjy to score that goal. Look at the substitutes sprinting to the corners to celebrate with the players on the pitch.

“To a man, and a woman with Paloma (club therapist Paloma Gioia), we were excellent.”

It wasn’t just Nomads who were doing the Cymru Premier League proud in Europe.

Caernarfon Town - in the first ever match in Europe and in front of a bumper gate at The Oval - beat Northern Ireland side Crusaders 2-0.

Morgan Owen have them a fourth minute lead and ex-Chester striker Zack Clarke also scored.

“An unbelievable night and a night I’ll cherish and remember forever,” manager Richard Davies told BBC Sport Wales.

“I’ve got to give all the credit to the players – they were outstanding to a man tonight - even the subs, not just the starting 11.”

Bala Town went down 2-1 at home to Paide Linnameeskond but Josh Usek’s stoppage-time penalty gives Colin Caton’s side something to cling onto for Thursday’s return leg in Estonia.