Europa League: Valletta FC 0-1 Bala Town
- Published
Bala Town are in the Europa League second round for the first time in their history thanks to Chris Venables' winner against Valletta in Malta.
The Lakesiders are in the competition for the sixth time.
Venables scored in the opening period and goalkeeper Alex Ramsay saved a penalty as the visitors held on.
Bala were knocked out by Tre Fiore of San Marino in the preliminary round in 2018, thanks to a 3-0 away leg loss, but there was no let-down this time.
The Lakesiders qualified for Europe after they finished third in the curtailed 2019-20 Cymru Premier season.
Bala came close to reaching the second qualifying round against Estonia's Levadia Tallinn in 2013 and FC Differdange of Luxembourg two years later.
Fellow Cymru Premier side Newtown beat Valletta over two legs in the competition during the 2015-16 season, but the current Maltese side had no survivors from that team.
Bala and Welsh rivals The New Saints, who beat MSK Zilina 3-1 after extra time, will have eyes on Monday's draw for the next stage, which will be played in mid-September.