Proud boss Andy Preece said his Airbus UK Broughton side were ‘buzzing’ after recording ‘one of the biggest results in the club’s history’ as their Europa League adventure came to an end.
The Wingmakers were superb throughout last Thursday’s 2-2 away draw with full-time NK Lokomotiva Zagreb, who finished fourth in Croatia’s top flight and boast a string of internationals.
Despite going out 5-3 on aggregate, Preece told The Chronicle his team ‘opened a few eyes’ after dominating large parts of the encounter with their more illustrious opponents.
“It’s as good as we’ve ever been. Their press couldn’t believe what we’d done and that we’re only part-time and train for four hours a week. You can’t get much of a bigger compliment than that,” he said.
Airbus had gone close several times – including Tom Field hitting the crossbar with a free-kick – before the excellent Chris Budrys headed them 1-0 up from Ryan Wignall’s centre a minute into the second half.
Preece’s men found themselves undeservedly behind after conceding two goals in eight minutes, but levelled almost immediately when skipper Andy Jones nodded in Matty McGinn’s long throw-in.
Budrys, Wignall and substitute Ryan Wade all then went close to winning it late on for the Wingmakers, and it wasn’t just the Croatian journalists who were impressed.
LOOK: Action from the Wingmakers' first leg defeat against NK Lokomotiva Zagreb at Nantporth
Preece said: “Their centre-back (Tomislav) Mrcela, who’s just been called up to the Australia squad, asked for Buds’ shirt at the end and said: ‘How are you not playing for Chelsea?’ He couldn’t believe he wasn’t a professional footballer. He told me he was unplayable.
“Buds had an effort which just hits someone on the line, they didn’t know anything about it. If that goes in, and we’re 3-2 up with six or seven minutes to go, I think we’d have scored another and gone through. They were gone.
“A few minutes in the first leg have cost us, but the fact we’re even talking about fine margins is amazing. No-one thought we had a cat in hell’s chance.”
Preece added: “The lads were buzzing with their performance. I know how good there are but they still surprise me with their commitment and quality. They were unbelievable.
“It’s a massive result, one of the biggest in the club’s history.”
Airbus’ preparations for the new Welsh Premier League season continued with a 2-1 home victory over Stockport County on Tuesday. Field and Jones scored for the Wingmakers after former Tranmere winger Abdulai Baggie had given the Hatters a first-half lead.
Airbus host AFC Fylde, on Saturday (3pm), before Cammell Laird visit on Tuesday (7.30pm).
