HOME advantage can play a key role in securing Europa League football for Airbus next season, according to Airbus UK Broughton boss Andy Preece.

The Wingmakers will host Aberystwyth Town in the quarter-finals of the Welsh Premier League play-offs on bank holiday Monday (2pm).

The prize on offer for the play-off winners is a place in the qualifiers for next season’s Europa League – and Airbus need to beat Aber in their one-off clash on Monday to continue their progress.

Preece said: “It’s a home game so there should be an advantage in our favour. It’s always better to play at home but it’s going to be a difficult game as Aberystwyth have played well in the past few weeks.

“We have played them twice in the past few months, winning one and losing one, so it will probably be a very evenly matched game – that’s when home advantage may just tip the balance.”

Airbus had initially thought they would face Neath in the play-offs, but the South Wales club’s failure to secure a domestic licence – a vital piece of documentation for all WPL clubs – meant they were excluded from the play-off process.

The seedings were reshuffled and Airbus were paired with Aber.

The winners of Monday’s quarter-final go through to a tough-looking semi-final away to Llanelli next Saturday (May 12).

Whoever makes it through that game faces the winners of the other last-four match – Bala Town v Prestatyn Town – in the final on Saturday, May 19.

A battling rearguard performance could not stop Tarporley Victoria from going down 2-0 at high-flying Eagle Sports in Cheshire League Division One on Saturday. Nick Abson was the man of the match for Vics.

Malpas completed their Division Two campaign with a 2-0 home defeat to Whitchurch Alport last Wednesday.