THE New Saints veteran star Paul Harrison believes Thursday's UEFA Conference League victory over Viktoria Plzen ranks as the best in the club's European history.

The veteran keeper starred as the Saints beat the former Champions League side 4-2 at the Cardiff City Stadium, meaning that avoiding defeat in the second leg in the Czech Republic next week will book a play-off spot.

Harrison has been present at some of the club's biggest moments in recent years but even he admitted his shock as the Saints ran into 4-0 lead courtesy of Declan McManus's hat-trick, before two late goals for the visitors.

"I would say it's one of the best results in the club's history – it's got to be," he said.

"The expectation we had of them was that it would a tight game and we'd have to sit in, keep the score the down and get away with a goal of our own.

"But you can't believe when you're 4-0 up and we got a bit greedy at the end.

"Even though we've won 4-2, and we would have taken that before the game, we feel like we've lost because we conceded those two late goals.

"But it was an unbelievable night.

"When Declan scored, I honestly felt a bit of disbelief because we were four up, but the lads have proven in Europe so far that we're capable of scoring goals, both from open play and set pieces.

"But that was a brilliant goal from Dec and at both ends were clinical and ruthless."

Harrison says he and his teammates including skipper Chris Marriott, Jon Routledge and Adrian Cieslewicz will be using every ounce of their European experience to get a positive result. He added: "I think next week is the night that the likes of myself, Chris, Jon etc come to the fore but there's a lot of experience in the squad.

"But it does help on nights like this and next week is going to be a really tough game – we look forward to that challenge."

Meanwhile, Ian Williams, chief operating officer at TNS, admitted the club is dreaming of the group stage.

He said: "Group stage European football is what we've been trying to do for a very long time and the introduction of a third competition gives us a big opportunity.

"It's got to be our aim and if we can get a stage further then it will be fantastic."