FORMER Newport County AFC midfielder Evan Press believes Barry Town United can keep their European dream alive in Belfast tonight.

Press won rave reviews for his performance in last week’s Europa League preliminary round first leg as Barry battled to a 0-0 draw against Cliftonville at Cardiff’s Leckwith Stadium.

Fellow former Exiles Jack Compton and Troy Greening also featured in Barry’s long-awaited return to European competition last Thursday.

But it was the performance of Press that caught the eye the day after his 19th birthday and he’s determined to keep the adventure going with victory in Northern Ireland this evening.

“It was a fantastic experience,” said the teenager.

“I was buzzing after the final whistle. That’s the biggest attendance I’ve ever played in front of.

“It was a tough match against quality opposition, but we believe we can improve on how we played.

“The tie is halfway through and if we nick a goal in the second leg it will be all to play for.

“The manager [Gavin Chesterfield] was happy with the team in this first leg.

“Yes, we would have loved to win, but 90 per cent of us had never played in European competition before.

“It was a great experience for all of us and we will learn from this opening leg.”

Press spent five years playing age group football for Cardiff City, starting aged 10 before being released and joining the Exiles academy, earning a scholarship after his first two seasons.

The midfielder made his first team debut for County in an EFL Trophy tie against Cheltenham Town in November 2017 but he was released at the end of 2017-18 campaign and joined Welsh Premier League Barry.

The winners tonight, in front of more than 2,000 fans, will play Norwegian Eliteserien club Haugesund in the next round – and double their prize money earned so far to almost £400,000.