CWMBRAN'S players should be safe to book their summer holidays after a sixth defeat in eight games last night left them needing a football miracle to qualify for Europe.

A Rhyl victory at Connah's Quay tomorrow night will end all hopes and, if that does not happen, then last night's opponents, Afan Lido, or Caersws seem almost certain to land an InterToto Cup spot via a fourth-place finish.

The only positive to happen for the Crows who lost 1-0 last night was nothing to do with the match, played at Leckwith Stadium, Cardiff, but happened elsewhere.

Carmarthen Town lost at home to Haverfordwest County and that has handed Cwmbran a place in next season's lucrative FAW Premier Cup.

However, it is small comfort in the short-term after the loss of goalkeeper Pat O'Hagan, who was injured in bringing down Lido match-winner Chris Pridham in the game's final minute.

O'Hagan, yellow-carded for a deliberate handball outside the area in the first-half, was sent-off and later limped to the dressing room.

It almost certainly puts him out of tomorrow's game at Port Talbot and possibly Saturday's trip to Caernarfon.

Cwmbran now face having to play untried academy goalkeeper Tim Dickerson if O'Hagan is unfit.

Manager Tony Willcox kept his players in the dressing room after the game and one of the things he may have spoken about is the apparent lack of spirit shown last night. The Crows only had two shots on target all game and O'Hagan, beaten after a defensive error allowed Lido's Chris Pridham to score, also had little to do.

Cwmbran may yet lift a trophy this season. However that is the meaningless League Cup after a campaign which promised so much just a few weeks ago.

Cwmbran Town: P O'Hagan, R Carter, N Smothers, S Mainwaring, J Welsh, S Wharton (c), N Wigg, A Wright, M Davies (R Griffiths 77), C Watkins, N Cotterrall. Subs not used: M Dunn, R Shugar. Booked: Wharton (1, foul), O'Hagan (31, deliberate handball), Wigg (82, foul). Sent off: O'Hagan (89, foul). Afan Lido: B Thomas, J Walkley (J Taylor 61), J Chandler, P Evans, P Holmes, A Rickard (c), A Pitman, C Pridham, A Pearson, G Hurley (C Evans 87). Sub not used: M Patton. Booked: Pitman (65, foul), Evans (72, foul). Goal: Pridham (60).