TWO goals inside a minute was enough for The New Saints to book their UEFA Conference League second qualifying round clash with Lithuania's Kauno Zalgiris. 

The Saints will head to the Baltic state on Tuesday for their first leg clash courtesy of goals from Declan McManus, who scored from the spot, and Leom Smith, who grabbed his second in the tie after last week's wonder goal. 

The win was built on a bedrock of defensive solidity from Anthony Limbrick's men who will have a short turnaround to face the Lithuanian side.

Both sides swapped chances in the opening 15 minutes as first, for Glentoran, Seanan Clucas arrived late and unmarked to meet a centre which he fired wide.

The minutes later, Saints’ new marksman McManus also failed to hit the target after he was found by TNS skipper Marriot’s cross.

After Clucas tested Paul Harrison with a long-distance effort, Glentoran struck the outside of the post through Conor McMenamin following some pinball in the home box on 20 minutes.

The deadlock was broken on 26 minutes when the club’s new number nine McManus stepped up to fire home from 12 yards after Jordan Williams was clattered by visiting keeper Dayle Coleing.

McManus’s finish was calm and into the centre of the net and seconds later he turned provider as he held the ball before feeding Smith who scored.

A minute after that, it was Williams who came close as his deft right-footed effort struck the post after he beat Coleing’s despairing dive.

Harrison showed why he has been a mainstay of TNS’s European campaigns for a decade on 41 minutes, stretching his frame to push the ball out of McMenamin’s path.

There was a less frenetic start to the second period as Saints looked to take the sting out of the tie.

Ryan Astles and Keston Davies proved their defence worth as they pulled off a couple of consecutive blocks while on 65 minutes, Adrian Cieslewicz tried to scoop it over Coleing but to no avail.

Saints were forced into a change with 15 minutes remaining as Dean Ebbe came on to replace the injured Keston Davies.

The rejig caused panic and Danny Davies became the first Saints player to have his name taken on 78 minutes after a clash in the middle of the pitch.

Saints survived a late onslaught from Glentoran who huffed and puffed but TNS stood firm during six minutes of stoppage time.