Late Goal Takes Quay Through

Mike Robinson netted a late winner to send a much-changed Nomads into the second round of the Huws Gray Cup in a tightly-contested affair at Maesdu Park.

The former Upton AA and Llangefni Town central defender struck in the final five minutes as Nomads progressed past the first hurdle for the first time - and proved a timely winner after two first-half spot kicks looked set to produce a stalemate.

Nomads' boss Mark McGregor rang the changes with Sam McNutt recalled to senior team action for the first time since the win over Rhydymwyn last May, while teenagers George Baxter and Rhys Healey started the game despite each having played in the reserve team's fine win over Rhyl just the previous evening.

Ben Alston resumed after injury while both Shaun Roscoe and Michael Robinson earned recalls.

Recent games against Llandudno have been tight affairs and this one began in much the same vein, the hosts belying their lowly position in the league. 'Tudno play a similar style to Nomads and for much of the first half hour the two sides appeared to cancel each other out. Probably the best chance in that time fell to Sam McNutt but the left-winger could only stab the ball wide after a long throw from Healey had caused panic in the home defence.

Ten minutes before the break Michael Robinson squandered another opportunity when, after bringing the ball down well, his shot just cleared the bar. A minute later came the first of two quick-fire penalty kick decisions. Llandudno's Ross Rule was put through by Tom Dix but, as he bore down on John Rushton's goal, the Llandudno player was brought down by McGregor, the Nomads player-manager being lucky to escape with just a caution.

Lee Jones' penalty struck a post but his disappointment quickly changed when the match referee ordered the kick to be re-taken as Rushton had left his line early. Once again Jones struck the very same post with his second effort but the ball deflected into the net to give Llandudno's vocal supporters something to cheer.

Within minutes, however, the Quay were on level terms under similar, yet controversial, circumstances. Llandudno's Danny Hughes gave away a penalty with a tackle reckoned to be much the same as McGregor's discretion but the referee chose to dismiss Hughes - the third time that Llandudno have been reduced to ten men against Nomads in successive games.

With Gary OToole serving the first of his four-match suspension, it was left to Rob Jones to take on the spot-kick duties and the Quay midfielder scored with aplomb.

After the interval, Connah's Quay took the game to Llandudno and Alan Hooley went close after good build-up play with Shaun Roscoe before the home side's Lee Thomas took a pass from Rule but fired into the side-netting. Then Rhys Healey squandered a decent chance which nearly proved costly as Rushton was forced to save well from Paul Roberts.

With five minutes remaining, Nomads grabbed the winning goal. Another long throw from Healey was scrambled away for a corner kick and from the corner the ball was headed across the penalty area for Robinson to tuck away his first goal for the club. Substitute James McIntosh almost added a third goal in the dying moments only to see his effort hit a post.

Llandudno will rue their misfortune in losing a player which effectively turned the tide against them while Nomads may see this victory as a small token of retribution for their loss to Llandudno in the final of the 2009 North Wales Coast FA Cup final, since which McGregor's men have remained unbeaten.

NOMADS: John Rushton, Ben Alston (Jack Rowlands 75'), Shaun Roscoe, Mark McGregor, Michael Robinson, Alan Hooley, George Baxter (James McIntosh 70'), Danny Forde, Rhys Healey (Craig Jones 86'), Rob Jones, Sam McNutt.

Substitutes not used: Jamie Wynne, Aled Reece.

Booked: Mark McGregor

Attendance: 59