A last minute goal from sub Aden Shannon rescued a point for Welshpool, whose hopes of a first-ever appearance in Europe now rest on success in the Welsh Cup.
Strengthened with several new signings in the transfer window, Connah's Quay produced a spirited performance and took the lead five minutes before half-time, when a corner from Sam McNutt was headed into his own net by hapless Pool midfielder Richie Harris.
Pool had little success in front of goal despite making a bright start, with Chris Venables twice denied by good saves from Nomads' keeper Paul Pritchard.
Ross Stephens lobbed wide of the target after beating the offside trap and the misses looked likely to prove costly.
But Nomads hardly helped their cause when Craig Jones was dismissed for a second yellow card eight minutes from time, and Welshpool extracted revenge from the 10 men with Venables strking the crossbar, before an injury-time Paul Dowridge cross from the left was nodded down by Venables and Shannon volleyed home.
Stats and report courtesy of welsh-premier.com