Euro balance shifts to Reds

CONNAH'S Quay saw their dreams of Europe take a knock as they lost out at home to main rivals Llanelli, who could yet sneak into the InterToto Cup after an up and down campaign.

The Nomads were floored by a goal from Jacob Mingorance and were left to rue a failure to turn their first-half dominance into goals. They could have turned round two or three goals to the good but for some feeble finishing, but the early loss of Graham Roche and Chris Sargeant disrupted their day.

Chris Williams was agonisingly close with a header and both Tommy Mutton and Craig Hutchinson tested Reds' keeper Duncan Roberts while, at the other end, leading scorer Rhys Griffiths dragged his eight yard shot wide.

The decisive moment arrived on 53 minutes when Mingorance beat three players with a mazy, solo run into the box before steering the ball wide of keeper Paul Smith.

The visitors then had Nicky Palmer dismissed for dissent on 67 minutes but, despite their numerical superiority, Nomads failed to capitalise and Craig Garside miscued six minutes from time when well-placed to snatch a point.

Report and stats courtesy of welsh-premier.com