March 29, 2024

Y Clwb Pêl-droed

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Connah’s Quay Nomads become first non-Scottish side to reach Scottish Challenge Cup final

The Connah’s Quay Nomads have become the first non-Scottish side to reach the final of the Scottish Challenge Cup after beating Edinburgh City on penalties. 

Andy Morrison’s side were aiming to become the first non-Scottish side to play in the Scottish Challenge Cup and have made history after beating Edinburgh City.

They will now play Scottish Championship leaders Ross County in next months final, with the final’s venue yet to be decided.  However, it will not be Hampden Park, where the Nomads have won previously this season. 

The Citizens had the perfect start through captain Josh Walker. Striker Blair Henderson saw John Danby save his effort but Walker scored from close range.

However, the Nomads drew level through 35-year-old striker Michael Wilde, who scored his third goal in the competition.

120 minutes of football couldn’t separate the two sides, as the two had to be separated by penalties.

John Danby provided Nomads with the opportunity to win after saving Craig Thompson’s penalty, but Mike Wilde missed the decisive penalty.

Forward Blair Henderson who is top goal scorer successfully scored their fifth penalty to keep visitors in the game, sending the shootout into sudden death.

After George Horan successfully converted his penalty, John Danby sent the Deeside Stadium into absolute raptures after successfully saving the decisive penalty. 

Along the way, Connah’s Quay beat Scottish Championship side Falkirk, Northern Irish side Coleraine and Queens Park, who knocked out The New Saints on penalties in Round Two.

The Nomads were playing in their second Irn-Bru Cup campaign, having qualified through a third-place finish in the Welsh Premier League last season, after Bangor City were demoted to the Cymru Alliance.

Last year, The New Saints lost at the same stage to Dumbarton, losing 2-1 at Park Hall.

Connah’s Quay Nomads manager Andy Morrison said: “I’m incredibly proud. That’s the character of my team shown there. I’m so proud.

“I’m so proud, we’re representing the Welsh League. We’ve stood up and we’ve been awesome.”

The Nomads return to Welsh Premier League action next week in the televised fixture at Jenner Park Stadium with Barry Town United.

(Featured Image: NCM Media)

1 thought on “Connah’s Quay Nomads become first non-Scottish side to reach Scottish Challenge Cup final

  1. Well done ..my mother in Law was born in Connahs Quay and I lived in Mancot then Flint when I got married, we now live in Scotland so hope we can come and watch the game when we know the venue ..Good luck for the final

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