CONNAH’S Quay Nomads moved a step closer to becoming the first non-Scottish side to win the Irn-Bru Cup as they booked their place in the semi-finals after a dramatic late comeback to knock-out Queen’s Park.
The Hampden men had taken the scalp of Welsh outfit TNS earlier in the competition but this was a step-up in class for Mark Roberts' charges but they looked on course to produce a smash and grab win when Lewis Hawke gave them the lead after 64 minutes.
Connah’s Quay, however, were not to be denied their spot in the last four as two quick-fire goals in the final ten minutes continued their cup run. Laurence Horan drew them level with nine minutes remaining and, just three minutes later, Michael Wilde grabbed the winner.
Former Manchester City captain Andy Morrison's side had a considerable height advantage over their hosts and were not afraid to play route-one football. In fact, that seemed to be their main tactic with goalkeeper John Danby regularly launching the ball up the field.
It would have paid dividends early on had it not been for Queen’s goalkeeper Jordan Hart. From Danby’s punt forward Wilde glanced on a header and Michael Bakare was in on goal but Hart brilliantly turned his effort on to the post.
Moments later from Danny Holmes' long throw, the ball broke for Bakare inside the penalty area and he made space before drilling in a low shot that forced Hart into a great reaction save. Hart then pulled off another impressive stop when Wilde got up to power a header goalwards from Laurence Wilson’s corner, but the keeper got his fingertips to it to divert it on to the crossbar.
The pattern of play after the interval continued in similar fashion with Connah’s Quay pushing for the breakthrough and Queen’s defending resolutely. Wilde went close when he looped a header on to the roof of the net.
Queen’s Park made Connah’s Quay pay for not taking their chances. When they had a sight of goal, they were clinical as Hawke fired them ahead after 64 minutes. Ciaran Summers curled a delightful ball over the visitors' defence and Hawke latched on to it to drill a low-angled shot into the bottom corner.
Hart got lucky when he fumbled substitute Rob Hughes’ shot but clawed it away before it crossed the line into Wilde’s path, but the hitman headed wide from close range. With ten minutes remaining, Connah’s Quay’s pressure told when Wilde headed back across goal and Horan bundled the ball home from close range.
And just three minutes later they went ahead as they produced a slick move to cut through the Queen’s defence as Hughes fed Michael Parker. He teed up Wilde to drill the ball home.
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