Connah’s Quay Nomads booked their place in the quarter finals of the JD Welsh Cup with a 3-1 victory over Carmarthen Town on Saturday afternoon.

A Liam Thomas goal sent Carmarthen ahead, but goals from Michael Wilde, Andy Owens and Callum Morris secured Nomads’ place in the last eight for the fifth consecutive season.

• Rapid start sees Carmarthen convert penalty
• Wilde equalised with half an hour played
• Two goals in first four minutes of second half gave Nomads 3-1 lead
• Holders Nomads go into Monday’s last eight draw

The JD Welsh Cup clash saw Nomads return to Carmarthen Town, having also faced them in their last outing in the final game of JD Welsh Premier League phase one.

And after a 95th minute penalty in that match gave Carmarthen a dramatic 3-2 win, Nomads were looking to avenge their defeat whilst continuing their defence of the JD Welsh Cup, which they lifted for the first time in the club’s history after defeating Aberystwyth Town 4-1 in the 2018 final.

Andy Morrison made only one change to his previous line up, with Danny Harrison brought in to replace Rob Hughes, who was on the bench. Nomads’ strikers Andy Owen and Michael Wilde both started, in addition to John Disney who continued his ever-presence in the starting eleven.

Carmarthen made three changes to their side, but retained previous goalscorers against Nomads in Greg Walters, Liam Cummings and Liam Thomas.

The match began to a fast paced start as both sides rushed to establish their game plan in the cup tie. Carmarthen had the first chance just two minutes in, when a cross from Luke Bowen was headed over Nomads’ crossbar at close range by Liam Thomas.

In the fifth minute, Connah’s Quay saw a similar headed chance go wide at the home end when George Horan rose up to head a free kick from Bakare towards goal.

The opener came on nine minutes, when the referee pointed to the Nomads’ penalty spot after Jay Owen fouled a Carmarthen player as they sought to get a shot away after a counter attack.

Thomas stepped up and converted to the left side of the net and give his side a 1-0 lead.

Nomads’ campaign for an equaliser started instantly as they rushed into the Old Gold’s half, going onto win seven corners in the first 45 minutes.

In the 17th minute, Jay Owen had a shot from 13 yards out pushed away by goalkeeper Lee Idzi as Connah’s Quay kept up the pressure on the Carmarthen end.

Michael Bakare used his pace and trickery to get past a defender on the right wing to dribble along the Carmarthen byline in  the 20th minute, with his pass just yards from the goal line evading all red shirts in the box.

After 30 minutes Nomads were still pushing for an equaliser and had been forced into an early change as Michael Parker came off with an injury to be replaced by winger Nathan Woolfe.

Woolfe got involved with Nomads’ attacks immediately, securing an assist on 33 minutes, when he took a corner kick which was fired into the goal by Wilde from around seven yards out.

Buoyed by their equaliser, Nomads stayed in the Carmarthen end for much of the remainder of the first half, winning another corner in the 38th minute, with Wilde this time heading Woolfe’s cross wide.

On 40 minutes, Woolfe went close to getting on the score sheet himself, when his free kick from near Carmarthen’s right corner flag swung close to the top left corner of the goal before going out.

At half time, Nomads went in level knowing a strong second half performance was needed to overcome a stubborn Old Gold outfit.

And they delivered just that, scoring two goals in just three minutes following the restart.

After winning a free kick after kick off, the ball was sent into the Carmarthen area, where Horan headed it high up into the six yard box. His move allowed Andy Owens to head into the net close to the right post on 46 minutes.

In the 49th minute, Owens again got into the Carmarthen area only to be taken down by an Old Gold defender, resulting in the referee awarding a penalty kick.

Callum Morris stepped up and converted to put Nomads in the driving seat for a place in the quarter final draw. 

Nomads utilised their 3-1 lead well, keeping possession for long periods of time, with flashes of attacks from Carmarthen dealt with by John Danby, who held a powerful 10 yard Liam Thomas effort in the 53rd minute.

With an hour played, Carmarthen began to force a series of set pieces in the Nomads’ half as they sought a way back into the game. In the 67th minute, Jay Owen intercepted a corner and ran it away from the Connah’s Quay end, with a free kick from 23 yards out in the 68th caught by Danby.

Nomads then made their second and final change of the game, replacing goalscorer Andy Owens with midfielder Rob Hughes, who used his lively style to cause problems for Carmarthen on the right wing.

Andy Morrison’s sides detailed organisation was paying off, as the final 10 minutes of the cup tie approached with Nomads relatively unscathed by their opposition.

Nomads persisted with their efforts to increase their scoring tally, with two further corner kicks won in the final five minutes which couldn’t yield further goals.

Full time was signalled after three additional minutes, allowing to Nomads to celebrate reaching the quarter finals of the JD Welsh Cup for the fifth consecutive season.

They await Monday night’s draw to find out their last eight opponents, with attentions then turning to the first of Nomads’ phase two fixtures away at Newtown AFC on Saturday 2 February for a 2:30pm kick off.

Match report by Will Catterall