GAP Connah’s Quay will attempt to put their cup heartbreak behind them tonight by breaching fortress Belle Vue. Steve O’Shaughnessy’s fifth-placed side make the trip to second-placed unbeaten coastal rivals Rhyl (7.30pm) six days after their 1-0 Welsh Cup reverse at holders Bangor. Nomads defended doggedly on a miserable afternoon in Gwynedd until the 75th minute when nemesis Chris Sharp, who had scored twice for Nev Powell’s men in their league win at Deeside Stadium two weeks earlier, took advantage of Andy Alston’s slip to settle the second-round tie. Boss O’Shaughnessy said: “We’ve got to concentrate on the league now and put the disappointment of what happened on Saturday behind us. It was a very tough draw, but we were still gutted to go out. “We’ve just got to get on with it and we look forward to Rhyl now. They are one of the favourites for the title and they will finish in the top three, so if you can’t get yourself up for a match like this then there’s something wrong with you. No doubt the lads will, though, and we go there confident.” Nomads are also staring a Loosemores Challenge Cup exit in the face despite sealing second in Group Six on Tuesday night with a 2-1 home victory over Prestatyn, secured by third goals of the season for man of the match Alston and Tommy Mutton. As things stand, their record of two wins and two defeats will be enough to see them through to the knock-out stage as one of the two best runners-up. However, their place in the last eight will only be confirmed if a series of other results go their way in the last round of group clashes. Craig Davies came off with a reoccurrence of a knee problem and is unlikely to be fit for tonight but fellow winger Adam Dickinson lasted 60 minutes in his first start for the first team in more than a year following a serious knee injury. Midfielder Danny Forde, having been suspended on Saturday, will return tonight as long as he overcomes a knock. Winger Mike Cronshaw is still two weeks away from resuming training. Gap Connah’s Quay will host The New Saints in the second round of the FAW Youth Cup while Flint Town United have been drawn at home to Buckley Town. Both ties will take place on Sunday, October 26. | 
Flintshire Sport 
