NOMADS produced their best performance of the season on Friday night only for two late goals to condemn them to an undeserved defeat at the Welsh Premier League leaders.
So many teams have gone to Belle Vue this season with the sole intention of shutting up shop in a bid to nick a point.
But Steve O’Shaughnessy’s side, hurting after their Welsh Cup exit to Bangor, did no such thing and took the game to their big-spending rivals from down the coast.
And had it not been for an inspired performance by Rhyl’s excellent goalkeeper Lee Kendall, they may have recorded a famous victory in an enthralling match lapped up by a large 569 crowd.
The away side’s best chances of the first half fell to Tommy Mutton, who was tackled clean through on goal by Greg Stones, Danny Forde, who lashed over when well placed, Adam Dickinson, who was denied by the quick reflexes of Kendall, and Kieran Quinn, who shot just over following good work by Liam Loughlin.
The hosts, whose clearest opportunity of the opening period fell to Connah’s Quay-born ex-Wrexham striker Jamie Reed, had the wind behind them after the break and used it to their advantage, with Chris Maxwell saving from Carl Owen and George Horan.
But it was Nomads, who counter-attacked brilliantly throughout, who should gone in front in the 64th minute when Mutton squared for Loughlin, whose effort was somehow blocked by Kendall.
The Lilywhites, having survived that scare, broke the deadlock in the 80th minute when captain Horan, against his former club, headed home before Paul O’Neill nodded in from another corner six minutes later to rub salt into the wounds.
Rhyl boss and former Airbus UK Broughton number two Alan Bickerstaff was full of praise for his side’s opponents.
He said: “Fair play to Connah’s Quay, they’ll do very well this season and their position is not a false one. Steve O’Shaughnessy has done a magnificent job turning things around there.
“They came to play, were a good counter-attacking side and had Lee Kendall not made that magnificent save at 0-0 who knows.”
RHYL: Kendall, Connolly, Stones, O'Neill, Horan, D Williams, G Owen, Roberts (Johnson 66), Reed (M Williams 76), Owen, Jones. Subs: Kelly, Heenan.
BOOKED: D Williams, Owen.
GOALS: Horan 80, O’Neill 86.
NOMADS: Maxwell, Jones (Dixon 86), Phil Doran, B Alston, A Alston, Quinn, Peter Doran, Forde, Mutton (Shannon 76), Loughlin, Dickinson (Clarke 76). Subs: G Pinch, D Pinch.
BOOKED: B Alston, Peter Doran,
ATTENDANCE: 569.
ON FRIDAY – See The Flintshire Chronicle for a preview of Nomads’ derby with Airbus UK Broughton.
Flintshire Sport 
