CONNAH'S Quay Nomads manager Nev Powell has leapt to the defence of his team following their defeat to Rhyl in Tuesday's explosive Loosemores Challenge Cup quarter-final clash. The unforgettable derby was marred by three sendings off, four bookings, and brawls during the 90 minutes, at the break, and at the final whistle. The fireworks were set off just before half-time when Craig Hutchinson was adjudged to have cleanly won the ball in the middle of the park. However, the Rhyl players, bench and fans thought it was a two-footed tackle. The bad blood boiled over moments later when Nomads captain and former Rhyl player Marc Limbert hacked down James Brewerton, who was quick to retaliate, which sparked a 21-man brawl. Both play-ers were given their marching orders. Chris Taylor - another ex-Lilywhite - joined Limbert in the dressing room after the re-start when he took a dislike to something former Quay defender George Horan said to him, and was duly dismissed for violent conduct. The incidents took the shine off a stirring performance by the Deesiders, who, even with nine men, were the better side. Boss Powell was full of praise for the spirit they displayed. He said: 'The best team lost - everybody could see that. We had nine players out there at the end, everything was against us but we stood up and came out fighting. 'We had two silly sendings off, but sometimes they happen in an explosive game like that. 'It all started when Craig Hutchinson made a perfectly good tackle, but their bench and crowd got involved and made it out to be something much worse than it was. 'Shortly after it all kicked off. It was a foul by Marc Limbert, but he's the one who's come off the pitch with cuts and scratches on his face. 'But we put that behind us and got on with it and played some good stuff, even when we had nine men. Chris Taylor's got involved with George Horan and Chris has reacted, and to be fair to him, he's held his hands up and apologised. 'But even after all that we still should have won the game. I'm very proud of my play-ers.' Limbert and Taylor are now banned for three matches, meaning they miss tomorrow's league trip to 10th-placed Cwmbran (2.30pm). And with Adam Dickinson unavailable, fifth-placed Nomads will be down to the bare bones. But Powell said: 'Our squad is going to be stretched, but I've got no worries about the lads who will play. We've shown time after time the team spirit we've got here.' Meanwhile, Powell's men have been handed a home clash against the Cymru Alliance's Llandudno in the fourth round of the Welsh Cup. They booked their place in the last 16 with a 3-1 win at Welsh League Division One outfit Newport YMCA on Saturday. Top-scorer Tommy Mutton took his tally up to 11 with a double. Chris Williams was on target for the other. | 
