A PROUD Andy Morrison hailed his Connah’s Quay Nomads after they won the Welsh Cup for the first time in their history.

Nomads had won the competition as Connah’s Quay and Shotton back in 1929, but they lifted it in their current incarnation with a stylish 4-1 success over Aberystwyth at Latham Park.

Michael Wilde’s brace and an opener from Michael Bakare put Nomads in control at the break, even with Ryan Wade scoring on the stroke of half time for Aberystwyth.

And there was to be no panic for Nomads after the interval as they controlled proceedings before Andy Owens struck a late fourth after coming off the bench.

It’s a first piece of silverware for Morrison since he arrived in the Welsh Premier League and ends Nomads long wait for Welsh Cup success.

Morrison said: “I’m really proud, I really am.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect today, but we absolutely got it boxed off. Everything we worked on this week, trying to stop their threats, but also exploit what we would be leaving behind and we did it fantastically.

“We were very good. The goal we scored from a corner was something we worked on this week with trying to get a block on some movement and then the third goal, which was the game-changer was exploiting the space because we knew Declan would leave that and we got in.

“Everything we could have hoped for went our way and although conceding just before half time made it a little bit more difficult, my team talk was different, but we bossed the second-half and we could have scored four, five or six.”

Morrison also hailed Nomads’ owner Gary Dewhurst for his support, declaring: “Gary Dewhurst has made this happen. He’s got to take fantastic credit. He’s a very humble man, you won’t see him around, but none of this can happen without him. We owe him a massive thank you.”

Victory for Nomads meant Bala qualified for the Europa League alongside the Flintshire side, while Cefn Druids progressed to the play-off final, to face either Cardiff Met or Barry Town United at The Rock.

On helping out Druids boss Huw Griffiths and Bala’s Colin Caton, Morrison said: “Huw is a really good friend of mine and I’m delighted they will go straight to the play-off final and if I can help Colin Caton out in any possible way I will do. I’m expecting a bottle of champagne off (Bala owner) Mr Ackroyd.”

Of his own future with Nomads, Morrison said: “I’m going to sit down this week with the chairman and see where we can go to improve and to strengthen because we don’t want to stand still.

“This is my sixth season in Europe on the trot and it’s a fantastic achievement. There is very little rest and it’s hard work, but we will sit down and look where we can improve again.”