CONNAH'S QUAY NOMADS breathed a collective sigh of relief as the holders avoided a shock at Guilsfield.

Trailing 2-0 at the break to goals from Callum Bromley and Steve Blenkinsop, Nomads were staring an unwanted upset in the face.

"We certainly made it hard for ourselves," said first team coach Craig Harrison.

"In the first-half we weren't great, we gave two poor goals away, which is not like Connah's Quay at all with them both coming from set-plays.

"That is desperately disappointing and we will look back at the DVD and analyse them, but we've got to do better.

"We spend a lot of time on set-plays, for and against, but we let them take a lead from the only way they were really going to score, to be honest."

But Nomads rolled their sleeves up and forced extra time with goals courtesy of Callum Morris and Michael Bakare.

The Welsh Premier League leaders' superior fitness told against the Cymru Alliance outfit as Michael Wilde and Ryan Wignall secured a 4-2 success.

"Fair play to the lads, we came in at half time and got our composure back," continued Harrison. "We changed a couple of things and said 'you have got us in this situation and we need to get out of it' and the lads were fantastic.

"In the second-half, the performance was fantastic and they stood up as men and in the end we could have scored six or seven.

"But fair play to Guilsfield, they put us under pressure."

Nomads will now take their place in tonight's fourth round draw, Harrison adding: "We are really, really pleased that we are in the next round.

"That is the major thing at this stage having come to a place like Guilsfield."

Guilsfield boss Nathan Leonard was proud of his players for pushing Nomads all the way.

He tweeted: "Very proud manager. The lads gave their all and I can't ask anymore than that.

"To push the Welsh Premier leaders all the way and take them to extra time is an achievement in itself.

"Gutted to go out of the cup but the lads can hold their heads high knowing they gave their all.

"Congratulations to @the_nomads and good luck in the next round."