IT was a case of 'what might have been' as Benjamin Tatar's double dumped Connah's Quay Nomads' out.

If Michael Wilde's header with just eight minutes on the clock had bounced a couple of inches to the right, Nomads could have had the opening goal they craved.

Andy Morrison's men would have had something to cling onto, something to defend - and everyone knows how good they are at that.

It was almost the dream start for Nomads, who had lured the visitors into a false sense of security before showcasing their attacking talent with a well-worked free-kick.

Craig Curran, an obvious threat on the right, headed a set-play into the danger zone for Wilde, who flicked the ball towards the far post, his effort bouncing agonisingly wide of the upright and just out of the reach of the onrushing Aeron Edwards.

Ivan Jukic was the first Sarajevo man to trouble Lewis Brass with a tame effort from distance, although the Nomads number one was beaten soon after as Benjamin Tatar expertly broke the offside trap before rounding the goalkeeper, who had rushed out of his area, and rolling the ball into an empty net.

It was enough to take the wind out of Nomads’ sails, but then that’s not what Morrison’s men are about, the Flintshire outfit taking a deep breath before returning to work.

Morrison was booked soon after as Amar Rahmanovic rolled around on the floor in-front of his technical area after minimal contact was made.

From Nomads’ protests there seemed to be more contact when Wilde went down in the box after Priestley Farquharson’s long throw had been fired over by Callum Roberts, but referee Jamie Robinson waved appeals for a penalty and potential red card away.

Roberts made sure the backdoor was shut having ventured forward, the left-back heading behind for a corner, which came to nothing, with Tatar lurking at the back post.

Edwards was equally conscientious moments into the second period as he was in the right place at the right time to send Dzani Salcin’s centre behind for a corner, rather than allow it to find the waiting Mersudin Ahmetovic.

Sarajevo came close to doubling their advantage after Danny Holmes had been booked for bringing down Jukic 20 yards from the Flintshire side’s goal. Thankfully, a deflection on Rahmanovic’s curling effort bounced the other side of the upright with Brass stranded.

Nomads countered by forcing a corner after good work by Farquharson, but Horan’s header from a centre by Sameron Dool – on for Danny Harrison at the interval – went towards Wilde, who was flagged offside.

Another Horan header caused panic in the Sarajevo ranks, but Wilde couldn’t quite bring the ball under his spell as Nomads enjoyed a spell of possession.

Sarajevo did enough to keep Nomads at bay, and moments later disaster struck as the Bosnian outfit netted a second goal of the game.

The lively Tatar needed little in the way of invitation to burst through the Nomads defence after collecting a square pass that had zipped off the greasy surface with the minimum of fuss before coolly sending Brass the wrong way.

Curran instantly bellowed “there’s still 25 minutes left” as Nomads went about producing a comeback to eclipse their victory over Kilmarnock in the 2019/20 Europa League.

It was the striker who had a half-chance to halve the deficit, but Horan’s header at the back post was too firm for him to turn towards the Sarajevo goal.

With Nomads committing men forward they were always likely to be caught out at the other end, Haris Handzic forcing Brass into action, although he may well have been better had he looked to find an unmarked team-mate to his right.

Nomads survived what would have been a cruel third goal to concede, but they were constantly denied at the other end.

Clear-cut chances were not forthcoming, even the introduction of Jamie Insall, who won the penalty that Callum Morris converted to send Kilmarnock out of the Euripa League last year, couldn't spark something for Nomads.

Instead it's Sarajevo who will be heading to Belarus for a battle with Dynamo Brest, 6-3 victors over Astana on Tuesday night, in the next round.

But the European dream isn't completely over for Nomads, who will take their place in the second qualifying round of the Europa League next month.

Morrison's men will find out what lies in store for them when the draw is made on the final day of August.

Until then, it's about regrouping and making sure that they are ready for whatever comes their way next.