CONNAH'S QUAY NOMADS kept their cool from the spot to become the first Welsh team to reach the final of the Scottish Challenge Cup.

George Horan, who was a giant for Nomads all night, converted his side's sixth penalty, before John Danby saved Ciaran Diver's effort to hand Andy Morrison's men a 5-4 spot-kick success over Edinburgh City after the 120 minutes of action finished 1-1.

Nomads, who will now face Ross County in the final next month, got off to the worst possible start as some neat play from Allan Smith down the right allowed him time to pull the ball back for Blair Henderson.

The in-form frontman saw his effort smartly saved by John Danby, but Josh Walker was on hand to blast the rebound home from two yards.

It was a setback, but Nomads don't just roll over and die, the Flintshire side going on to dominate the following 43 minutes plus stoppage time.

Andy Owens looked to be fouled as he raced towards goal, the referee waving away some muted appeals, before Jake Phillips' long throw was deflected onto the Edinburgh crossbar.

With 18 minutes on the clock Nomads were level as Phillips' throw was cleared only as far as Callum Morris, and after his shot was blocked Michael Wilde slammed the loose ball home.

George Horan, who was coping comfortably with Henderson, went close to putting Nomads in front, but his header from a Phillips' throw cleared the bar.

Phillips finished the first-half action by forcing Callum Antell into a smart save after his latest throw had been cleared to the edge of the area.

After a sluggish opening to the second-half, Nomads, who announced a club record attendance of 1,068, went agonisingly close to taking the lead as Danby's free-kick into the area found Owens, who looped a header back across goal, the ball bouncing off the top of the bar and out for a goal-kick.

Robbie McIntyre poked the ball narrowly wide of his own goal as Nomads threatened once more, before the home side survived a rare Edinburgh attack, Adam Barton preventing several cross-shots from causing any real problems.

A defensive slip allowed Wilde to gallop clear, but a slightly heavy touch and the pitch took him wide and Nomads were forced to settle for a throw, which Phillips' launched towards Bakare, who flicked wide when a greater contact on the ball might have resulted in a goal.

Bakare was then close to pulling the trigger after a typically mazy run, but he was brought down outside the area by Marc Laird, who was shown a yellow card. The former Wrexham winger sent the resulting free-kick narrowly over the bar.

The remainder of normal time failed to bring about a goal, and the opening seven minutes passed without much action, before Edinburgh thought they'd scored, but the officials judged that the ball hadn't crossed the line as the frame shook from some desperate defending.

Neither side could trouble the scorers before and after half-time of extra-time, while Horan threw himself in front of a shot from Liam Henderson with six minutes of the additional 30 remaining.

And that was that as penalty kicks were to decide the semi-final.

Nomads kept their cool from the spot, Horan scoring in sudden death after Wilde for Nomads and Edinburgh's Craig Thompson had missed in the first 10, before Danby saved from Ciaran Diver to win it.