MICHAEL WILDE ranks Connah’s Quay Nomads’ victory over Kilmarnock as the greatest by a Welsh Premier League side in European football.

And that’s praise indeed from a striker with a Champions League hat-trick, and six victories in total, under his belt.

Trailing 2-1 heading to Scotland, Nomads stunned their hosts 2-0 at Rugby Park courtesy of goals from Ryan Wignall and Callum Morris.

“It’s got to be,” said Wilde when asked if this was the best of the 39 Welsh top-flight wins in European competition.

“Firstly because it’s the victory at the front of our minds, but also because of the opponent and the size of the team that we beat.

“The stats show that this was a two-legged tie between the third best Scottish Premiership side and second best Welsh Premier League side, so to put in a performance like we did is a great achievement.

“This type of victory, where we needed both goals we scored to progress, hasn’t been done before.

“It’s certainly my best victory in Europe.”

Just four years ago Wilde was scoring three times as The New Saints thumped B36 Torshavn 4-1 to secure a 6-2 aggregate Champions League first qualifying round victory.

On pushing that memorable moment down the list of his greatest European night’s, Wilde continued: “Whether that’s because I’m older and wiser now and I appreciate the stature of what we’ve just done, I don’t know.

“But from a collective aspect it’s the best win I’ve been involved in because we’ve put Welsh football on the map.

“Scoring a hat-trick in the Champions League is something that I will always have, but last Thursday was out of this world.”

It wasn't just the fact that Nomads stunned Kilmarnock in the first qualifying round, but the way they defeated Angelo Alessio's Scottish outfit on their own turf.

A free flowing double-digit passing move resulted in Wignall heading Nomads in-front, before Morris kept his cool from the spot after Jamie Insall had been fouled.

"The first goals was 17 or 18 passes," said Wilde. "The way we moved the ball from back to front and then from side to side showed exactly what we can do.

"If someone else had scored that goal if would be being talked about forever.

"Yes we are disciplined defensively, but you need a platform of physicality in Europe and it goes to show that we do have confidence on the ball."

Wilde is expected to be tasked with defending from the front as Nomads host Partizan Belgrade in the second qualifying round first leg on Thursday at Belle Vue, 6.30pm.

It's a thankless task at times, but Wilde relishes the challenge, even at nearly 36 years of age.

"I ran 13km in the first leg against Kilmarnock, which was one of the highest on the GPS," said Wilde. "It can be soul destroying at times up front on your own, but you need to remember why you're doing it.

"I had a bit of a knock earlier in pre-season, but I'm feeling great physically and ready to do my bit."

Should Nomads beat Partizan they will face either Yeni Malatyaspor or Olimpija Ljubljana in the third qualifying round.