CONNAH'S QUAY NOMADS always rise to the occasion when European football is on the agenda.

This was a mismatch with Partizan's pedigree and playing budget, but Andy Morrison's men gave their visitors a real tough time.

Nomads failed to wilt in the baking hot sun and Partizan's overriding emotion will be that of relief.

The visitors needed a volley just after the hour mark from Aleksandar Scekic to secure the narrowest of advantages.

Partizan tried to make their mark on proceedings from the off as Seydouba Soumah and Umar Sadiq linked up dangerously in attack.

Soumah was able to find a pocket of space between Nomads midfield and defence, his quick feet on the edge of the area working a chance for Zoran Tosic, who poked wide of target.

The offside flag meant Tosic's effort would have been chalked off regardless, but the same can't be said for Sadiq's gilt-edged chance soon after.

Lewis Brass's goal-kick found the on-loan Roma attacker, who carried the ball forward before sending a tame left-footed effort harmlessly wide.

Nomads were allowing Partizan's defenders as much time on the ball as they wanted, but that almost came back to haunt them as Starhinja Pavlovic glided forward from centre-half.

Somehow, Pavlovic, who was being watched by a number of interested scouts, including Celtic boss Neil Lennon, found himself latching onto Sadiq's clever pass, the central defender denied by the legs of Brass.

The sight of Pavlovic roaming forward at will sparked a change in tactics for Nomads, and it worked as they were able to stifle Partizan and pressure the visitors' goal.

Callum Roberts and Declan Poole were causing problems down Nomads' left, the duo carving out a chance for Michael Wilde, who saw his shot blocked for a corner.

Unfortunately Nathan Woolfe's delivery was poor and Vladimir Stojkovic claimed unopposed.

The same couldn't be said of Woolfe's next corner kick as Stojkovic took offence to close attention from Wilde and George Horan, who ended up with a shove to the chest.

Both Horan and Stojkovic were booked for their troubles, but it could have ended much worse for the Partizan stopper, who lost his cool.

Brass was called into action moments after the restart. Partizan, who had replaced Sadiq with Ognjen Ozegovic at the break, were gifted possession by some lacklustre play from Woolfe, Djordje Ivanovic driving at Brass, who gathered at the second attempt.

Woolfe and Jamie Insall, who, along with Tosic, was also booked in the first period, showed that Nomads could pose a problem at the other end as they went on solo runs, that petered out.

If Nomads needed reminding of Partizan's threat then the visitors' offered a reminder as Ozegovic flashed a powerful header over.

Sasa Zdjelar then sent a drive into the grateful arms of Brass, who was eventually beaten just after the hour.

Some impressive work down the left from Slobodan Urosevic, who escaped the attention of both John Disney and Michael Bakare – on for Woolfe – before throwing a cross into the box for Aleksandar Scekic to volley low into Brass’s net after the ball had only been half-cleared.

The celebrations were of relief as Scekic ran over to the Partizan bench, who might have been off their seats soon after but for Brass, the stopper calmly keeping out Tosic’s free-kick.

Brass had to keep out another Tosic strike as the former Manchester United man dropped his shoulder, dragged the ball onto his right foot and fired at goal.

Another goal failed to arrive, and just like Kilmarnock before them, Partizan will know they've still got a job to do.

Connah’s Quay Nomads (4-4-1-1): Brass; Disney, Holmes, Horan (C), Roberts; Woolfe (Bakare 62), Owen, Morris, Poole; Wilde; Insall (Farquharson 73). Subs Not Used: Green, Farquharson, Harrison, Harwood, Weir.

Partizan Belgrade (4-2-3-1): Stojkovic (C); Miletic, Ostojic, Pavlovic, Urosevic; Zdjelar; Scekic; Tosic, Soumah; Ivanovic (F Stevanovic 73); Sadiq (Ozegovic 46). Subs Not Used: N Stevanovic, Vujacic, Brezancic, Lutovac, Smiljanic.

Referee: Michal Ocenas (Slovakia). Attendance: 892.