Connah’s Quay Nomads were knocked out of the UEFA Europa Conference League following a 2-0 defeat to KA Akureyri at Park Hall on Thursday night.
Neil Gibson’s side trailed 2-0 from the first leg in Iceland and their hopes of a comeback were dashed by goals either side of half-time from Daniel Hafsteinsson and Elfar Adalsteinsson.
Callum Morris and Jack Kenny were brought into the starting line-up by Gibson, while Josh Williams and Ryan Harrington dropped to the bench.
The Nomads started brighter in their search for an early goal and Kai Edwards came close with a header that went just wide, but it was KA who took the lead in the 16th minute.
Hafsteinsson, who also netted in the first leg, smashed in at the back post after Jakob Arnason had flicked on Hallgrímur Steingrímsson’s corner.
The visitors had multiple opportunities to increase their lead before the break, but Steingrímsson and Bjarni Adalsteinsson both missed the target and Andy Firth saved well from Ásgeir Sigurgeirsson.
Meanwhile, Harry Franklin came closest to pulling a goal back for the Nomads as he curled an effort just wide of the post.
Despite trailing by three goals on aggregate, Gibson’s team continued to put pressure on their Icelandic opponents after the interval. Callum Bratley was a threat down the left hand side, while Noah Edwards forced KA goalkeeper Kristijan Jajalo into a strong diving save.
Their attempts were in vain however, as KA’s fourth goal of the tie arrived in the 77th minute when Elfar Adalsteinsson – only off the bench as a substitute eight minutes earlier – neatly flicked home from Hrannar Bjorn Steingrimsson’s cross.
Nomads substitute Michael Wilde thought he had netted a consolation goal for his side in the final 10 minutes, but his header was ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper.
