THEY were within touching distance of history, but Connah’s Quay Nomads’ dream of becoming the first Welsh club to win a Scottish trophy crumbled against a stirring late Ross County revival.

Sprung late from the bench, ex-Livingston wide man Josh Mullin’s brilliant double turned the game on its head.

Jamie Lindsay’s third goal then put the outcome beyond doubt in the closing moments, leaving the distraught part-timers crumpled in agony and exhaustion.

It would hardly have soothed the spirits to know they might well have been 3-0 up by the break, such was their superior input to the first half. Instead, Mullin-inspired County roared back in the final 15 minutes.

Mullin, who has won successive promotions with Albion Rovers and Livingston, insisted the partying would be brief before thoughts returned to the Championship title campaign.

“We will celebrate tonight, enjoy it tonight and they get our focus back on the league,” the 26 year-old said. “It will be straight back to business because the league is our main thing now.

“There are still a few games to go, the run-in will be tough and we play Dundee United in the few weeks’ time. People have said the pressure is on us, but they are the ones trying to catch us.

“This win can be massive for us, we want to use it to kick on the rest of the season.”

The team from north Wales’ old steel and shipbuilding country, managed by Inverness-born Andy Morrison, will make a bleak 400-mile return trip home but can hold their heads high.

County, winners in 2006 and 2010, completed the hat-trick – and will now look to seal a famous double by securing a Premiership return.

The Nomads had already humbled Falkirk and Queen’s Park on Scottish soil, with Coleraine and Edinburgh City knocked out in Wales.

Raised in the far north-west Highland village of Kinlochbervie, before captaining Manchester City, this must have felt like destiny to manager Morrison, but it wasn’t to be.

The Highlanders’ desire to win this supposedly minor trophy had been evident from the first round, articulated by both their co-managers.

While County had rested regulars throughout the earlier rounds, the only notable absences settling for a place on the bench were goalkeeper Scott Fox and match-winner in waiting Mullin.

Having played in every round, 18-year-old Ross Munro kept his place. Otherwise, it was close to full-strength against the Welsh Premier League title challengers.

The Staggies’ management also did their homework in familiarly thorough fashion, leaving nothing to chance. But as the first half unfolded, it was very soon apparent this could be a difficult day.

The Nomads’ were packed with meatily built physique and not shy of using it, with plenty of wrestling and grappling on and off the ball.

There was no inferiority complex from the team that had beaten Finnish and Norwegian top-flight clubs Helsinki and Stabaek in the Europa League in the last few years.

County were forewarned of Andy Owens’ trademark long throws but the imposing Welshman’s giant launches repeatedly caused them discomfort in the first quarter of the match.

None of it was quite as uncomfortable for County, though, as the 21st minute opener.

Keith Watson misjudged a low ball as he tried a diving header and Bakare, collecting neatly and driving on, unleashed an unstoppable left foot strike high into the County net from 20 yards.

The shock was barely subsiding as a Bakare corner from the left was knocked on by Dundee United loanee Adam Barton.

George Horan had the keeper to beat from only eight yards, but haplessly skied over the bar .

County flirted with calamity after 35 minutes, with young goalkeeper Munro somehow fluffing a clearance attempt straight to Owens, but redeeming himself with a fine, one-handed save for a corner.

A thoroughly miserable first half for County gave way to much better.

Gardyne’s ball into the box found Ross Stewart slipping past keeper John Danby before the striker rattled the post close-in. Priestly Farquharson hacked clear.

A Declan McManus cross was pushed over the bar by keeper Danby as County slowly found their stride, while Brian Graham also had a header tipped over.

What was increasingly evident was that Nomads were running on empty as County’s full-time fitness began to tell.

The equaliser finally materialised with 15 minutes left. Captain Marcus Fraser threaded a pass into the right side of the box and substitute Mullin swept a low shot through the keeper’s legs.

Four minutes later, the game was turned on its head by Mullin’s clinical second.

More probing play saw Kenny van der Weg fed on the left. The Dutchman’s pass was laid back by Stewart and, from just inside the box, Mullin hammered in the County second.

Jamie Lindsay put the match beyond doubt with four minutes left. A short corner to Gardyne who picked out Lindsay for a thumping finish from just inside the box.

Beaten manager Morrison could draw huge satisfaction from the minnows’ impact.

“I’ve told the players to be proud of what they achieved getting here,” Morrison said. "It has been great, we've been to Hampden and we have beaten some decent teams.

"The lads will get a well-deserved night out in Inverness now.

“Anyone who watched the game won’t have seen a massive gulf. We are part-time, six of them are, and you could see that in the end with their fitness.

"It was a special day for me, I had 25 down from Kinlochbervie. We dared to dream when we were 1-0 up and had chances but it wasn't meant to be.

"That's life and we move on now. Well done to County and good luck to them. Hopefully we'll be back next year."