Connah’s Quay Nomads retained their top spot in the JD Welsh Premier League with a 3-0 victory over Llandudno on Saturday afternoon.
A 21st minute Ryan Wignall strike sent The Nomads ahead, with 66th and 87th minute goals from Andy Owens and Callum Morris respectively sealing an all important league win for Andy Morrison’s men.
The Nomads came into the game off the back of a busy end to November, having played Queen’s Park of Scottish League Two in the Irn Bru Cup, Newtown in the JD Welsh Premier, and Cardiff Met in the Nathaniel MG Cup in the space of eight days.
They were looking to bounce back from a loss against Cardiff Met which saw them exit the Nathaniel MG Cup at the semi final stage last week.
There were two changes made from that game, with Andy Owens and Declan Poole coming in for Laurence Wilson and Jack Kenny, with the latter starting on the bench.
A number of familiar faces were involved in Llandudno’s lineup, with ex-Nomads Kai Edwards, Mike Pearson, Matty Williams all starting.
The game began with Llandudno looking for early access in The Nomads’ end, with Declan Poole intercepting a run from Mike Pearson in the third minute before going on the counter, seeing his pass to Michael Bakare go out for a throw in on the left wing.
In the fourth minute there was a warning from JD Welsh Premier stalwart Mark Connolly, who ran towards The Nomads’ goal and blocked a John Danby kick, with the ball fortunately deflecting to Michael Parker on the right wing.
After 10 minutes Ryan Wignall won a deep throw in the Llandudno end, playing it short to Owens, who sent a powerful shot towards goal from 18 yards out which deflected off Pearson for a Nomads corner.
On 17 minutes Llandudno won a free kick in a dangerous position just 25 yards from the Nomads’ goal, but Toby Jones’ delivery was headed away by John Disney, before a 20 yard shot went wide via Matty Williams.
With 20 minutes played the game was in deadlock, but this was quickly undone by some good offensive play from The Nomads.
A Declan Poole cross was switched to Bakare, who sent the ball into the six yard area where Wignall was waiting to send a low effort past Llandudno 'keeper Connor Roberts.
Boosted by their goal, The Nomads forced a corner in the 23rd minute which was caught by Roberts, before proceeding to pass around Llandudno’s final third for a sustained period until Disney sent a 20 yard effort just over the bar.
On 26 minutes there was a penalty appeal when Andy Owens, who was chasing down a long ball from Bakare, went down after clashing with Llandudno captain Danny Hughes. The home side’s claims were however waved away by referee David Morgan.
The Nomads were retaining their 1-0 lead well, with an ever strong performance from John Disney seeing him intercept balls and feed the midfield throughout.
In the 35th Andy Owens sent a long throw in into the Llandudno area, but the chance was ruled out when a foul was given against The Nomads.
Connah’s Quay’s best chance to double their lead in the first half came in the 45th minute, when a perfect through ball from Ryan Wignall saw Andy Owens go seven yards clear in front of goal, but The Nomads’ number 10’s finish went off the left post.
Andy Morrison’s side made their attacking intentions clear after the restart, dominating the first five minutes of the second half with Wignall and Bakare making dangerous runs.
In the 52nd minute, a slick passing display from The Nomads saw Bakare send a cross into the box, but no one was able to convert it. Two minutes later, a John Disney free kick from 40 yards out was headed towards the six yard area by captain George Horan, whose delivery was cleared away.
Llandudno hit back in the 56th, when ex-Holywell man Steve Thomas pounced on a stray pass in The Nomads area to send an effort just wide from seven yards out.
With an hour played the score remained 1-0, but The Nomads were eager to find a second goal to stave off the threat of Llandudno getting back into the encounter.
And on 66 minutes they found that goal in style, when after an attack from Wignall, Andy Owens found the ball around 18 yards out, pulling off a scissor kick to send a powerful volley into the bottom right corner of the net.
His goal gave The Nomads the lead they needed, and largely nullified the game’s competitive edge as it headed it into its final stages.
With 20 minutes to go, Ryan Wignall was replaced by Jack Kenny who was tasked with helping The Nomads continue to control the affair at Deeside.
In the 74th Llandudno forced a deep throw in in The Nomads’ half, but Michael Bakare was quick to react to it, intercepting the ball to keep John Danby untested in goal for The Nomads.
10 minutes later Jack Kenny went close to making it three, but was blocked by Alun Webb as he tried to meet Andy Owens’ cross into the six yard box.
The Nomads’ third eventually came just three minutes from time, when a handball from a Llandudno defender in their own area saw the referee point to the spot.
Callum Morris stepped up and drove a low effort into the bottom right corner to seal another crucial JD Welsh Premier League victory for his side.
The result keeps Nomads top of the league on 33 points from 16 games played, with 16 more JD Welsh Premier fixtures still to play in the 2018/19 season.
Andy Morrison’s side now turn their attentions to the JD Welsh Cup third round, as they travel to face Guilsfield FC on Saturday 8 December at the Huws Gray Alliance outfit’s Clos Mytton ground for a 2:30pm kick off.
Match Photos
Match Report by Will Catterall
Date: Saturday 1st December 2018
Kick Off: 2:30pm
Venue: Essity Stadium, Flint, Wales
Attendance: 0
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