Nomads complete JD Welsh Cup comeback at Guilsfield

Connah’s Quay Nomads came from 2-0 down to defeat Guilsfield FC 4-2 in the JD Welsh Cup third round on Saturday afternoon.

After first half goals from Callum Bromley and Steve Blenkinsop, strikes from Callum Morris and Michael Bakare took the tie to extra time, where Michael Wilde and Ryan Wignall ensured Nomads’ place in the fourth round draw.

• Nomads went 2-0 down and faced a cup upset
• Game played throughout wet conditions in Mid Wales
• Callum Morris and Michael Bakare took the game to extra time
• Extra time goals from Wilde and Wignall continued Nomads’ cup defence 

The game saw Nomads begin their inaugural defence of the JD Welsh Cup, having won the competition for the first time in their history in May.

The third round draw sent them to Clos Mytton, home of Huws Gray Alliance side Guilsfield, in their first trip to the Mid Wales club since a first round Nathaniel MG Cup tie in September 2015, which also went to extra time before Nomads claimed victory.

Coming off the back of a 3-0 win over Llandudno in the JD Welsh Premier League, Nomads started the likes of Michael Parker, Jay Owen, and Michael Bakare.

Guilsfield also announced a strong starting eleven which included Andy Ford and Adam Jenkins, with player manager Nathan Leonard leaving himself out of the squad to conduct his side from the dugout.

The game began as a deluge of rain hit Mid Wales, which quickly left the pitch cut up and very heavy.

Nomads struggled to adapt to the unfamiliar turf, with Michael Bakare’s pacy runs being stopped by the ball, which kept holding up.

Despite the conditions, Nomads got into the Guilsfield area early on, with an Andy Owens header tipped over by goalkeeper Michael Jones in the fourth minute, before a sixth minute corner kick from Bakare was cleared away.

The surface continued to hamper Nomads’ attacking efforts, with Andy Owens unable to keep the ball on a run down the left wing in the 12th minute.

After 20 minutes Guilsfield fired a warning shot to Nomads, heading the ball into the net after challenging John Danby, but the goal was ruled out for a foul on the Connah’s Quay keeper.

But on 22 minutes the hosts did score, when Callum Bromley burst into the Nomads’ area to send a well taken effort past Danby from around 10 yards out.

And eight minutes later they doubled their lead as Steve Blenkinsop went clear in front of goal to make it 2-0 after 30 minutes with another smash and grab attack from Guilsfield.

After the Huws Gray Alliance side’s second goal, Nomads forced three consecutive corners as they targeted the Guilsfield end, which dealt with the threat of the set pieces.

Nomads made an early substitution on 37 minutes, when illness forced Andy Owens off with Ryan Wignall replacing him.

On 39 minutes John Danby made a great double save to stop Guilsfield extending their lead as Nathan Leonard’s side looked to complete a JD Welsh Cup upset.

At the death of the half, Michael Wilde went cloe when he headed wide from a free kick, summing up a first 45 minutes in which nothing seemed to have gone right for the JD Welsh Cup holders.

After the restart Nomads launched their comeback effort, putting pressure on the home end to win a corner in the 50th minute which was swung close to the Guilsfield goal line by Michael Bakare.

In the 54th minute they got their much sought-after goal when Michael Wilde flicked the ball towards Callum Morris, who from around seven yards out headed past GK Jones to bring Nomads back into the game.

Nomads again went close in the 57th, when Jay Owen had a low shot from eight yards out saved by Jones.

With an hour gone Nomads were pushing for an equaliser, and made their second change, bringing on Nathan Woolfe for Declan Poole.

Ryan Wignall was a constant threat on the right wing for Nomads, consistently beating his man to send good crosses into the area, sending one in on the 68th minute which only just evaded both Michael Wilde and Callum Morris in the area.

In the 69th minute John Danby kept Nomads’ cup hopes alive, tipping a 25 yard effort from Andy Ford over the bar in a great chance for the home side.

Nomads’ equaliser came just 14 minutes before the end of normal time, with Michael Bakare stepping up in the 76th to strike high into the goal from 12 yards out inside a packed area.

The final 10 minutes saw both sides rush to find a late winner, with Nathan Woolfe rattling the crossbar on 81 minutes with a 25 yard free kick.

On 88 minutes Guilsfield threatened with a long throw in sent into the Nomads’ area, before Ryan Wignall cut into the area to send a shot just over the bar in the 91st minute.

After some last ditch attacks from both sides, an extra 30 minutes were needed to separate the sides and decide who was to go into the fourth round.

Extra time started positively for Nomads, with Wilde sending a header just over the bar from a Woolfe cross.

In the 97th minute Nomads took the lead for the first time in the game, when a Michael Bakare free kick from around 25 yards out was floated into the Guilsfield area, where Wilde headed home from seven yards out.

After going ahead Nomads established control of the game as Guilsfield continued to battle in the ever-worsening conditions at Clos Mytton.

In the second half of extra time Nomads’ third round comeback was complete, when Ryan Wignall’s efforts on the wing paid off, as he beat multiple defenders to break into the area and send a left footed finish into the bottom left corner of the net in the 110th minute.

Nomads made their final change six minutes before full time, replacing Michael Bakare with Jack Kenny.

After one additional minute at the end of the extra time, Nomads’ place in the fourth round draw, which takes place live on S4C’s Heno programme from 7pm on Monday evening, was confirmed.

They are next in action on Friday 14 December, travelling to Cefn Druids’ The Rock ground for a JD Welsh Premier clash with a 7:45pm kick off.

Match Photos

Match Report by Will Catterall