Derby Day delight for Nomads

Connah's Quay Nomads booked their place in the Nathaniel MG Cup Semi Finals following a 4-1 victory over Flint Town United on Tuesday Night.

The game marked the first competitive encounter between the two sides since 2011 when The Nomads earned a 2-1 victory in Flint.

The Nomads started with a much changed team missing regulars like George Horan, Mike Wilde and Jamie Insall, which gave opportunities for starts for Sameron Dool, Kris Owens and Conor Harwood.

It didn't take long for The Nomads to establish themselves in the game - in the seventh minute, Nathan Woolfe hit a rasping left-footed effort from the edge of the box only to see ex-Nomad John Danby tip the effort over the bar. The visitors did however have an early chance themselves as they forced corner in the ninth minute - Brandon Burrows whipped in a corner and Richie Foulkes rose highest at the near post but saw his header fly just over Lewis Brass' crossbar.

Four minutes later and The Nomads early pressure told as some neat play down the left wing between Sameron Dool and Kris Owens saw Owens break into space before flashing a ball across the face of the Flint goal which Conor Harwood finished neatly to send The Nomads deservedly 1-0 up.

The goal gave The Nomads added confidence and saw an immediate search for a second as Nathan Woolfe again tested John Danby, this time from inside the penalty area but Danby managed to keep the scores to 1-0. The Nomads went on to dominate the majority of the first half with plenty of possession in the final third, however clear cut chances weren't quite falling. A big chance came in the 25th minute when Sameron Dool again linked up neatly down the left wing before bursting into the box - when it looked as though he could have shot himself, Dool chose to square the ball to Conor Harwood but the ball was just out of his reach mere yards from the goalline - there were shouts for a penalty as some thought that Harwood was hauled to the ground in the process, but nothing was given by referee John Jones.

It was again the combination of Woolfe and Danby as Woolfe once more got away from his man before cutting in to test Danby in the 31st minute and just two minutes later the ex-Nomads was called into action yet again to prevent two successive crosses from Woolfe.

Half time arrived with The Nomads 1-0 up thanks to Harwood's 11th minute opener but the difference in score could have been more significant had Danby not made so many vital saves.

The second half resumed with much of the same pattern of play - Nomads on the attack in search of a second and it came just nine minutes into the second half. Nathan Woolfe's persistence paid dividends as he finally got himself on the scoresheet in somewhat unusual circumstances. Conor Harwood hit a shot from the edge of the box and as Woolfe was running in for any potential rebounds, he actually intercepted the shot and turned it into an assist as he quickly readjusted his feet to slot the ball past Danby from close range.

In the 66th minute, Dool was again on the attack and found himself free inside the box before lifting the ball over John Danby only to find that he had been flagged offside, thus ruling the goal out.

Just a minute later however, Flint were given a lifeline in the game as they got into a pocket of space down the right wing, flashing a ball across the face of The Nomads' goal and Andy Brown tapped in at the back post despite the efforts of Disney to stop the goal.

The goal changed the pattern of play somewhat as Flint looked to get back into the game for the next 10 minutes with more possession than they had seen all game. Andy Morrison brough Jamie Insall into the fray in the 72nd minute as he replaced Nathan Woolfe and Michael Bakare came on for Kris Owens.

Insall was denied an almost immediate goal as he got on the end of a neat through ball only to see his effort rebound off the post and then John Danby again denied The Nomads as Sameron Dool's rebound was saved.

Flint were struggling to deal with the introduction of the fresh legs that had been introduced but it was one of the starting eleven who forced the next goal as Declan Poole raced into the Flint box down the right before sending a low cross into the box, only ot see Kyle Smyth turn the ball into his own net in the 90th minute.

The Nomads final substitution saw 17 year old Sam Williams introduced to the game, an academy player who has been with the club since he was 10, who featured on the bench alongside other academy players Jimmy Worthington, Jack Robinson and Harry Owen.

The Nomads were denied a fourth minutes later as a couple of goalline clearances denied Jamie Insall and Michael Bakare, but Bakare wouldn't be denied a goal as in the 93rd minute a bit of pinball in the box saw the ball drop to Bakare who slammed home an emphatic finish to give The Nomads the 4-1 lead that their performance had deserved.

John Jones brought the game to an end seconds after Bakare's strike and The Nomads booked our place in the Semi Finals along with Aberystwyth Town, Bala Town and STM Sports who all won on the night as well.

Attentions return to a massive Friday night fixture at Deeside Stadium as we host The New Saints for an 8pm kick off this Friday, 1st November in a huge match at the top of the JD Cymru Premier.

Match Photos

Match Report by Nik Mesney