Nomads defeat Druids at Deeside

Connah's Quay Nomads defeated Cefn Druids by two goals to one at Deeside on Friday evening in the JD Cymru Premier.

A Michael Wilde header opened the scoring with an own goal from Ryan Kershaw doubling their lead on the stroke of half-time. Josef Faux pulled one back for Druids in the 63rd to ensure a competitive finish to the game.

• Michael Wilde heads Nomads in front in the 14th
• An own goal from Kershaw gave them a commanding 2-0 lead at half time
• Josef Faux broke through to keep Druids in the game
• Nomads held on to make go three unbeaten

The fixture saw Nomads return to Deeside for their first home game following the national firebreak. In the previous week, they continued their strong form prior to the season break, with a dramatic 2-1 win over Caernarfon Town thanks to Callum Morris' 92nd minute penalty.

That result saw Andy Morrison's side come into the game sitting in third place, with the visiting Cefn Druids sat bottom of the table with only one win on the board. The two sides had last met in September, with Nomads recording their biggest victory of the season by five goals to nil at The Rock.

Owing to suspensions and injuries, Nomads started a much changed side with defenders John Disney and Danny Davies returning to the starting 11, with goalkeeper Oliver Byrne stepping up to make his full debut in place of the suspended Lewis Brass. Cefn Druids manager Bruno Lopes meanwhile started the likes of Naim Arsan, Aaron Simpson and the recently signed Christoph Aziamale.

The visitors started the game brightly with some early possession, but failed to test Byrne in goal for Nomads. The first chance for the hosts came in the 6th minute, when Aron Williams got on the end of a Danny Davies cross but struggled to head on target.

Connah's Quay continued with attacking moves into the Druids area, and found the breakthrough they had been looking for in the 14th minute, when Aeron Edwards cut a pass to Declan Poole on the left wing, crossing to Wilde who headed home from close range.

Just four minutes later, captain George Horan, who was playing in an attacking role, nearly doubled Nomads' lead after a dropped ball which saw Aeron Edwards shoot and force a low save from keeper Jones, with Horan pouncing on the rebound only to be denied at close range.

With 30 minutes played, Nomads were well on top of the proceedings and regularly threatening the Druids end with crosses into their area. Horan then again nearly helped them find a second, heading across the face of goal with no one able to connect and convert.

In the 34th, Callum Morris was brought down by a heavy challenge from Ryan Kershaw, for which he saw a yellow card, with Morris recovering well to continue pushing into the Druids half as half time approached.

Nomads did find their second before the break right on the brink of the half, with a powerful Declan Poole free kick being headed into the back of his own net by Kershaw.

The second half began with Connah's Quay again attacking the Druids end, but they hit back with their first real chance in the 48th via Azimale who shot low but saw the effort easily saved by Byrne.

In the 50th minute, Aeron Edwards saw a shot saved well by keeper Jones, who was again called into action in the 53rd to deny Wilde with a near post flick from an Aron Williams cross.

But on the 63rd minute, Druids made it 2-1 via Josef Faux who broke through on goal to slot underneath Oliver Byrne.

Nomads sought to keep control, with Andy Morrison bringing on Brayden Shaw in place of Aron Williams in the 64th. Shaw got involved quickly with a strike in the 69th, but it went over the Druids goal. Shaw was again in the thick of the action sending a corner towards Horan with around 15 minutes left at Deeside, but his header deflected out for a second corner which was duly punched away by goalkeeper Jones.

As the game went into the final 10, Druids were pushing for a late equaliser, and nearly found it in the 82nd with a header going just wide inside the Nomads' box.

There was another threatening moment for the hosts in the 85th, when a Byrne clearance was blocked leading to the Nomads' piling into their area to block the oncoming Druids' attack.

Two minutes later the visitors made a claim for a late penalty after a Danny Davies slide tackle in the area, but a corner was given despite the Druids protests.

The last action of the game did go to Druids, who won a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the Nomads box after a sliding tackle from Edwards, however, the resulting set piece was sent high and wide to confirm Nomads' 2-1 win to leapfrog Bala Town into second place.

Andy Morrison's side will now prepare for the visit of Barry Town at Deeside on Saturday 28th October for the slightly earlier than usual kick off time of 1:30pm with the game being broadcast live on S4C's Sgorio.

Match Photos

Match Report by Will Catterall