Nomads confirm top six position as unbeaten streak reaches seventeen

Boxing Day afternoon saw The Nomads earn a derby day victory over Flint Town thanks to second half goals from Joe Malkin and George Horan.

Today’s 2-0 win also means that The Nomads have secured their place in the JD Cymru Premier Championship Conference for phase two.

Form
The Nomads came into this game on the back of a convincing 3-0 win over Aberystwyth at the start of a busy festive schedule. The Nomads then welcomed league leaders TNS to Deeside just three days ago where George Horan’s opener was cancelled out by Gwion Dafydd’s equaliser in a feisty encounter which saw three red cards and late drama.

As for Lee Fowler’s Flint Town, a losing streak left them close to the drop zone which included defeats to Bala, Newtown and Haverfordwest. Flint left it late on to clinch a draw with Cardiff Met two weeks ago and also left it late to earn their first league victory since October as Larnell Cole’s stoppage time winner secured a 2-1 win against Caernarfon.

Team News
Neil Gibson made two changes from Friday’s 1-1 draw with TNS as Joe Malkin was named up front, replacing the suspended Michael Wilde. Aeron Edwards also made his way back into the starting eleven with Ryan Harrington dropping to the bench. The academy quartet of Josh Williams, Luca Hogan, Josh Watkin and Jordan Pownall were also named amongst the substitutes.

Lee Fowler made just the one change from their win over Caernarfon last time out as Omar Ibrahim replaced youngster Harry Owen in defence.

The First Half
Okera Simmonds looked to get the visitors off to a flying start as he tried to audaciously catch Andy Firth off his line but the Flint man couldn’t get enough power on his attempt, allowing Firth to hold on safely.

Just two minutes later, The Nomads found themselves on the counter attack with Joe Malkin doing well to beat his man down the left and deliver a cross from the byline which reached Aron Williams at the back post whose first time effort was well blocked by the Flint backline, keeping the scoreline goalless.

The closest chance of the half came for Okera Simmonds as a cross from the left fell back out to the attacker who struck goalwards on the volley but a wonderful diving save from Firth kept it out.

Callum Bratley’s sublime skill saw the former Flint player fouled just outside the area, Bratley himself stepped up to take the free kick and the midfielder went for goal from the tight angle but goalkeeper Harry Allen made the save.

Harry Allen was almost caught off guard by John Disney as the midfielder’s floating ball from outside the box nearly sailed over the Flint shot stopper, however Allen remained calm under pressure to catch safely.

The Second Half
Nomads looked to take an early lead in the second half as John Disney again delivered a dangerous long ball which was cleared but only as far as Callum Morris whose first time volley looking for the top corner was whiskers away from making it 1-0.

Five minutes later, it was 1-0 as Danny Holmes’ pinpoint cross found the head of Joe Malkin inside the six yard box who leaped highest to head into the back of the net, leaving Harry Allen no chance and putting Nomads ahead in the derby.

The duo of Holmes and Malkin almost combined for Nomads’ second as Holmes’ ball flew all the way through to the goalscorer who slid in but could not get enough contact to steer the ball on target, enabling Flint to clear the danger.

Nomads did find their second of the afternoon through George Horan who followed up from his finish against TNS last friday to make it two goals in two games. Paulo Mendes latched onto a through ball and crossed towards the back post which just averted Joe Malkin but the Captain was in the right position at the right time to tap home and double the lead.

Neil Gibson then made a triple change within ten minutes as Ryan Harrington, Mike Hayes and Josh Williams all came on to replace the trio of Aron Williams, Paulo Mendes and Aeron Edwards.

One minute after coming on as a substitute, Josh Williams made a crucial block as Okera Simmonds looked to send a free kick under the wall but Williams was alert and did his job to keep the clean sheet alive.

Simmonds was certainly the danger man for the away side as he came extremely close to pulling one back for the visitors on the 90 minute mark. Simmonds drifted into the final third and went for goal from long range but a strong hand from Andy Firth diverted the ball away from goal.

The Nomads made one final change as we reached stoppage time as academy star Luca Hogan was introduced in place of Callum Bratley. Hogan almost made an instant impact off the bench as he burst down the left hand side and looked to fire home into the roof of the net but he was denied by the crossbar in what would have been a memorable moment for the youngster.

The full time whistle blew, meaning The Nomads now have their place in the JD Cymru Premier Championship Conference for phase two and extend their unbeaten run to an ongoing record of seventeen matches.

Next Fixture
The Nomads now face the reverse fixture of this festive double header of Flintshire derbies as Neil Gibson and his side travel to the Essity stadium to take on Flint where Nomads will be looking for a repeat of today’s victory.

Match Photos

Match Report by Adam Angerer