Nomads clinch point against Lakesiders despite Franklin red

Saturday afternoon saw The Nomads play out a 1-1 draw with Bala Town in the JD Cymru Premier after Jack Kenny’s early goal was cancelled out by Adam Roscrow’s free kick with Nomads having to play most of the game with ten men due to Harry Franklin’s first half red card.

Form
The Nomads came into this game on the back of an impressive start to February, securing a spot in the JD Welsh Cup Semi Finals with a convincing victory over Airbus at Deeside Stadium. Neil Gibson and his side kicked off Phase Two with a trip to Latham Park where Mike Wilde’s last gasp equaliser rescued a draw for The Nomads, cancelling out Louis Robles’ opener for The Robins.

The Nomads’ Welsh Cup victory saw them book a date with today’s opponents Bala Town in the final four where both sides will face each other at The Essity Stadium on 3rd March. Bala also shared the points in their Phase Two opener after a goalless draw with Penybont.

Team News
Neil Gibson made just the one change from last weekend’s draw with Newtown as Dan Roberts replaced Josh Williams with Roberts going into defence and Callum Bratley returning to his favoured midfield position.

Colin Caton also made one change to his starting eleven with Ross White coming in for the suspended Nathan Peate, who received a red card last time out.

The First Half
Nomads looked the better of the two sides inside the first ten minutes and it was the two centre backs of Ben Nash and George Horan who almost combined for the opener. Nash was left unmarked inside the area, allowing the defender to direct a header towards goal which ended up in the path of Horan who couldn’t keep his shot down on target.

However, the early pressure resulted in a reward five minutes later as John Disney’s ball into the box was headed back across goal by Mike Wilde and Jack Kenny was there to nod home from close range, making it two goals in two games at Deeside for the striker.

Bala then started to settle into the game and pose a real attacking threat with Lassana Mendes receiving the ball out wide and delivering a cross into the area which Ben Nash looked to head clear but the contact made on the ball diverted it towards Andy Firth’s goal but the Nomads goalkeeper did tremendously well to make a diving save.

The Nomads were then reduced to ten men with ten minutes to go before the break as Harry Franklin dived in on Bala full back Naim Arsan and straight away the referee rushed over and showed a straight red card to Franklin.

Bala instantly looked to capitalize on Franklin’s red card as Lassana Mendes and Ollie Shannon combined before Mendes controlled the ball inside the area and looked to lob Andy Firth but Mendes’ effort was narrowly over the top.

The Nomads did come close to doubling their lead in extraordinary fashion moments before half time through Callum Bratley who drove from the halfway line up towards the eighteen yard box and sent a powerful shot towards goal which Alex Ramsay was able to tip over the bar.

The Second Half
Despite going down to ten men, it was The Nomads who had the first major chance of the second half with Callum Bratley involved once more. Bratley’s sublime work down the right hand side gave the midfielder space to deliver into Mike Wilde making a darting run into the box but a vital headed clearance kept it at 1-0.

Three yellow cards were then handed out in a matter of seconds after Ollie Shannon’s challenge on Callum Morris led to numerous protests for a red card with both Andy Firth and manager Neil Gibson being booked for dissent with Shannon receiving a yellow card for the original foul. The Nomads then made their first change of the afternoon with Paulo Mendes coming on for the goalscorer Jack Kenny.

Bala tested Firth for the first time in the second half as Adam Roscrow laid the ball off to Antony Kay and the defender’s strike from distance flew goalwards and required a fine save from Firth to keep it out.

The extra man eventually took its toll as Bala found their leveller through Adam Roscrow. The Bala forward stood over a free kick 25 yards from goal and sent a curling effort beyond Firth to make it 1-1.

A bizarre occurrence happened not long after Roscrow’s equaliser and almost resulted in the visitors taking the lead as Andy Firth sent his goal kick right into the back of George Newell who then tried to lift the ball over Firth but the goalkeeper remained strong to tip it away, Roscrow then looked to pick up the pieces but George Horan was there to thump clear. The full time whistle blew meaning The Nomads had held on for a point despite being down to ten men for roughly an hour of the match with Adam Roscrow rescuing the visitors with a free kick which cancelled out Jack Kenny’s brilliant header.

Next Fixture
The Nomads now focus on next weekend where Neil Gibson’s side will entertain Cardiff Met at Deeside Stadium with an important three points up for grabs in the race for Europe. The match will take place on 25th February with a 2:30pm scheduled kick off time.

Match Photos

Match Report by Adam Angerer