Remarkable turnaround earns Nomads Welsh Cup final spot

Connah’s Quay Nomads reached their second consecutive JD Welsh Cup final after quickfire second-half goals from Max Woodcock and Callum Bratley secured a 2-1 comeback victory over Llanelli Town at Park Avenue.

The Nomads dominated possession in the first half with Rhys Hughes striking the crossbar, while Kris Owens and Kai Edwards both went close with headers. However, it was Llanelli who led at half-time after Liam Eason’s converted penalty.

The Nomads wasted no time in completing their quick turnaround as clinical finishes from Max Woodcock and Callum Bratley within the space of three minutes put Billy Paynter’s side ahead.

Both sides had their fair share of chances throughout the remainder of the second half, but it was those strikes which secured victory and a second consecutive JD Welsh Cup final spot for The Nomads.

Team News
Cup suspensions for Noah Edwards and Ben Nash meant they were absent from the matchday squad. Chris Marriott returned to left back, while Callum Bratley replaced Olly Wright in midfield. Jon Rushton and Fumpa Mwandwe also returned to the bench.

Llanelli manager Lee John made four changes from his side’s 3-1 win over Caerau Ely in the JD Cymru South as Scott Coughlin, James Lester, Louis Caramella-Gerrard and Danny Williams replaced John Chesters, Sean Cronin, Bradley Gibbings and Camillo Strinati.

First Half
The Nomads started on the front foot and came agonisingly close to taking the lead after just 12 minutes. A foul by Kurtis Rees on Max Woodcock just outside the area gave Rhys Hughes the chance to add to his already impressive collection of stunners this season, but his effort clipped the top of the crossbar.

Kris Owens nearly scored his first goal since returning to the club just two minutes later, but his header at the back post from Declan Poole’s cross was saved by Scott Coughlin.

Llanelli had a glorious opportunity of their own to hit the front on 23 minutes as Ethan Cann was played through one-on-one with Ratcliffe, only for his effort to rattle the crossbar.

However, the Reds did take the lead just moments later. A foul by Owens on Taylor Jones inside the area allowed Liam Eason to step up from the penalty spot and fire home into the bottom corner to put his side ahead.

Llanelli did suffer a significant blow shortly after Eason’s penalty as forward Ethan Cann went down injured and was replaced by Bradley Gibbings.

The Nomads’ best chance to level the scoreline before the break fell to Kai Edwards, who was left unmarked from Chris Marriott’s corner, but could only guide his header wide of the target.

Second Half
There were some attacking changes from the Nomads dugout ahead of the restart at Park Avenue as Sam Durrant and Fumpa Mwandwe came on for Kris Owens and Jack Kenny.

Those switches proved crucial and sparked a quickfire turnaround for The Nomads. Fumpa led a counter-attack down the right hand side and found Bratley, whose through ball into Woodcock allowed the Scottish forward to fire across goal and into the bottom corner.

Woodcock’s equaliser opened the floodgates for The Nomads, and just two minutes later, Bratley completed the turnaround with a clinical volley beyond Coughlin.

Although it was an amazing cameo from Fumpa, his afternoon on the pitch was short lived as the attacker picked up an injury, which saw him replaced by Olly Wright.

Llanelli had a great chance to get themselves back on level terms through Gibbings, who met a loose ball, but sent a tame volley into the hands of Ratcliffe.

Ratcliffe was called into action again as the goalkeeper had to collect Louis Caramella-Gerrard’s header at the front post.

John Disney nearly put the game to bed for The Nomads in the 87th minute. The captain intercepted the ball in a dangerous area and played a neat one-two with Woodcock, but his strike from close range was denied by a diving save from Coughlin.

Ratcliffe made another crucial stop just two minutes later, this time pushing away Gibbings’ powerful drive from the edge of the area.

A final substitution arrived in stoppage time as Cameron Ferguson replaced our second scorer Bratley.

Ferguson went close to his first Nomads goal moments after his introduction, but Coughlin was able to deny him from a tight angle.

Nothing would affect the scoreline though as The Nomads made it back-to-back JD Welsh Cup finals, where Rodney Parade, home of Newport County awaits again.

The Nomads’ opponents will be either Cambrian United or The New Saints, who face each other in the second semi-final on Sunday, 16 March.

What’s Next?
The Nomads return to JD Cymru Premier action this Friday (21 March) with a trip to Newtown in the Play-Off Conference hoping to make it six consecutive wins in all competitions.

The Nomads are currently five points behind Barry Town United in the race for the final European Play-Off spot, so every victory will be key with just four games remaining.

Match Photos

Match Report by Adam Angerer