Goals galore as Nomads beat Denbigh to earn third pre-season win

Connah’s Quay Nomads made it three consecutive pre-season wins with an impressive 9-2 victory over Denbigh Town at the Essity Stadium on Friday night.

Goalkeeper Kit Margetson and full-back Marco Fregapane were the next two players to make their first starts in pre-season, while Brad Barnes also featured for the first time since signing his professional contract, coming on as a substitute.

The Nomads instantly threatened the Denbigh defence with Callum West and Max Woodcock seeing efforts from distance fly narrowly wide, before Harry Franklin missed a glorious opportunity by dragging his shot from close range wide of the bottom corner.

However, the breakthrough eventually came in the 43rd minute as Woodcock’s intended cross for West sailed past everybody, including Denbigh goalkeeper Elijah Beattie.

Woodcock’s cross-turned-shot opened the floodgates for the Nomads as the lead was doubled just a minute later. A long ball over the top from West was controlled by Franklin, and he made no mistake in slotting beyond Beattie.

A whole new batch of players entered the field for the second half, including Rhys Hughes, who made it three for the Nomads with one of his lovely trademark curlers from the edge of the area.

Hughes turned provider for our fourth goal just two minutes later as his cross was guided in off the post by Jason Oswell.

A low drive from Sam Duffy and a smart lob from Owen Payne saw Denbigh half the deficit, but our four-goal lead was soon restored as our Trialist produced two clinical finishes from inside the box.

Our late flurry of goals began with Ben Kershaw opening his account in style as he curled beautifully beyond Beattie from distance to make it seven.

Oswell was in the right place, at the right time to tap home from close range for his second of the match, before our Trialist completed his hat-trick to wrap up a magnificent evening in front of goal for John Disney’s side.

What’s Next?
Our final four pre-season friendlies are all away from home, and the first of those comes locally as we make the short trip to Airbus UK Broughton on Tuesday, 15 July (7:30pm KO).