Nomads storm past Ruthin to reach third round in style

John Disney claimed victory in his first competitive match in charge of Connah’s Quay Nomads as his side earned an emphatic 9-0 win over Ruthin Town in the Nathaniel MG Cup second round at Maes Tegid on Friday.

Eddie Servuts scored our opening goal of the campaign with a close-range finish, before clinical strikes from Harry Franklin and Rhys Hughes capped off an impressive first half.

The Nomads continued their fantastic attacking play in the second half with Franklin bagging his brace shortly after the restart, before Zeli Ismael also scored a double either side of Declan Poole’s low drive.

An own goal and Servuts’ stunning strike from distance rounded off the goalscoring fun, as we enjoyed a safe passage into the third round.

Team News
There was a nice touch from Disney when he chose his first competitive lineup as he handed the captain’s armband to Harvey Morris, who signed his first professional contract with the club earlier this summer.

New signings Kit Margetson, Callum West, Zeli Ismail, Jason Oswell and Eddie Servuts were all handed their first competitive starts after impressing in pre-season, while the returning Harry Franklin was named in the starting lineup.

First Half
The Nomads took just five minutes to get their domestic season up and running as Servuts latched onto a low cross from Zeli and tapped home beyond Dan Goldston.

Ruthin posed a threat in their search of an equaliser as Tom Salisbury saw his lob bounce narrowly wide, before Josh Evans forced Kit Margetson into a diving save with his shot across goal.

Franklin double the Nomads’ lead on the half-hour mark as he waited for Zeli’s cross to drop kindly before sending a looping volley over Goldston and into the far corner.

Things would get even better six minutes later as Rhys Hughes, who joined the Nomads exactly one year ago, stood over a free-kick from the edge of the box and curled beautifully into the bottom corner to make it three.

Second Half
The Nomads continued to show their quality in attack, and it took just nine minutes after the restart to find the net again as Noah Edwards’ first-time strike towards the back post was turned home by Franklin from close range.

Disney then turned to his bench shortly after the fourth goal as Declan Poole, Chris Marriott, Jason Oswell, Ben Kershaw and Marco Fregapane all replaced Callum Bratley, Harvey Morris. Rhys Hughes, Callum West and Dan Roberts.

Just seconds after his introduction, Poole went close to adding a fifth as his thunderous effort from out wide was denied by the crossbar.

However, that fifth goal would soon arrive as Zeli ran onto an immaculate long ball from Marriott and sent a looping header over Goldston and into the net for his first Nomads goal.

Zeli’s night would get even better as he set up Poole for our sixth, before he made it seven with a stylish Panenka penalty down the middle.

Despite already putting the game to bed, the Nomads’ energy levels up front continued to rise, and it was soon an eighth goal on the scoreboard as Franklin’s shot from inside the area took a wicked deflection off Dylan Thomas and completely wrongfooted Goldston.

The scoring fun was rounded off with arguably the best goal of the night as Oswell laid the ball off to Servuts, who picked out the top corner from the edge of the area with a little help via the underside of the crossbar.

What’s Next?
Disney’s side will find out their Nathaniel MG Cup third round opponents on Thursday, 7 August.

Three days later on Sunday, 10 August, we begin our JD Cymru Premier campaign with a trip to newly-promoted Colwyn Bay (5:15pm KO).

Match Photos

Match Report by Adam Angerer