Clinical Nomads see off Bala to reach third round

Callum West, Max Woodcock and Harry Franklin were all on target as Connah’s Quay Nomads reached the JD Welsh Cup third round with an impressive 3-0 victory over Bala Town at Maes Tegid on Saturday afternoon.

West capitalised on a mistake from Bala goalkeeper Joel Torrance to slot Nomads ahead shortly before half time as our no.8 bagged his fourth goal of the season.

Kit Margetson produced a stunning save to deny Levi Lumeka to maintain the Nomads’ narrow lead before Woodcock’s sweet strike and Franklin’s close range header wrapped up victory for John Disney’s side.

The Nomads have now won their last four matches in all competitions and have kept clean sheets in four out of their last five.

Team News
After his nine minute hat-trick against Briton Ferry Llansawel last weekend, Franklin returned to the starting lineup to replace Jason Oswell up front. A slight injury to Chris Marriott saw him replaced by Callum Bratley, while Noah Edwards returned from suspension to come in for Marco Fregapane.

Bala boss Steve Fisher made two changes from his side’s 2-0 league loss at Haverfordwest County last weekend as Sam Billington and Dom McGiveron replaced Hussein Mehasseb and Nathan Burke.

First Half
Both sides had early opportunities to test the goalkeepers as Liam Higgins volleyed over the bar for Bala inside the area before Franklin’s audacious effort from distance also flew over.

Franklin came even closer when his curling strike towards the far corner was tipped away by Torrance, but the Nomads’ opener eventually arrived as West continued his lightning form.

West chased down Hughes’ chipped through ball and forced a miscue from Torrance, which saw the attacker retrieve the loose ball and simply roll home into an empty net for the breakthrough.

Second Half
The Nomads immediately continued to pile pressure on their opponents after the restart as Callum Bratley’s volley at the back post was tipped over the bar by Torrance before Franklin headed inches wide from West’s resulting corner.

Somehow the Nomads were kept at bay again as Torrance denied West’s low drive before Cook’s strike seconds later was blocked, but only a corner was given despite several appeals for handball.

Torrance also kept out close range efforts from Franklin and Declan Poole, while Margetson also had to be alert up the other end to make a remarkable save to tip Levi Lumeka’s low drive onto the post.

The Nomads then eventually put the game to bed as Woodcock, who had only been on the pitch for seven minutes after replacing West, cut inside and sent a superb strike beyond the outstretched Torrance and into the far corner.

Franklin then got his deserved goal as he headed home from Hughes’ pinpoint cross on 83 minutes to seal victory and progression into the third round.

What's Next?
The Nomads will find out their third round opponents next week, but in the meantime, the focus is back on the JD Cymru Premier.

John Disney’s side will be hoping to strengthen their place in the top six with another positive result against Haverfordwest County at the Essity Stadium on Saturday, 25 October (2pm).

It was just one month ago when we last faced the Bluebirds as Rhys Hughes’ brace and Callum West’s first ever competitive Nomads goal secured a 3-1 victory on the road.

Match Photos

Match Report by Adam Angerer