Airbus take first of festive points

A cold boxing day brought the traditional Flintshire Derby at this time of year at Deeside Stadium where the visitors found eventual victory winning by 2 goals to 1. Sam Hart put the Wingmakers ahead before Hayes equalised in the second half, with Ian Kearney then clinching the winner for Airbus.

The game was part of the Welsh Premiers much anticipated double header of festive fixtures with teams all around the league facing their local rivals on Boxing Day and New Years Day. Nomads had a tough order against 2nd placed Airbus but could look back to last year for inspiration, when Mark McGregor's team took an impressive four points from both games. Airbus are now widely seen as a team of power and pace in the league, and the only genuine threat to TNS' annual title ambitions.

Airbus showed their attacking credentials at the start of the game with Chris Budrys forcing a corner, before Jack Riley made a defensive header to clear. Michael Hayes made a couple of runs but any danger for the visitors was stamped out by a high concentration of defenders around the striker. Airbus the stronger team, but with 15 minutes gone play equal with neither goalkeeper being forced into a save.

Jack Riley was a notable player in the Nomads eleven with a number of defensive clearances against a strong Airbus,whose persistence paid off on 20 minutes when Sam Hart found the ball loose after a deflection, hitting the ball high into the net to put the Wingmakers 1-0 up.

On half an hour the play was more to Airbus' favour with a number of chances, but many stopped by the linesman as Airbus were often caught offside in the first half. Nomads will feel they could have been back on level terms when Forde found space in the box and his effort hit the post, before Gary O Tooles chance went wide. Richie Partridge looked dangerous throughout the game with his pace threatening, but McGregor managed to keep him at bay.

At half time the scores were 1-0 Airbus, the team who were probably deserved to be in front.despite chances from Nomads that may well have brought an equaliser for half time. The second half having to be one where Nomads faced a battle to take something from the first fixture of the festive double.

Nomads did come out a more urgent side, with chances from the likes of Hayes and Mooney, notably when Nomads number 15 hit the crossbar in a great effort to try and bring Nomads level. Airbus were far from quietened by Nomads attacks and responded with a number of runs, though perhaps many of them miscalculated as the offside flag consistently went up against them in the game.

Nomads efforts did pay off on 61 minutes when they were brought back level via Michael Hayes who found himself with only the keeper to beat, calmly slotting the ball beyond Coates. This goal brought the game a new sense of drama as an entertaining 30 minutes unfolded following Nomads equaliser.

The goal seemed to bring a new sense of belief to the Nomads that they could take something from the game and deservedly so. Craig Jones and Danny Desormeaux made some superb challenges against an Airbus side who needed a win as rivals TNS trailed 1-0 against Newtown.

The game entered a tense closure with both teams going at it to try and find a win at the end. Nomads made the introduction of Simon Everall in place for Gary O Toole in the effort to find the net.

In a frantic finish both teams had their chances to win but the deciding factor was an unfortunate mix up in defence from Nomads which allowed Ian Kearney to tap the ball home for Airbus in a cruel ending for Nomads.

Play continued into stoppage team and Nomads stayed commited, but a last effort from Desormeaux went over the bar, meaning Referee Mark Petch blew the whistle for full time at Nomads 1 – 2 Airbus.

This was a hard result to swallow for Nomads who played with passion and drive against a team way above them in the league, but there was little difference between the two sides in the game. Nomads will look upon the positive game play they had in that game and take it to the Airfield on New Years Day, for a 2:30pm kick off.