Tigger on target as Nomads brush aside Bucks

The Nomads recorded their fourth successive victory of pre-season last night as they beat Buckley Town 3-0 at The Globe.

The Nomads took their time to recapture the passing football that saw them overturn Wrexham earlier in the week, but it didn't take long for the goals to start. On 12 minutes, Simon Everall evaded the last man following a nice through ball to hit a left footed strike beyond the keeper to give The Nomads a 1-0 advantage. Six minutes later and Everall was at the hear of the action again in a similar position - through round the last man and seemingly hacked down within the box, although his honesty to get back up and keep chasing the ball may have worked against him as the referee dismissed what looked a clear penalty shout.

Buckley responded with a few nice bits of play across midfield and on the 24th minute, their right winger sent in a rasping shot that sailed just over McCormick's bar but three minutes later, the scoreline was doubled. Trialist, Jason Lampkin combined nicely with Mike Hayes on the right wing, who floated in a cross into the box to see captain Craig Jones arrive right on cue with a great leap to get between two Buckley defenders and head powerfully beyond The Bucks' keeper.

On 27 minutes Buckley's number 10 broke free down the right hand side of the box, but Terry McCormick was quick off his line to deny the striker with a great 1-on-1 save after a bullet of a shot. Four minutes later and the Buckley number 10 was in the action again, but this time for the wrong reasons. Jack Rowlands made a typical sliding tackle to win the ball, but remained grounded with the ball between his legs, and it appeared that Buckley's number 10 stamped on Rowland's leg in the process of trying to win the ball. Tempers flared and a number of players from each team quickly got involved before the referee diffused the situation. Perhaps the fact of it being a pre-season game may have made the decision different as nobody entered the referee's book for the fracas.

The 33rd minute saw Simon Everall flash a ball across the box from the right side with Mike Haye narrowly missing an elaborate Kanu-esque flick at the near post, and seven minutes later it was roles reversed as Everall headed wide after Hayes put in a good cross from the left. The remaining few minutes of the half saw Buckley Town come right in to the game as first their number 7 latched onto a floated cross from the right and saw his first time volley come back off the post and bounce along the goal line - Terry McCormick hadn't given up on it however and quickly leapt back to claw the ball off the line - some thought it was in, but we aren't lucky enough to have goal line technology unfortunately! Two minutes later and Buckley were once again in down the left channel and their number 11 flashed a venomous shot across the face of the goal, narrowly going wide before the referee blew for half time.

The second half got back underway with no changes for The Nomads and two minutes into the half, Ricky Evans was denied as his low driven free kick was saved comfotably. Three minutes later and some neat play down the right saw the ball cut back to Craig Jones who, looking for his second of the game, saw his low sidefooted finish saved. Five minutes later and the typical pre-season subs occurred as The Nomads made seven changes, introducing five academy graduates and a trialist. A few minutes after the substitutions, however and one of the departing players, Paul Mooney, was called upon again to replace Ryan Edwards, who had been the recipient of a forceful, and perhaps late, tackle from Buckley's number 10, who was lucky to be on the pitch following his first half antics.

Buckley looked a slightly stronger team following the substitutions as The Nomads' rhythm had been disrupted a little following all of the changes, but we were still creating chances with Mooney spraying some lovely balls over the Buckley back four from his new position at central midfield having replaced Edwards. The 73rd minute saw some good combination from the youngsters as Aron Williams broke down the right wing and found Shaun Tinsley with his cross, Tinsley volleying narrowly over the bar.

Two minutes later, however, and the youngsters weren't to be denied. A long ball, flicked on by trialist Mendez and latched onto by the pacy Lee Jones saw him unleash a powerful yet composed right footed finish under the keeper to give The Nomads a three goal lead. Buckley responded quickly and force a couple of good saves from Jon Rushton including a fine tip round the post as a shot seemed destined for the top corner, but once again The Nomads kept creating chances, and another arose from a well worked corner routine which saw Shaun Tinsley arrive around the back post only to see his header scrambled off the line by a number of Buckley defenders.

The game finished 3-0 and it was another good outing for The Nomads with the only sour note, seeing Ryan Edwards limp off half way through the second half. Ryan seemed in good spirits thought and was hopefuly of facing old pal Rhys Healey on Tuesday as The Nomads take on Cardiff City at Deeside Stadium.

Match Photos