Nomads unable to keep out Wingmakers

A string of fine saves including a penalty stop from Terry McCormick was not enough to keep Airbus at bay as The Wingmakers ran out 1-0 victors.

The game saw The Nomads give debuts to our new yellow away kit and also our newest signing, Mark Smyth who started the game on the left wing. Both teams started the game well and it was Airbus who had the first sight of goal as the ball was headed over from a long throw after just three minutes. Both hosts and visitors were playing some nice football but a mixup between Mike sharples and Terry McCormick saw Sharples head the ball beyond McCormick only to be saved by the recovering Danny Dobbins on the line.

Airbus started to get the better of possession and on the 24th minute Airbus had the ball in the net, but it was ruled out for a push on Mike sharples which unfortunately saw the end to his game. Sharples came down awkwardly from his aerial contest and rolled his ankle on his landing, so Jamie Wynne was introduced in his place.

The first of Terry's fine saves saw him dive low to his right on the 30th minute to deny a Chris Simm header following a whipped cross from the right wing. Nine minutes later and McCormick was in action again as Airbus worked a short corner which saw left back Lewis Short dance his way into the box before unleashing a venomous left footed drive - the ball was heading for the bottom corner, but McCormick sprung down low to his left to turn the ball around the post for another corner.

At the other end, some nice play between Mike Hayes and Mark Smyth saw the debutant break down the left of the box and slam the ball across the face of the goal only for Airbus 'keeper Bulmer to palm the ball away. Half time came with the scores still level, but it was the home team who had enjoyed the better first half.

The second half saw Mark McGregor, Paul Mooney and Jason Lampkin introduced in place of Mike Robinson, Danny Dobbins and Craig Jones, but just six minutes in and Airbus were at it again, this time Chris Budrys latching on to a through ball inside the box and unfortunately for Jamie Wynne, he had gotten the wrong side of his man and dragged him down inside the box giving the referee little choice but to award Airbus a penalty. Northern Ireland international Steve Jones stepped up to take the penalty and smashed it hard down the centre of the goal, only to see a diving McCormick turn the ball away and keep the scores level.

It seemed like only a matter of time however and on the 55th minute Glenn Rule cut in from the right and hit a sweet left footed strike goalbound - it hit the left hand post before pinging back across goal beyond the reach of McCormick, clipped the inside of the other post and nestled inside the net to give Airbus a deserved lead.

Chris Simm again force a good save from McCormick before striking a free kick narrowly over the bar. The introduction of Simon Everall in place of debutant Mark Smyth saw The Nomads a little more cohesive in the final third and we started to create a few chances towards the end of the second half. On 68 minutes some nice attacking play saw the ball land at Paul Mooney's feet in the left channel who slammed a fierce strike off the bar, only to see the rebound bounce clear to safety.

The remainder of the half saww a couple of chance for both teams as legs started to tire and fresh subs found space with the final chance of hte game falling to The Nomads who with five minutes to go saw a corner whipped in from Mooney and the ball was heading goalbound following a deflection off an Airbus defender, only to see Bulmer grasp the ball to deny McGreogr a tap in, just as two Airbus players went down on the penalty spot after clashing heads.

Match Photos