Nomads clinch Bangor win

Connahs Quay Nomads earned a vital win against Bangor City with goals from Ricky Evans and Sean Miller.

On Friday evening, The Nomads took part in the much anticipated bottom of the table clash with Bangor City.  Dubbed a six pointer, this was a crucial game for both sides.  The Nomads went into the game a side with slightly more confidence having found their first win against Newtown in the previous week.  Subsequently, Bangor entered the game, the only league side without a victory under their belts but were eager find the kick-start to their season against their relegation zone counterparts.

The in-form Miller and O'Toole started for The Nomads with George Horan donning the captain's armband.  Bangor had been a dealt a blow before the game with the suspension of the influential Les Davies, but started the skilful ex-Nomad Jamie Petrie who recently returned from injury.

Bangor’s intentions to turn things around were seen through their pressure in the opening minutes.  Jamie Petrie broke past The Nomads' backline but was caught offside before Sam Hart sent a shot wide of the goal.

Although Bangor opened the game playing most of their football in The Nomads' half, the away side too looked clinical coming forward.  Ricky Evans made a great turn to keep possession against surrounding Bangor midfielders before laying on O’Toole, who was caught offside on his break.

In the twelfth minute, The Nomads' breakthrough came via a Ricky Evans header. A move which started in the midfield with Evans, who made a great pass to Miller on the opposite right wing, who sent a cross in for Evans to head home.  This was a great, and perhaps unexpected, start for The Nomads, who had played a largely defensive role against Bangor prior to the goal.

Eager to deter the possibility of their tenth game without a win, Sam Hart sent a threatening free kick just over the crossbar.  The Nomads remained resilient in their defence, seen when they successfully kept out three consecutive corners for the home side.

The citizens kept on their search for an equaliser through Ryan Edwards who shot just wide of McCormick’s goal.

Steve Evans was a key component to The Nomads' game, as the TNS loanee was first to every second ball and the winner of many challenges and interceptions. When Bangor did get past the defence via Ryan Edwards, McCormick made a great low sweeping save to deny one of the home side's best chances of the game.

Just as they did in the previous week against Newtown, The Nomads made a sensational start to the second half through a goal from Sean Miller.  After great work from Anthony Stanton (who had replaced John Dillon at half time) and Ricky Evans, Miller was able to round Bangor 'keeper Jack Cudworth, to coolly put The Nomads two goals ahead.  This was a goal that continued an impressive form in Sean Miller, scoring his fifth goal in six games.

Bangor City threatened from a corner, a resulting header towards goal only kept out of the net by an off-the-line clearance from Mark McGregor.  Bangor fans may have began to feel luck not was on their side when Sion Edwards could only send his free kick low into the arms of McCormick, as time began to slip away.

McCormick again made an important stop against Jack Laird at close range, who would then have another strike on goal but only get his shot wide.  The Nomads then saw their best chance to go three goals up when O’Toole made a run on his own into the Bangor area, turning a defender on his inside but shooting wide of the goal.

As victory began to come into The Nomads' sight, Miller won a battle of strength against Chris Roberts before running along the touchline directly towards to the Bangor goal, passing to Stanton who had his shot saved by Cudworth.

Bangor’s last chance came again through a corner, when a header wasn’t met by the defending Nomads but went wide of the left side of the goal.  Soon after referee Ryan Stewart blew his whistle to the displeasure of the home side but the joy of the away side, confirming The Nomads' second win of the season.

After two weeks on the road Nomads will return to Deeside on the 1st November where they will welcome Port Talbot Town. With a 2:30 kick off, Nomads look for their third consecutive win in a game that also offers free entry for spectators.

Match Photos