Nomads lose out in five goal thriller

In one of the most entertaining games at Deeside this season so far, The Nomads narrowly lost 3-2 to Newtown AFC. 

This was a game of big proportions for both sides, with The Nomads beginning their new start under the management of Allan Bickerstaff and Jay Catton.  Not only had the management changed, but a number of faces in the squad also, with new signings David Forbes, Jamie Crowther, Alan Bull, Ryan Fraughan, Russell Courtney and Rob Jones all in the starting line up.

For Newtown the game was a cup final in many senses, with a win practically guaranteeing top six football but a loss placing them in the play off conference for phase 2.  Newtown looked to avenge a 2-1 defeat to The Nomads earlier in the season, and put out a strong line up consisting of the likes of Sutton and Oswell to do so.

The first half of the game was a reasonably quiet affair.  Jay Crowther looked to lay on Miller in the Newtown half but the winger could not reach his pass.  A defensive slip up by The Nomads could have opened doors for Newtown but no-one ran onto the ball, allowing McCormick to collect.  Academy starlet Jack Riley started for home side and played well throughout, intercepting a Newtown movement towards goal.

Little action occurred until The Nomads made the breakthrough on 34 minutes, when TNS loanee, Ryan Fraughan, scored on his debut, striking the ball from the middle of the area with the assist a pass from David Forbes.  Forbes then tried his own luck on goal from around 30 yards out but had his shot saved by Newtown 'keeper David Jones.  Neil Mitchell had a chance inside the area with McCormick coming off his line to block and save.  Bar these events, the first half was a shadow of the action of the second.

It was The Nomads who came out of the blocks first after the interval, with Alan Bull taking the ball into The Robins' final third before laying on Miller – who had his shot saved.  Newtown equalised in style when Jason Oswell sent a volley from just inside the penalty area up and over McCormick to make the score 1-1.  Forbes continued his work on the wing, this time cutting in from the right to have a shot. Rowland’s then sent The Nomads 2-1 up, taking advantage of a cross from Forbes and smashing the ball into the net, whilst unchallenged on the goal line.

Now the game grew into an end to end affair, with Luke Boundford equalising for The Robins just 5 minutes after The Nomads had taken the lead.  Taking advantage of a loose ball after an initial clearance from Nomads, Boundford hit the ball low to score in a packed area.  Crowther then had a long range shot saved, before Sean Miller led an attack of three consecutive chances, culminating in Miller having a supposed-sure goal cleared off the line.  Jack Chambers came on and was exceptional on the wing, running into the box to have a shot saved by Jones who was pivotal for Newtown in the game.

Tension grew as injury time approached with the scores still 2-2. Newtown began an onslaught of chances, with Nomads putting themselves in front of every ball to deny them. The line between winning and losing in football was then personified in the final passage of the game, when John Dillon was one on one with David Jones who ran out and saved The Nomads midfielders shot.  The ball was then sent down towards The Nomads' box, where Tom Goodwin became a Newtown hero slotting the ball into the net in the 93rd and final minute of the game.

This brought an end to one of the most entertaining Welsh Premier League games this season, which saw The Nomads match a resilient and energetic Newtown outfit for all but one final minute of the game.  Although it was a cruel finish for the home side, their spirits will be high after a positive first performance under Bickerstaff and Catton.  The Nomads now move onto their final game of phase 1 at Bala Town on Wednesday the 28th January.

Match Photos