Nomads left disappointed at Druids

Two goals in the first half from Jack Laird and Neil Harvey sealed a win for Cefn Druids, and in doing so, made the relegation play off conference an ever tighter affair.

The Nomads went into the game with good form, hoping to build on an emphatic 4-3 win over Prestatyn in their previous game.  A strong side started, including Ryan Fraughan, Sean Miller and Apai Ukuno.  Cefn Druids were well up for the game in which three points would benefit their bid for survival, and in the starting line up was The Nomads' former Player/Manager, Mark McGregor.

The game began at a fast pace with both teams battling to establish themselves. The Nomads gained a majority of the possession, but couldn’t achieve a clear attempt on goal.  Druids opened the scoring on the 12th minute, when Jack Laird ran onto goal and slotted the ball past Terry McCormick and into the bottom right corner of the net.

Rob Jones then tried to level the scores with a header which went wide of the Druids goal.  In what remained typical of the game throughout, The Nomads advanced upfield to the Druids area but were met by a resilient defensive display from the home side.

Apai Ukuno ran onto goal, but Druids Keeper Louis Gray swept the ball from The Nomads striker’s feet.  Things then got worse for The Nomads when Neil Harvey turned and lobbed McCormick to stylishly send Druids 2-0 up.

Coming back onto the pitch after the interval a significant task was ahead of The Nomads to get anything from the game.  Cefn Druids made this task only harder by starting the second half strongly and defending well to deny The Nomads any clinical chances.

Rob Jones took a free kick from around 25 yards out which was on target, but well saved by Gray.  The Nomads had a number of chances they did not convert, with Ukuno heading over the crossbar and Miller winning a corner for his team which could not be capitalised on.

The introduction of Alan Bull and David Forbes, replacing Fraughan and Riley, boosted the travelling Nomads fans hopes, with the two linking up in the box only for former Druid, Bull, to have his shot go wide.

The Nomads may have had a late consolation when in the final three minutes of play when there was a goalmouth scramble in the Druids area involving Apai Ukuno, but the  home defence saw the game out to earn a well deserved clean sheet.

After this result, The Nomads have a challenge ahead of them, with two vital games against Rhyl and Bangor. Nomads next travel to the Corbett Sports Stadium to face Rhyl on Saturday the 28th March.

Match Photos