Nomads in tough win over Tudno

The Nomads secured their second win of the Dafabet Welsh Premier League season on Saturday afternoon, defeating MBi Llandudno by two goals to one.

Callum Morris put The Nomads ahead in the fifth minute, before Chris Rimmer scored in the 44th.  Llandudno’s Danny Hughes scored for the visitors in the 91st minute.

This was a game anticipated by both sides who had had similar recent fortunes in the league.  After an initial start which saw them beat Aberystwyth and draw to TNS, Llandudno fell to three straight defeats including a loss in theWord Cup. The Nomads also seeked to improve on the day, as four games into the season they had won only one of those encounters.

The Nomads started a side slightly different to that which had faced Bala a week before, with Ruane and Sean Smith earning a place in the starting lineup.  The Nomads were without Sean Miller and also George Horan, who was serving the first of a three game suspension.  Llandudno started a determined side which included Dix, Buckley and Mark Williams.

The game began at an attacking pace, which rewarded The Nomads who only had to wait five minutes for a breakthrough.  A free kick was sent into the Llandudno area, with Les Davies sending the ball bck across the face of goal finding Callum Morris at the back post, who simply knocked the ball in to get his first competitive goal for The Nomads.

With confidence high from this early lead, The Nomads went on once again via Davies who sent a long throw into the box, which eventually forced keeper Dave Roberts into a point blank save from an Ashley Ruane header.  Davies was again in the thick of it when he intercepted a Llandudno defender's pass, surging clear onto goal, where his shot went straight to Roberts who caught the chance.

Llandudno were trailing 1-0, but held themselves well against The Nomads throughout the game.  Awarded a corner in the 15th minute , a goal came close for Lewis Buckley who headed the delivery just over the crossbar.  James Joyce then threatened with a run on the wing for Tudno, but Baynes and Harrison were on task to halt his advances.

The game began to become more and more equal in the middle of the first half, seen by Smith’s run and pass to Ruane, which the Nomads number nine could not quite reach. Moments later Danny Hughes launched a run which came to nothing thanks to the home defence.

Danby then denied a spectacular goal when a James Joyce free kick from just outside the area went straight towards the top right corner of the goal, where Danby put it out for a corner.  This chance was one of many Llandudno efforts in the first half, which could easily have featured an equaliser from the away side.

The justified optimism of the travelling Tudno fans was however damaged just before half time when Chris Rimmer sent a volley from a McIntyre corner into the roof of Roberts' net.  This goal was a welcome one to The Nomads who had successfully maintained their lead come the interval.

In the second half there was no change in tactics from Llandudno, who continued to go at the home goal.  The Nomads replied via Sean Smith who was effective on the left wing, making a run to the area where his effort on goal was blocked.

Tudno were soon back on the offence when Linwood was forced to make an acrobatic clearance in The Nomads six yard box, before Lewis Buckley made way for former Rhyl man Liam Dawson.

The Nomads persisted to try and gain a three goal cushion against a tireless Tudno outfit, with a corner ball from Wes Baynes skimming the head of Davies which sent it left of the goal.  Llandudno’s support then thought they had lift off on a comeback, but Dawson’s goal was disallowed by the assistant's flag.

The visitors were then again denied a goal when after a ball was sent deep into The Nomads' final third, Danby was brought down, the ball looping over him and going into the net.  Despite protests from Tudno, referee Kevin Parry awarded a free kick to The Nomads.

Changes were made in Rushton coming on for Sean Smith, yet this couldn’t ease the flurry of Llandudno players entering the Nomads area, forcing all 11 Nomads men to make numerous clearances in the last 20 minutes of the game.

Jack Chambers then replaced Davies, and made an immediate impact going on a solo run down the right wing before getting tackled just outside the Tudno area.  90 minutes had gone by at Deeside, but the game was full of action during the additional four minutes of injury time.

Llandudno, for the umpteenth time, launched an attack which was now successful, with Hughes edging the ball past Danby low to the near post in a packed area.  To add to The Nomads fans nerves, a corner was awarded to Tudno, which was cleared by Crowther however the danger soon returned to The Nomads half.

In the midst of all this, Callum Terrell replaced Ashley Ruane to make his debut for The Nomads, joining from Wrexham earlier in the month.  This was to be not only Callum’s first game but first win with his side, as Kevin Parry then confirmed a 2-1 win at full time.

This game brought a well earned and hard worked win for The Nomads, who were against an admirable Llandudno side that pushed them all the way.

The Nomads will look to build on their victory away to Bangor City FC next Tuesday night.

Match Photos