Nomads edged out by Citizens

The Nomads suffered a 2-1 loss at Bangor City on Tuesday evening in the Dafabet Welsh Premier League.  Goals from Porya Ahamdi and Sam Hart clinched a home win despite a Wes Baynes equaliser in the 53rd minute.

This game was looked forward to as one of the picks of a full card of midweek fixtures in the Dafabet Welsh Premier League.  It saw the return of former Citizens Callum Morris and Les Davies to the Bangor University Stadium, after they moved from Gwynedd to Deeside this summer.

With Nomads in eighth place and coming off the back of a victory over MBi Llandudno, they were looking to continue their winning momentum.  Meanwhile Bangor, 11th in the table, were eager to begin building a solid home form.

The game kicked off in an attacking nature, with both teams going for goal.  Sean Smith created an opportunity for The Nomads when he squared a ball into the Bangor area for Callum Morris, who couldn't connect with the pass.

Bangor summer signing Christian Langos then threatened down the wing before Sion Edwards, in his club record 255th appearance as a Bangor player, sent a great effort high and goalwards which John Danby saved.

Bangor began to enjoy more possession in the game but couldn't find a breakthrough against The Nomads' defence of Linwood, Baynes, Rimmer and McIntyre.  Ashley Ruane ran into the Bangor area and sent a low shot towards the inside of the right Bangor post, which goalkeeper Connor Roberts saved.

One of the major chances of the first half occurred when Ahmadi got in a great position in The Nomads' area, but sent an effort wide from around seven yards out. The Nomads' best chance of the half then followed, with Ruane squaring a ball to a clear and open Morris in the Bangor box, but the Nomads man couldn't reach the pass.

As the half went on Bangor slowly turned the heat on The Nomads as they had done earlier on in the game, this time Edwards coming close to a glorious goal on his record breaking appearance with a wide effort.

Despite a half full of chances, both teams went in at half time goalless - although neither team had managed to find the net, the general consensus of spectators was one that the goals were to come in the second half.

The home fans indeed only had six minutes to wait until their goal, when Porya Ahmadi beat the offside trap, allowing him to slot a ball into the bottom right corner of the net from the left of The Nomads' area.

The Nomads were 1-0 down and their reply to this was all but immediate, when after being awarded a free kick in the 53rd minute, Wes Baynes stepped up to send a perfectly set up free kick over the wall and past Roberts, the ball settling into the bottom left corner of the net.

The Nomads pushed for their second via Davies and Ruane, who both threatened but could not get past the Citizens back line.  It was then the turn of Ahmadi, who after a free kick sent the ball goal wards for Danby to save.

Danby was once again called into action minutes later, making a heroic double save to deny Ahmadi, who attempted to chip the 'keeper - Danby replying with a fingertip save before pushing the returning ball away.

Sensing a goal, Bangor continued to push, but their winner was not to come in open play.  After referee Huw Jones awarded a free kick around five yards from the area, Sam Hart stepped up to send a rocketing free kick over the wall and low into the net on the 70th minute.

This goal was a blow to a Nomads side who had been working hard against a strong Bangor outfit, and they had around 20 minutes to try and turn things around.  Chambers was introduced for Ruane, with Rushton introduced later on in the game.

Bangor felt they may have a had third goal in the 77th minute when Edwards found himself clear and shot, only for Danby to continue a good performance and make the save. The game soon entered the final ten minutes and with this it got physical, with Ahmadi and Harrison both booked for separate fouls within a minute.

In the final minutes of the game, The Nomads pushed, with Chambers making a number of great runs only for them to come to nothing.  The final incident of the game was in fact a red card presented to goal scorer Porya Ahmadi, after he tangled with Chris Rimmer.

Thus, Bangor were to finish the game with 10 men, but victorious by two goals to one in what had been a closely fought Welsh Premier fixture.  The Nomads left Bangor disappointed after a largely solid display failed to bring home any points for the side.

The Nomads now move onto their next fixture at Deeside Stadium in Saturday afternoon, where they welcome Rhyl FC for a 2:30pm kick off.