The Nomads are going to Europe

Saturday evening saw The Nomads’ greatest game in club history, when they won the Dafabet Welsh Premier League Play-Off Final to secure UEFA Europa League qualification for the first time.

The only goal of the game came in the 80th minute when Wes Baynes scored what would become the goal that sent The Nomads into Europe.

The game was an historic Flintshire derby, which saw Airbus make the short trip to Deeside for a fixture in which the winners would earn €200,000 and a place in the Europa League.

Both The Nomads and Airbus fielded strong sides in the hope of clinching the play-off trophy, which saw the likes of Les Davies and the returning Callum Morris start for The Nomads whilst Airbus included the reputable Tony Gray and Ryan Wignall in their starting eleven.

A record breaking crowd of 904 attended Deeside for the game to watch the landmark fixture for both clubs.

Although The Nomads would go onto taste victory, much of the first half was dominated by the Wingmakers.  From the kick off, Ryan Wignall made a darting run into The Nomads' final third where his teammates threatened by holding possession well.

The Nomads looked to respond with an early chance coming from a Davies cross into the Airbus area, which went to Woolfe who won a corner whilst trying to connect with the ball.

Throughout the game, Airbus sent numerous crosses into The Nomads’ area which challenged the home defence.  A notable chance came from Mike Pearson, who sent a piercing effort across the face of The Nomads’ goal.

The rest of the first half continued to see The Nomads fend off Airbus’ attacks, until Nick Rushton had the last chance before the interval, when the ball fell to him yards from goal on the right of the Airbus area, only James Cotes to parry his attempt off the line.

Both sides came out for the second knowing they would have to find a way to give more in a play-off final derby that was beginning to look like a stalemate.

Nick Rushton began his second half with a similar chance to that at the end of the first half, as he tried to steer a sidefooted volley inside the Airbus posts, only to see it go narrowly wide.  Airbus similarly pushed into The Nomads' area but couldn’t get a shot away in the face of the tireless defence led by George Horan.

Although the record crowd had hoped for a better spectacle in the second half, both sides continued to cancel each other out which prompted changes for both teams. Murphy was replaced for Ryan Wade, whilst Ashley Ruane took to the pitch for The Nomads in place of Nathan Woolfe.

The Nomads eventually started creating more chances from the 70th minute, when Wes Baynes tested goalkeeper Coates from 30 yards before Nick Rushton sent a header towards goal which was dealt with easily by the goalkeeper.

The goal that The Nomads desperately needed then finally came, when after a melee in the Airbus area, Wes Baynes sent a low shot towards goal and put The Nomads ahead in scrappy but nonetheless historic circumstances.

A tense end to the game followed, with the Wingmakers persistent in attacks on The Nomads' goalmouth for the remainder of the game.  The Nomads brought Kevin McIntyre on in an effort to solidify the defence, who made countless blocks and clearances to protect The Nomads lead.

An agonising four minutes of injury time were played which saw Airbus come close to an equaliser with dangerous high balls being sent into the area, but when Jon Rushton took a goal kick referee Dean John blew his full time whistle to send the Nomads into raptures.

This win confirms that Nomads will be playing in Europe for the first time in their history, and brings to an end what has been the clubs’ greatest ever season.  The Nomads will find out their opposition on June 20th when the draw for the First Qualifying Round of the UEFA Europa League will be made at the UEFA Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Match Photos

Match Report by Will Catterall