Nomads Keep Visitors at Bay

Much has been said of the undoubted quality within the Nomads' Academy teams and just two games into pre-season several young players have put themselves forward for first team football. Both Aled Reece and Rhys Healey were in tonight's starting line-up while recent signing Jack Rowlands made his debut at right-back.

Keen to erase memories of last season's 10-0 drubbing by Colwyn Bay in the North Wales Coast Cup, Nomads began brightly against a Seagulls side which featured a number of triallists. Both sides showed their passing skills on a decent playing surface and Nomads were in no way overawed by their opponents who are relishing the forthcoming season at Blue Square North level.

Bay should have opened the scoring on 24 minutes when McCready fired wide after two efforts had been blocked by home defenders. Instead it was Connah's Quay who grabbed the initiative on the half hour when McMann's handball gave James McIntosh the chance to crash home a penalty kick. Shortly before the interval Nomads' boss Mark McGregor sent a header against the crossbar but the home side were not to be denied a second goal and doubled their advantage shortly afterwards when Jamie Petrie latched onto a through ball to steer a shot beyond the reach of Andy Metcalf.

Ben Alston and George Baxter were half-time substitutes for Rowlands and Petrie while the visitors made changes of their own with a view to quickly getting back into the game. Colwyn Bay certainly stepped up a gear as Nomads were pushed back and within ten minutes of the restart Rob Hopley reduced the arrears with a cracking shot that left Louis Mackin clawing fresh air.

On the hour Andy Alston pulled up with a hamstring problem allowing Ryan Jones to take over in the back four. Moments later only a fine save by Metcalf stopped Nomads from adding to their lead, the 'keeper tipping over a great effort by George Baxter. Further substitutions followed with Jordan Beck replacing Ben Collins and John Rushton taking over 'between the sticks'. On 66 minutes Rushton's first job was to pick the ball out of the net after referee Nick Pratt awarded Colwyn Bay a rather fortuitous penalty after a shot from point blank range struck Ryan Jones' elbow. It was Lee Davey who scored from the spot.

Bay now had the momentum and looked likely to take the lead as the game drew to a close although their shooting was wayward and rarely troubled young Rushton who looked a most composed goalkeeper. Yet, with just five minutes remaining, it was the Quay who re-took the lead after Rhys Healey was put through in the inside-right channel. Showing coolness beyond his years, Healey turned two defenders and left another sprawling before firing past Metcalf.

No sooner had the game restarted, however, than Gareth Evans caught Nomads' defence cold and shot past Rushton to earn the Bay a 3-3 draw. Both sides will take heart from their performances in an entertaining game which banished any thoughts of that wet night last October.

Nomads (First half): Louis Mackin, Jack Rowlands, Ben Collins, Mark McGregor, Andy Alston, Craig Jones, Jamie Petrie, Alan Hooley, Aled Reece, Rhys Healey, James McIntosh.

Second-half substitutions: Ben Alston (for Rowlands), George Baxter (for Petrie), Ryan Jones (for Andy Alston), Jordan Beck (for Collins) and John Rushton (for Mackin).

Attendance: 124