Nomads succumb to unbeaten Saints

The Nomads were defeated for the first time at home this season on Saturday evening after a 3-0 defeat to The New Saints.  Scott Quigley scored after just four minutes, with Draper and Rawlinson adding goals in the 46th and 57th minutes respectively.

The result, a first home defeat of the season for The Nomads, was a disappointing one as they had played well throughout the game, with the scoreline failing to reflect their performance.

With John Danby out injured, Jon Rushton started in goal for The Nomads, with Nick Rushton and Nathan Woolfe also starting.  The New Saints named an ever strong lineup with captain Paul Harrison, Ryan Brobbel and Scott Quigley in manager Craig Harrison’s first eleven.

The game began and The New Saints found the net after just four minutes, when a defensive error from Baynes meant Quigley could send a left footed half volley from 25 yards into The Nomads' net.  Despite this early goal, The Nomads went on to put on an impressive first half performance against the champions.

After forcing a corner in the 11th minute, Les Davies had a low shot blocked just eight yards from the TNS goal.  20 minutes in and The Nomads had fought their way back into the game, and began to put the TNS goalmouth under some serious pressure.

A Nathan Woolfe cross was headed just wide by Davies who had been tussling for the header with Marriott, before Callum Morris saw a strike blocked inside the Saints' area.

In the 31st minute, an opportunity fell to Jay Owen inside the box, only to see his shot go wide.  Shortly after, The Nomads nearly equalised as Paul Harrison struggled with a Wes Baynes corner, as the 'keeper parried the ball narrowly wide.

As the half went on, The Nomads’ attacks increased, with Nathan Woolfe unable to get a clean connection on a dangerous cross from Wes Baynes to the left of the Saints goal.  Despite further efforts, many involving long throw-in’s from Lewis Short, the score remained 0-1 at half time.

Although The Nomads were trailing, there was an atmosphere of confidence around Deeside that the home side could come out of the game with a result after matching TNS for the majority of the first half.  These hopes however, were seriously damaged when Greg Draper scored just one minute after the restart.

Breaking through The Nomads’ defensive line to go clear on goal, Draper struck a clean effort low into the bottom left corner of the goal to leave The Nomads with a mountain to climb for the second half.

The Nomads looked to retaliate to yet another early TNS goal, with Davies shooting just wide from the edge of the TNS area in the 51st minute.

The Saints got their third and final goal when after a scramble in The Nomads' area, the ball fell to Connell Rawlinson who slotted the ball in just a few yards from The Nomads' goal.

Changes for The Nomads saw Wes Baynes and Nick Rushton substituted for Chris Rimmer and Declan Poole, but this did little to change a game now dominated by TNS.

The Nomads still created chances but did not finish them clinically, with Poole running into the Saints area on 71 minutes only to have his shot loop past the left post.

The Nomads’ best chance of the game came when Les Davies headed against the crossbar after connecting with a cross from Woolfe in the 77th minute.

After Danny Harrison came off for Matty Owen, The Nomads continued to push but The New Saints used their experience and passing play to see out the remaining ten and three additional minutes of play.

The result does not affect The Nomads’ league position of second, but reduces the gap between themselves and third placed Bala Town to three points following The Lakesiders' 3-0 victory over Llandudno earlier in the day.

The Nomads will look to bounce back over a festive double header which will see them play Airbus UK away on Boxing Day and at home on December 30.

Match Photos

Match Report by Will Catterall