Fog foils semi-final at Deeside

The Nomads' Nathaniel MG Cup semi-final against The New Saints was abandoned after 73 minutes on Tuesday evening due to heavy fog.

The game was hotly anticipated as it brought together the Dafabet Welsh Premier League's top two sides in leaders The New Saints and The Nomads who currently sit second in the table.

Both teams came into the game off the back of wins but in differing competitons, with The Nomads taking three points in a 2-0 win at Llandudno whilst TNS progressed to the semi-finals of the Irn Bru Cup after a 3-0 win over Scottish side Livingston.

The New Saints dropped the likes of Harrison and Draper for the game, but included the likes of Ryan Brobbel, Scott Quigley and Alex Darlington as they looked to reach the final against Barry Town United.

The Nomads meanwhile started Nathan Woolfe and Les Davies, with Tom Field also returning to the lineup from injury.

The first half had a lively opening, seen in the seventh minute when Tom Field sent an effort wide from 20 yards after Les Davies used his strength to beat Rawlinson on the by-line.  This chance was the product of one of many Nomads attacks in a good opening 20 minutes for the home side.

Nathan Woolfe used his skill and pace to send a deft ball into the TNS area in the 21st minute, which just evaded the waiting Les Davies and Nick Rushton.

As the game went towards the 30 minute mark it was a very even encounter with The Nomads matching the league leaders and current Nathaniel MG Cup holders, but a defensive error saw TNS take the lead.

When Wes Baynes tried to send a header back to John Danby in goal, Wes Fletcher intercepted to slot the ball in from seven yards in a goal against the run of play.

However The Saints' lead was short-lived, as Nick Rushton equalised for The Nomads in the 32nd minute.  From a Wes Baynes free kick, he rose up in the area to head the ball over goalkeeper Andy Wycherley and into the net.

Boosted by their lead, The Nomads again went at the TNS goal with Jay Owen having a 25 yard effort blocked by Rawlinson, and Lewis Short using his long-throw-in range to threaten.

Les Davies sent the Nomads ahead in the 41st minute, when a defensive mix up from TNS allowed Matty Owen to send a 20 yard strike towards goal which deflected off Davies to go in.

At half time, The Nomads went in leading 2-1 and could reflect on a positive performance which had left them just 45 minutes away from the Nathaniel MG Cup final.

During half time a thick fog descended upon Deeside, but hung above the pitch meaning conditions were still fine for the game to continue at the time.

The second half kicked off in the same high tempo manner as the first, with Matty Owen having an effort blocked just outside the TNS area before Chris Seargeant sent a free kick over The Nomads' goal from 18 yards.

Seargeant then brought The Saints level on 54 minutes, when he found himself and the ball in space 25 yards from goal, hitting the ball cleanly into the bottom left corner of The Nomads' net.

Substitutions were rung by both sides with former Nomad Robbie Parry appearing for The New Saints, and a double substitution from Nomads seeing Matty Owen and Tom Field replaced by Matty Williams and Callum Morris.

Just as the match was shaping up to be a cup classic with Nomads and TNS on even footings, the foggy conditions drastically deteriorated.  On 73 minutes, referee Huw Jones brought the game to a halt, and after deliberations with both sides, the decision was made to abandon the match.

In this bizarre scenario, The Nomads can reflect on an impressive performance against The New Saints but with no reward.

They now turn their attentions to a Dafabet Welsh Premier fixture away to Newtown on Saturday 19 November, with the semi final now due to be replayed next Tuesday, 22nd November with a 7:45pm kick off.

Match Photos

Match Report by Will Catterall