Pre season derby ends level at Airbus

Connah’s Quay Nomads drew 2-2 in a pre season friendly against local rivals Airbus UK FC on Saturday afternoon.

The game was Nomads’ first pre season friendly since their Europa League campaign, during which they recorded a 1-0 victory over HJK Helsinki before losing out 3-0 in the second leg.

The Nomads brought most of their first team squad to the game including new signings Jake Phillips and Joe Heath along with two trialists.

The game started in lively fashion with a 40 yard free kick from ex-Nomad Wes Baynes going wide of the Nomads’ goal.  Connah’s Quay replied with a number of attacks from the likes of Wignall who looked dangerous on the wing for the away side.

The Nomads were awarded a free kick in the 10th minute, but Matty Owen’s delivery was batted away by the Airbus defence who held for the majority of the first half in the face of attacks from the Nomads’ front line of Michael Wilde and Declan Poole.

In the 29th minute Wilde came close to sending Nomads ahead when he intercepted a pass between the Airbus defence to run at goal and strike at a tight angle, only to be denied by the goalkeeper.

Wilde followed this chance up with a clinical strike just four minutes later, when he beat the offside trap to run past an unaware Airbus defence and finish low into the bottom right corner of the net.

Confident in their lead, Nomads nearly scored a second immediately after the opener when a header from Callum Morris opened up play allowing Wignall to cross to Wilde who was intercepted in the Airbus area.

Nomads were controlling the game well as they looked to hold onto their lead during half time, but a 45th minute penalty for Airbus sent the scores level. After a challenge from Michael Pearson on Aaron Bowen, the referee pointed to the spot allowing Bowen to slot home and make it 1-1.

Changes during the interval saw Jake Phillips and Nathan Woolfe come on for a similarly competitive second half.

The Nomads started brightly with Wignall having an effort headed off the goal line on 49 minutes before Callum Morris restored Nomads’ lead in the 54th. After a cross from Woolfe, Morris went to the ground with a low sliding effort which swept the ball into the net.

With their lead again intact, Nomads continued to create chances and felt they should’ve scored more via good chances chances including a saved Wilde effort from seven yards out and a powerful strike from Woolfe which went narrowly past the right post.

After more substitutions which saw Conor Harwood and Sean Smith make appearances, Airbus again equalised with a well taken free kick from Leo Riley. From around 25 yards out, he stepped up to send the ball over the wall and neatly into the top left corner of John Rushton’s goal.

During the last ten minutes The Nomads’ two trialists were introduced as both sides battled hard for a winning goal, but with heavy rain falling and a thunderstorm approaching, the game ended on 90 minutes with the final score 2-2.

The Nomads’ pre season campaign continues on Tuesday 25 July away to Colwyn Bay for a 7:45pm kick off. They then travel to Hyde United on Saturday 29 July for a 3:00pm kick off.

Match Photos

Match Report by Will Catterall