Saints better Nomads in Park Hall clash

Connah’s Quay Nomads were beaten 3-0 by The New Saints in the JD Welsh Premier League on Tuesday evening.

• Jamie Mullan opened scoring on two minutes
• Ryan Brobbel doubled TNS’ lead
• Nathan Woolfe hit the woodwork for Nomads
• A Routledge goal sealed TNS victory

Goals from Jamie Mullan, Ryan Brobbel and Jon Routledge gave TNS the victory, in a defeat that keeps Nomads third in the league table.

The game was a rearranged fixture after its original date, Friday 15th November, was postponed due to heavy snow on the pitch.

The Nomads came into the game looking for a third unbeaten league fixture, having recorded a 5-1 victory over Aberystwyth Town at Deeside and drawn
0-0 at Cardiff Met.

TNS meanwhile, came into the game having not played since the start of December in a JD Welsh Cup game against Penrhyncoch.

Jay Catton was on the touchline for The Nomads as Andy Morrison served the second game of a two-match ban.  John Oyenuga, Nathan Woolfe and ex-TNS men Michael Wilde and Kai Edwards all started for The Nomads.

And their freshness showed as just two minutes in, after failed clearances from Sean Smith and Kai Edwards, Jamie Mullan tapped to score at close range after Danby pushed away a shot from Greg Draper.

The early goal put TNS in control of the game as they enjoyed a large amount of possession against a Nomads side who were battling to increase their time on the ball and get upfield.

Connah’s Quay’s evening was then made harder in the 13th minute, when TNS man Ryan Brobbel dribbled into The Nomads’ area and sent in a low shot past Danby from around eight yards out.

The Nomads looked to reduce the deficit before the break, and came agonisingly close to doing so right before half time, when a Nathan Woolfe effort on the edge of the TNS area rattled the crossbar.

The second half saw The Nomads come out still well up for the game and hopeful of conjuring a result, seen through the likes of John Oyenuga who made constant runs for his side.

In the 49th minute he won a free kick for The Nomads after being brought down, but the set piece was headed wide by Michael Wilde after delivery from Matty Owen.

The Nomads’ first substitution brought on Michael Bakare in place of Jay Owen.

Matty Owen saw a good chance go amiss in the 54th minute, as his shot inside the TNS area took a deflection that sent it goalwards, but the ball was headed off the line by Connell Rawlinson.

TNS replied to The Nomads’ chance with one of their own, as Ryan Brobbel went close to a second goal when he hit the post from ten yards out.

Michael Bakare was a vital part of Nomads’ push for a way back into the game, sending crosses into the area and holding up play to link up with an overlapping John Oyenuga. Bakare sent a header goalwards from a Matty Owen header on 69 minutes, but the effort went wide.

John Oyenuga was then substituted in place of Declan Poole, who came on and nearly scored when he burst down the wing and sent an angled effort towards goal from nine yards which was palmed away by TNS keeper Harrison.

Despite The Nomads’ positive play and efforts, the result was sealed through a third TNS goal from Jon Routledge. Following a spell of pressure from the home side, Routledge slotted into the Nomads area on 77 minutes and finished low from around 10 yards in the bottom left corner of the Connah’s Quay net.

The result sees The Nomads remain third in the JD Welsh Premier League and well in the race for automatic Europa League qualification. They move onto a league fixture at home to Newtown AFC for a 7:45pm kick off on Friday 22 December.

Match Photos

Match Report by Will Catterall