Stone nets stunner but Nomads beaten on opening weekend

Connah’s Quay Nomads suffered a 2-1 defeat to Caernarfon Town on the opening weekend of the Novira Cymru Premier on Sunday afternoon.

Mikey Stone marked his league debut for the Nomads in style as he produced a stunning free-kick to open the scoring, however Caernarfon were awarded a penalty near the hour mark following a VAR check and Sion Bradley equalised from the spot.

The visitors’ winning moment arrived with 20 minutes to play as Bradley set up strike partner Zack Clarke, who fired into the net to give the Cofis all three points.

Team News
There were 11 summer signings amongst the Nomads squad as John Disney made three changes from our UEFA Conference League outing against FC Ballkani in Kosovo last month.

Cymru U19 international Rhys Watson, who signed for the Nomads just three days ago, was named in the starting lineup, while Hussein Mehasseb and Alex Hughes also made their first competitive starts for the club. There was also a debut for Harry Franklin’s new number nine shirt after the number became available following Jason Oswell’s retirement from football.

Former Nomads trio Ben Nash, Chris Marriott and Noah Edwards were all named in the starting lineup for Caernarfon. Nash was one of four changes for Richard Davies’ side following their 5-0 defeat to FCI Levadia Tallinn in the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round as Danny Gosset, Sion Bradley and Osian Evans also returned.

First Half
Both sides had positive spells in attack during the opening stages of the contest, but no accurate final pass on each occasion meant neither goalkeeper was really tested. Perhaps the best piece of defensive play came from our latest signing Watson, who did well to clear Bradley’s pacy low ball into the six-yard box.

A moment of magic was needed to break the deadlock at the Essity and up stepped Stone, who stood over a free-kick from distance and picked out the top corner with a dipping strike in the 27th minute for his first competitive goal for the club.

There was a brief VAR check moments later for a potential Nomads penalty following a challenge on Abdi Sharif inside the area, but nothing was given.

Bradley was unfortunate not to bring Caernarfon level shortly before half time as his low driven shot from inside the box looked destined to be heading into the net, but was instead blocked by his own teammate Adrian Cieslewicz.

Second Half
The Nomads went extremely close to doubling the lead on two occasions within the first seven minutes of the second half as captain James Jones saw his header from a corner saved well by Connor Roberts before Mehasseb’s header from close range was cleared off the line.

Caernarfon were awarded a penalty with 58 minutes on the clock as Cieslewicz’s cross was deemed to have struck Watson’s arm inside the area. A VAR check was made, but the on-field decision stood and Bradley converted from the spot to bring his side level.

Callum West nearly put the Nomads immediately back in front as Hughes’ cross fell back to our 25/26 Supporters Player of the Season, who volleyed over the bar from close range.

West had another opportunity, albeit this one was more difficult, as he received Franklin’s pinpoint through ball and rounded Roberts, but could only find the side-netting from an extremely tight angle.

Clarke completed Caernarfon’s turnaround in the 71st minute as Bradley chased down a long ball and squared for his strike partner, who controlled and fired into the roof of the net.

Max Woodcock, Frankie Deane, Darren Stephenson and Freddie Redshaw all came off the Nomads bench to provide fresh legs for the Nomads as the game entered its closing stages.

Woodcock delivered a teasing cross to the back post, where he found an unmarked Redshaw, but his header back across goal towards Stephenson was hooked away.

The Nomads piled on the pressure late in the day, but ran out of time as Caernarfon took home all three points.

What’s Next?
The Nomads are back in action this Friday, 7 August as John Disney’s side travel to face Holywell Town in a local Flintshire derby at the Bartons North Wales Stadium (7:45pm KO).

Our first trip to the Wellmen in over 25 years will see Nomads try to respond to their opening weekend defeat to Caernarfon and try to get off the mark in the Novira Cymru Premier. 

Match Report by Adam Angerer