Woodcock salvages point for Nomads against Haverfordwest

Max Woodcock scored his first domestic goal of the season to rescue a point for Connah’s Quay Nomads in a 1-1 draw with Haverfordwest County at the Essity Stadium on Friday. 

Haverfordwest took the lead moments into the second half through Jack Walker’s header, but the Nomads eventually pulled level through Woodcock, who bundled the ball home from close range. 

Callum West and Somalian international Abdi Sharif were both denied by the crossbar after Woodcock’s equaliser, meaning the Nomads were forced to settle a point. 

John Disney’s side are unbeaten in their last six games and maintain third-place in the Novira Cymru Premier despite dropped points. 

Team News

Deadline day signing Jordan Hodkin was handed his full debut by Disney as he partnered Harry Franklin up front. Frankie Deane, Mikey Stone and Rhys Watson also returned to the starting lineup to replace Sharif, Hussein Mehasseb and Dan Cowan. 

Haverfordwest manager Tony Pennock made three changes from his side’s 2-1 win over Trefelin last time out as Jack Wilson, Ben Ahmun and Dan Hawkins replaced Hari Thomas, Lewis Rees and Jacob Owen, who all dropped to the bench. 

First Half

Hodkin had a glorious chance to open his Nomads account inside the first minute of his debut as he met Rhys Watson’s cross but could only head over the bar from just a few yards out. 

The Nomads continued to enjoy possession and deliver plenty of teasing crosses into the area, but none of them resulted in any major opportunities as both goalkeepers continued to have a quiet first half. 

Both sides were forced into the first changes due to injuries as Owen replaced Wilson for the visitors a few minutes Woodcock came on for Franklin. 

Long range specialist Mikey Stone tried to produce the moment of magic that the match needed as he cut inside on the edge of the area and let fly from distance, but he watched his effort sail over the bar. 

Second Half

Joe Simatupang-Ferguson tracked back to make a crucial block to deny Ahmun inside the area in the 49th minute when it seemed the Haverfordwest forward only had Chris Renshaw to beat. 

However, the away side found the breakthrough from the resulting corner as Walker met Rhys Abbruzzese’s delivery and planted his header into the top corner, which proved just a tad too high for Alex Hughes to clear off the line. 

The Nomads nearly found an immediate equaliser, but Simatupang-Ferguson fired narrowly wide at the back post before Hodkin’s flick-on found Iwan Murray, who agonisingly headed over the bar from four yards out. 

It was eventually all square after 73 minutes though, as Woodcock escaped his marker to meet West’s clipped free-kick into the area and bundled the ball home via the post to bag his first goal since scoring for the club in the UEFA Conference League against Kosovan side FC Ballkani in July. 

Sharif, Mehasseb, Freddie Redshaw and Darren Stephenson were all introduced as the Nomads pushed for a late winner. 

Both teams were then denied by the crossbar within the space of three minutes as Abbruzzese’s dipping strike crashed onto the woodwork before Sharif’s effort at the back post from West’s corner fell down off the bar and was scrambled to safety. 

West almost added another stunning goal to his already-impressive collection this season as the youngster received the ball from 25 yards out and sent a thunderous shot towards goal, which left Luc Rees well beaten but once again the crossbar came to Haverfordwest’s rescue. 

Woodcock nearly turned provider for a dramatic late winner in the 86th minute as he crossed the ball into Mehasseb, who rose above Rees in the air but saw his header bounce a whisker wide of the bottom corner. 

Haverfordwest survived the remaining four minutes of normal time and only four minutes of stoppage time as both sides took home a point apiece. 

What’s Next? 

The Nomads aim to continue their unbeaten run in the Novira Cymru Premier next Saturday, 12 September against Colwyn Bay at the Blue Turtle Arena (5:30pm KO). 

This match will be exclusively live streamed on BBC iPlayer, along with cymrufootball.tv, giving supporters two options to watch the Nomads in action if fans are unable to make the trip across the North Wales coast. 

Match Report by Adam Angerer