Champions! Nomads successfully defend Development North title in seven goal thriller

Sunday afternoon saw The Nomads retain the Cymru Development North title after a 4-3 victory over TNS. Goals from Charlie Davies, Jack Burman, Ben Farley and Luca Hogan were enough to secure back to back titles for Gareth Richards’ side.

Form
Our scholars have had simply one of the best winning runs across the Welsh Football scene, winning 21 games out of 21 in the Cymru Development North with eyes set on a potential invincible season. The Nomads took a giant step closer to the title during March with a narrow 3-2 win over local rivals Airbus before a first half blitz against Newtown last weekend saw them secure a comfortable 3-1 victory.

TNS did all they can to try and catch Nomads at the top of the table but a loss against Newtown at the end of January dented their hopes, Since then, Saints have won four consecutive league games and also reached the final of the FAW Youth Cup Final after a dramatic 4-3 victory over Flint in the semi final courtesy of Josh Roseberry-Beamond’s late goal.

Team News
Gareth Richards made just the one change from his side’s win over Newtown as Harvey Morris replaced the suspended Captain Leon Bennett, meaning Will Nash took the armband for this fixture with Rhys Lloyd and Harvey Scott returning to the bench.

Saints made three changes to their side with Ellis Turner, Jac Herbert and Rhydian Williams all returning to the starting eleven, replacing Nicholas Grogan, Leo Fairclough and Robbie Palmer.

The First Half
The first chance of the game fell to The Nomads after a long ball over the top saw Luca Hogan beat his man down the byline and look to fire a square ball across the face of goal but a crucial block from Rhydian Williams put an end to the attack.

Nomads goalkeeper Hughie Foulkes was then forced into making a fine save just minutes later after Josh Lock found space in the middle of the park and went for goal from distance but Foulkes dived down to his left to tip it away.

In-form striker Alfie Vaughan had a glorious opportunity to open the scoring for Nomads after Jack Wissett’s inviting ball was met by Vaughan whose left footed volley flew over the bar from close range.

Nomads took the lead on the half hour mark through Charlie Davies who bagged his 1st goal of the season. Ben Farley’s pinpoint diagonal ball beyond the Saints defence was pulled across the six yard box by Jack Burman and Davies showed brilliant awareness to poke home past Saints goalkeeper Jack Edwards.

Saints quickly replied by equalising around ten minutes after Davies’ opener and it was Josh Lock with the goal. The Saints attack charged at the Nomads defence as Josh Roseberry-Beamond spotted Lock with space in the middle of the park, the Saints forward then found the top corner with a powerful effort which left Hughie Foulkes no chance.

The Second Half
Despite Nomads being on top for the opening moments of the second half, Saints went ahead through Josh Roseberry-Beamond. Reece Warder’s cross towards the back post fell kindly to Roseberry-Beamond who stabbed the ball into the back of the net, making it 2-1 to the away side.

The Nomads looked for an instant leveller but were unable to really test Jack Edwards in the Saints goal. A wide free kick was swung in by Ben Farley which was cleared but only as far as Harvey Morris who hooked the ball goalwards but it was a comfortable one for Edwards to claim.

A superb burst of pace from Luca Hogan down the left set Nomads off on a dangerous counter attack and after teasing his marker near the byline, Hogan found Jack Burman on the edge of the area who managed to get a curling shot off but again Jack Edwards was able to collect.

Burman was not to be denied a second time as he levelled things up on the hour mark. Luca Hogan’s pass into Alfie Vaughan saw the 17-year old produce a wonderful chipped pass in behind the Saints backline leaving Burman with just Edwards to beat and the striker did just that by slotting past the goalkeeper at his near post.

Josh Roseberry-Beamond came extremely close to grabbing his second of the afternoon for Saints as Josh Lock’s floated ball towards the back post saw Roseberry-Beamond attempt a left footed volley which was inches past the post.

The Nomads had been dominant throughout most of the second half and took a deserved lead to turn the game on its head and did so in emphatic style. Ryley Oakley’s pass into the midfield was intercepted by Ben Farley who took a touch to set himself up to shoot before sending a thunderbolt off the post and into the back of the net as the title looked set to remain in Deeside.

Nomads sealed the deal in the 86th minute as Charlie Davies’ superb solo run past numerous Saints defenders saw Davies sprint into the area ang go to ground following a foul from Ellis Turner and the referee, with no hesitation, pointed straight to the spot, giving Luca Hogan the chance to give Nomads a two goal cushion heading into the last five minutes. Hogan stepped up and made no mistake, calmly rolling his spot kick, sending Jack Edwards the wrong way.

Saints grabbed a late consolation goal through star striker Gwion Dafydd. A long ball into the box was controlled by Roseberry-Beamond who gave it to Dafydd out wide before the youngster powerfully found the roof of the net from a tight angle.

It was too little too late for Saints to produce a comeback, therefore crowning The Nomads Cymru Development North Champions for the second season in a row with a potential invincible season to top off an extraordinary for Gareth Richards and his side.

Date Published: Tuesday, 28th March, 2023 - 10:05am by Adam Angerer