Five-star Nomads storm to third successive NEWFA Cup

Connah’s Quay Nomads Women secured their third successive NEWFA Cup with a 5-0 victory over Airbus UK Broughton at Memorial Playing Fields.

The Nomads were forced to grind out a hard-fought 3-0 win with only ten players against the Wingmakers in last year’s final, but this time around - with no numerical difference, it was a much more comfortable display from Jordan Parry’s side.

Evie Chard’s astonishing halfway line goal, Kylie Jones’ penalty and Elana Harley’s composed finish saw The Nomads race into a three-goal lead late in the first half.

The thunder and lightning then began to strike most of the country, but the extreme weather conditions only played a minor part in The Nomads’ all-round performance as second half goals from substitutes Anais Bathily and Alisha Whitehead-Hughes sealed an emphatic victory.

The result marked The Nomads’ third successive NEWFA Cup trophy win after prevailing in 2022 and 2023.

This year’s trophy recognised huge amounts of hard work on and off the pitch from The Nomads and it also goes nicely with our Genero Adran North U19’s title, which we secured back in March.

The Nomads ended their Genero Adran North campaign with a 9-0 victory over our NEWFA Cup final opponents Airbus, and manager Jordan Parry made just two changes to his side.

Evie Chard returned from injury and slotted straight into defence, but while she made her way back from a spell on the sidelines, Sophie Rawling was unable to make the squad due to a minor knock. Emily Luke replaced Emily Hughes-Jones in the other change.

Both sides had early chances in the opening 10 minutes as Aimee Redfern’s effort from close range flew over the top before Airbus midfielder Ffion Jones saw her strike from distance trickle inches wide of the bottom corner.

Meg Andrews went close to opening the scoring on two occasions in quick succession as her cross-turned-shot forced Ruby Stevens into her first save of the match. Andrews then drove into the area, cut onto her weaker left foot and sent a curling shot narrowly wide of the far corner.

The Nomads were eventually rewarded for their early threat on the attack as the breakthrough arrived in the 34th minute and in extraordinary fashion.

Evie Chard stood over a free kick inside her own half and sent the ball into a dangerous area. Her long ball missed everybody, including Ruby Stevens, who was unable to prevent the effort from bouncing over her and into the back of the net as Chard bagged her first Nomads goal in style.

Just moments later, the lead was doubled as a foul on Meg Andrews inside the area allowed captain Kylie Jones to step up from 12 yards and calmly convert from the spot for her sixth goal of the season.

Ruby Ellis almost halved the deficit with her fierce strike, but Molly France was alert to the danger and made a superb save.

Airbus were punished for their missed chance as Elana Harley added a third on the stroke of half time. Jones’ flick-on from Phoebe Ellis’ corner fell kindly to the feet of Harley, who sweetly struck home into the bottom corner.

The second half was much quieter than the first, but with a three-goal lead, The Nomads looked ever so comfortable after the restart as the extreme weather conditions began to take their toll in Ruthin.

The Nomads made all five changes in the space of five minutes as Anais Bathily, Alisha Whitehead-Hughes, Ella Harvey, Amy Clark and Emily Hughes-Jones were all introduced.

Phoebe Ellis, Emily Luke, Aimee Redfern, Alisha Wright and Meg Andrews departed the field.

Polly Wild-McGregor was next to go close for The Nomads as her curling effort forced Stevens into yet another save.

Airbus tried to find a way back into the match, but as they pushed numbers forward, it allowed The Nomads to take full advantage on the counter-attack as Bathily added a fourth.

A long ball over the top of the Wingmakers defence was controlled brilliantly by the substitute and her finish was even better as she lifted the ball over Stevens to add another goal to her remarkable first season in Nomads colours.

Things were wrapped up in the 87th minute by Alisha Whitehead-Hughes as she guided a terrific header into the bottom corner from Wild-McGregor’s cross for her fifth Nomads goal of the season.

The thunder and lightning continued to strike, but that did not stop The Nomads from sprinting onto the pitch following the full time whistle as the celebrations for a third consecutive NEWFA Cup trophy win began.

Retaining the NEWFA Cup was one of the aims for The Nomads at the start of the season, and now that fate has been achieved, the players and staff can now enjoy a six week break before returning to embark on a exciting pre-season campaign.

Date Published: Monday, 13th May, 2024 - 12:00pm by Adam Angerer