Nomads confirm top six spot after winning Ferry thriller

Connah’s Quay Nomads confirmed their return to the JD Cymru Premier Championship Conference with an entertaining 4-2 victory over Briton Ferry Llansawel on Sunday afternoon. 

The Nomads suffered a setback after Tom Walters gave Ferry the lead, but a composed finish from Harry Franklin levelled the scoreline at the break.  

Callum West’s deflected strike from distance put the Nomads ahead immediately after the restart, but Ferry made it two apiece through Ollie Anderson’s close-range finish.

However, quality from the bench proved vital for the Nomads as substitute Max Woodcock restored the Nomads’ advantage late on by providing the finishing touch to Franklin’s low cross. Franklin put the game to bed in stoppage-time and ensured a place in the top six was fully secured as he fired home from West’s low ball. 

John Disney’s side have now claimed 26 points from the last 30 available, with the victory marking an immediate return to the top six after last season’s disappointment. 

Team News

Disney made two changes from the 2-1 win over Colwyn Bay at the beginning of December as Callum West and Dan Cowan returned to replace Abdi Sharif and Dan Roberts, who were named amongst the substitutes. Callum Bratley returned to the bench after a minor injury, while Steven Gerrard Academy scholar James Hughes made the First Team squad for the first time since October. 

Briton Ferry manager Andy Dyer made two changes from his side’s 2-2 draw away at Cardiff Met last Tuesday as Ollie Anderson and first-choice captain Alex Gammond replaced Ryan George and Dylan Packer.

First Half

Ferry created the better opportunities in the opening stages of the contest as Kit Margetson was forced to make important saves to deny Walters and Anderson inside the area. 

The Nomads nearly opened the scoring from a swift attacking move as Margetson spotted Franklin in space down the left hand side, which allowed the forward to race into the area with only Will Fuller to beat, but the Ferry goalkeeper was able to get a narrow touch on Franklin’s lobbed effort. 

Ferry made their first half pressure count in the 35th minute as Walters raced in behind the Nomads defence, brought down a long ball upfield from Fuller and slotted the ball into the bottom corner. 

However, Franklin levelled the scoreline just five minutes later as he timed his run to perfection to latch onto Rhys Hughes’ defence-splitting pass and this time, the 26-year-old made no mistake one-on-one with Fuller as he lifted the ball over the goalkeeper.  

Second Half

It was the dream start to the second half for the Nomads as a loose ball fell kindly to West, whose strike from the edge of the area took a slight deflection off Jack Fanning and found its way into the bottom corner as the youngster bagged his fifth goal of the season. 

Ferry hit back instantly though and made it two apiece as Anderson met Walters’ perfectly weighted low cross and tapped home past Margetson. 

There was an unfortunate moment for Ferry’s Connor Smith, who was forced to come off on a stretcher after a nasty collision with Noah Edwards, so hopefully his injury is not as serious as first feared. 

After the lengthy stoppage, Disney turned to his bench and made four substitutions at once as Max Woodcock, Abdi Sharif, Dan Roberts and Callum Bratley replaced Jacob Cook, Chris Marriott, Marco Fregapane and Dan Cowan. 

Both goalkeepers made fine saves for their sides as we entered the closing stages at the Essity as Margetson tipped away Ricky-Lee Owen’s volley from distance at full stretch before Fuller made a diving stop to deny Noah Edwards’ powerful curling shot towards the top corner.

Edwards was involved in another attack moments later as he played through Woodcock, who tried to sneak the ball into the bottom corner and beyond the outrushing Fuller, but his effort trickled past the post.

However, Woodcock would not be denied two minutes later as he steered the ball home from Franklin’s low cross to bag his first league goal since September and put the Nomads just over 10 minutes away from securing a place in the top six. 

Ferry’s chances of another equaliser were left very slim after midfielder Tom Price was sent off for a second yellow card after he appeared to strike Woodcock’s face. 

Hughes nearly added his name to the scoresheet, but his powerful shot from close-range turned out to be a comfortable save for Fuller. 

However, the Nomads eventually wrapped up all three points in the fourth minute of stoppage time as Franklin applied a simple finish to West’s low cross for his 10th goal in nine league games. It was also the fourth time in three games that Franklin and West have combined for a goal. 

Disney’s side saw out the final few minutes to earn a fifth straight league victory and become the second team to confirm their place in the JD Cymru Premier top six, along with leaders The New Saints. 

What's Next?

The Nomads’ busy festive schedule continues on Boxing Day (Friday, 26 December) with an exciting Flintshire derby against Flint Town United at the Essity Stadium (2:30pm KO). 

Jack Kenny bagged a brace either side of Chris Marriott’s first ever Nomads goal to complete a stunning comeback in a 3-2 victory against Flint in August’s reverse fixture, which gave Disney his first ever league win as manager of the club.

Match Report by Adam Angerer