Nomads extend unbeaten run despite late heartbreak in Bay draw

Connah’s Quay Nomads began the JD Cymru Premier Championship Conference with a 2-2 draw against Colwyn Bay at the Blue Turtle Arena on Saturday evening.    

Jacob Cook’s close range finish and Callum West’s sweet strike put the Nomads two goals to the good at the interval. 

However, the Seagulls fought back to claim a point as Jordan Davies’ effort from distance halved the deficit before Ryan Astles tapped home in stoppage-time to deny the Nomads all three points. 

Despite the late heartbreak, the Nomads extended their unbeaten JD Cymru Premier run to 15 matches and still remain nine points clear in second-place / the automatic European qualification spots.   

Team News

John Disney made two changes from our 2-2 draw against Caernarfon Town last time out as James Jones made his first start for the club, replacing the injured Chris Marriott, while Dan Roberts came in for Kai Edwards. Ben Nash captained the side in Marriott’s absence, while Jack Kenny, Dan Cowan and Jason Oswell returned to the bench. 

Colwyn Bay manager Michael Wilde, who had a legendary playing career at the Nomads, made four changes to his side’s 1-0 defeat to The New Saints at the end of Phase One. Former Nomads stars Aeron Edwards, Aron Williams, Jay Owen and Jordan Davies were all amongst the Bay squad. 

First Half 

Bay went close to the opening goal after just 10 minutes played as Louis Robles’ header at the back post forced Kit Margetson to tip the ball wide with a diving save. 

The Nomads took full control once the game settled down by moving the ball nicely. There were no clear cut opportunities, although Declan Poole and Noah Edwards forced Bay goalkeeper Alex Brown into action with their low drives. 

Robles had an even better chance to put the hosts ahead when he controlled Matty Hill’s low cross and found a sight of goal, but a crucial block from Jones denied him. 

Both goalkeepers made fine saves to keep out efforts from distance as Margetson got down low to stop Davies’ driven effort just four minutes before Brown got a strong hand to Rhys Hughes’ curling effort. 

The Nomads took the lead from the resulting corner as Hughes’ dangerous delivery saw Cook nod the ball home at the near post for his third goal of the season as the teenager’s magnificent first season in the JD Cymru Premier continued. 

There was more slick football from the Nomads six minutes later as Callum West doubled the advantage. The 20-year-old played a lovely one-two with Edwards before receiving the latter’s cross and producing a clinical low drive into the bottom corner, leaving Brown no chance of the save. 

Second Half

Bay immediately halved the deficit after the restart as Davies’ cross-turned-shot from out wide was not cleared and therefore nestled into the far corner. 

Disney turned to his bench for the first time on 55 minutes as Freddie Redshaw and Jack Kenny replaced Abdi Sharif and first goalscorer West.  

Although offside, Margetson made a brilliant fingertip save certainly worthy of a mention as the young goalkeeper kept out Aaron Williams’ powerful header from point-blank range.  

The Nomads still managed to create chances despite Bay’s push for an equaliser as Hughes lofted the ball into the path of Edwards, whose strike deflected off Nathan Peate and trickled inches wide of the wrongfooted Brown and his near post. 

Dan Cowan and Zeli Ismail were brought on in place of Dan Roberts and Callum Bratley to try and see the game out deep into stoppage-time, but the Nomads were outdone by George Hughes’ late corner as the delivery fell to Astles, who volleyed in from close range to make it two apiece.  

Despite that late blow, the Nomads have now equalled their longest ever unbeaten JD Cymru Premier run (15 matches) and have not lost on any ground on second-place.

What's Next?

The Nomads are back in competition action on Friday, 6 February as Caernarfon Town visit the Essity Stadium in the second Championship Conference fixture. 

John Disney’s side will be looking to strengthen their position in second-place and take a step closer to confirming an automatic European qualification spot. 

Match Report by Adam Angerer