Woodcock salvages point for youthful Nomads against Barry

Connah's Quay Nomads showcased their youth talent on Sunday afternoon as Max Woodcock's strike salvaged a 1-1 draw against Barry Town United in the JD Cymru Premier Championship Conference. 

Barry took the lead in the first half through Ieuan Owen's curling strike, but eventually the Nomads made their pressure count as Woodcock finished calmly into the bottom corner to bring us level. 

The Nomads had seven players aged 20-years-old or younger for the final 15 minutes of the contest, and each player impressed in helping us seek a late winner. Despite dominating the closing stages, the Nomads were forced to settle for a point.  

Team News

John Disney made two changes from last weekend’s win over Penybont as Noah Edwards and 17-year-old goalkeeper Ryley Berry replaced Abdi Sharif and Kit Margetson, who were both on international duty with Somalia and Wales U21s respectively.

Berry was one of six Steven Gerrard Academy scholars amongst the Nomads squad, with Dani Liepa, Joe Bennett, Conor Partridge, James Hughes and Jack Waterhouse all named on the bench in what were some great opportunities awarded by Disney and his staff. 

Barry manager Andy Legg made just one change from his side's victory at home to Caernarfon Town last time out as star forward Ieuan Owen returned to replace Dan Smith, who dropped to the bench. Former Nomads goalkeeper George Ratcliffe was named in the starting lineup for the visitors.  

First Half 

The first major opportunity of the match arrived with 13 minutes on the clock and probably should have been converted by Harry Franklin. Callum West did well to dispossess Barry captain Callum Sainty in the final third and slip the ball through to Franklin, who could only fire an inch wide of the far post. 

Barry had a great chance of their own to take the lead when Owen Cuddihy crossed into Will Richards, who was left unmarked but could only steer his header wide of the target.

However, the visitors did not rue that missed opportunity for long as Ieuan Owen received Dan Barton's short pass and picked out the top corner with his curling strike from the edge of the area. 

The Nomads nearly found an instant reply as Franklin's cross back into the six-yard box just would not fall right for Freddie Redshaw, whose hooked effort goalwards was immediately blocked by the Barry defence. 

West came extremely close to bringing us level on the stroke of half-time as he received the ball on the right-hand side and tried to bend his curling effort into the top corner from the edge of the area, but he was only a whisker away. 

Second Half 

Neither side managed to create any clear-cut opportunities in the opening stages of the second half. Perhaps the closest anyone came was through West, who met Redshaw's low cross but had two efforts in quick succession blocked by the Barry defence from point-blank range. 

Moments after talented 17-year-old Conor Partridge replaced Callum Bratley, who was on a yellow card, the Nomads were back on level terms as Woodcock brought down a pinpoint diagonal ball from West and sent a composed finish beyond Ratcliffe and into the bottom corner for his second goal in as many games.

There was more senior action for our scholars as Joe Bennett replaced Marco Fregapane for his first ever taste of JD Cymru Premier action - another incredible achievement for the whole Nomads academy. 

Woodcock had a great chance to complete the turnaround or at least test Ratcliffe when he left unmarked at the back post from Redshaw's cross, but the Scotsman was unable to connect well with his attempted volley. 

James Hughes was the next scholar to enter the field as he replaced Redshaw, while goalscorer Woodcock made way for Rhys Hughes. 

Robbie Willmott caused slight danger with his set-piece delivery for the visitors, but the Nomads stayed organised, with Dan Roberts eventually hacking the ball off the line. 

Noah Edwards nearly had a goal on his 100th domestic Nomads appearance when his low drive at the near post was denied by a diving save from Ratcliffe. Edwards was involved once more down the left as his cut-back found Franklin, whose fierce effort towards the near post flew into the side-netting. There were appeals for a penalty after Franklin was bundled over by Willmott when taking his shot, but nothing was given. 

The youthful Nomads pushed for a late winner, with Barry not offering much up front in the four minutes of stoppage-time, but the Linnets kept Disney's side at bay, meaning both teams went home with a point apiece. 

What's Next? 

The Nomads are on the road for the final time in the JD Cymru Premier this season as we travel to face The New Saints at Park Hall in a clash of the top two on Good Friday (3rd April) with a scheduled 2:30pm kick-off time.

Having already secured our spot in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers, Disney and his team will be hoping to finish the season as strongly as possible and give champions TNS another tough game - something that we have done in all four meetings against the Oswestry-based side this season. 

Match Report by Adam Angerer