Match Report by Ray Brown

The Nomads started the New Year with a bang by outplaying Airbus to record a deserved 4-1 victory and put themselves in with a chance of a top 6 place as the mid-season split approaches. Ricky Evans converted two first half penalties and second half goals from Jamie Wynne and Jamie Petrie, finished off Airbus after the visitors had pulled back a goal in the first minute of the second half.

Following the drawn Boxing Day game, the Nomads started with same line-up but with a different formation, using a three man defence of Jamie Wynne, Mark McGregor and Chris Rowntree, with Danny Dobbins moving to the left side of midfield. 

Early pressure from the visitors forced John Rushton into a good save in only the third minute, as he dived to his left to divert a goalbound effort for a corner. From the corner, an Airbus header went just wide of the Nomads’ goal. Nomads responded with a flowing move when Rob Jones fed the ball to Danny Dobbins down the left and Ricky Evans met Dobbins’ cross to send his header just over the bar.  

The first goal came in the 9th minute and the referee had no hesitation in awarding the Nomads a penalty after Rhys Healey was brought down by the Airbus keeper as he latched on to a through ball. Surprisingly, the referee didn't caution the keeper. Ricky Evans took the penalty, giving the keeper no chance as he fired his shot into the bottom right hand corner. The game started to become end to end and Airbus were getting caught out by the Nomads’ offside trap, while at the other end, Ricky Evans went close with a header over the bar after good work by Rob Jones and Jamie Petrie also put the visitors’ defence under pressure.

Two Airbus free kicks in quick succession just before the half hour mark, didn't threaten the Nomads’ goal, but they had a great chance to scorein the 37th minute. Former Nomad Mike Hayes looked suspiciously offside when he collected a through pass, but he hit a strong shot towards goal and Nomads had John Rushton to thank, as he made a very good save when a goal looked likely.

Nomads had claims for a another penalty turned down when Rhys Healey appeared to be pushed in the back as he went for a header from a cross from Jamie Petrie. However, a minute later in the 39th minute, referee Lee Evans did award a second penalty when Rhys Healey was brought down again as he chased a through ball. The offender, Steve Tomassen was punished with a yellow card.  Once again, up stepped Ricky Evans to hit the ball into the top right corner of the goal.

As half time arrived, the Nomads looked good value for their 2-0 lead, but having been pulled back from a similar lead in the Boxing Day fixture, no one was taking anything for granted. 

Nomads need for caution was demonstrated when Airbus scored in the first minute of the second half. The visitors attacked down the left and worked the ball infield, where it was collected by Sam Hart whose shot took a wicked deflection and looped up and beyond a stranded John Rushton. Minutes later, Airbus hit the crossbar, but Nomads nerves were eased in the 52nd minute when Jamie Wynne scored from close range, after a trademark Rhys Healey long throw from the touchline into the penalty area, had put the Airbus defence under pressure.

Airbus tried to get back into the game and introduced two substitutes but the Nomads were showing a real determination to hold on to their lead and as the game wore on, were proving good value for their 3-1 advantage.  When Airbus did get close to the Nomads’ goal, good defending kept them at bay and there were particularly good interventions by Chris Rowntree and Danny Dobbins.

In the 79th  minute Ryan Edwards replaced the hard working Rob Jones who appeared to have suffered a slight knock and Dean Canning came on for Ricky Evans soon after. Nomads finally killed the game off on 86 minutes, when Jamie Petrie ran through the Airbus defence and hit a shot into the far corner of the goal. Four minutes from the end, saw the welcome return to action of Michael Robinson to replace Rhys Healey. 

This was a well deserved and convincing win for the Nomads. To gain four points from the festive season games against a team of the quality of neighbours Airbus, was a real achievement.