Match Report by Ray Brown.

The Nomads’ interest in the newly named League Cup – ‘theWord cup’, ended when they went down 3-1 to local rivals Airbus UK Broughton.  Despite Nomads clawing their way back into the game after being 1-0 down at half time, the visitors secured their semi-final place with two goals in four minutes in the last period of extra time.

With Michael Robinson injured and Ricky Evans suspended, the Nomads made four changes from the lineup for the Bangor game. Callum Hawthorne, Michael Thompson, Ryan Edwards and Rhys Healey started, with John Rushton and Dean Canning named among the substitutes. Airbus showed the strength of their squad, with a lineup that contained only two players who had started their last game against TNS.

The first chance of the game fell to Nomads in the 9th minute when Jamie Petrie latched on to a through pass from Craig Jones, but his shot was deflected by an Airbus defender. A short corner was played to Petrie and his cross found Mark McGregor on the back post, but he headed straight at the keeper. In the18th minute, a flowing move down the Nomads’ left, ended with Michael Thompson’s shot being fumbled by the keeper for another Nomads corner. 

Airbus were well organised and young player Zyiac Edwards was starting to stamp his influence on the game. In the 29th minute, he threaded a pass through the Nomads defence, but his team mate was flagged for offside. The Nomads responded with a long throw from Rhys Healey, but Michael Thompson could only prod it on for the keeper to gather.

Ryan Edwards was showing good skills in Nomads midfield and after a good run forward in the 38th minute, his shot went straight at the keeper. Referee Kevin Parry awarded a free kick in the 42nd minute against Rhys Healey, for what looked like a fair 50/50 shoulder charge. The kick was floated into the Nomads area and Airbus centre back Ian Kearney soared the highest to head beyond Callum Hawthorne and into the net - 1-0 to Airbus.

The Nomads then headed straight up-field and after the keeper had parried a shot, Healey was unlucky to see his effort hit the side netting. Half time came and the Nomads were disappointed to be trailing 1-0 after a fairly even game between two closely matched teams.

Within five minutes of the second half starting, Callum Hawthorne was called into action when his defence was slow to react to a free kick from Airbus and he was forced to make a brave save at the feet of an umarked Airbus player.

Then in the 56th minute the Nomads were back on even terms when skipper Craig Jones met a cross from a corner kick with a volley from 15 yards. The Nomads almost had another goal just a few minutes later, when good interplay between Rhys Healey, Rob Jones and Ryan Edwards, resulted in Edwards putting his shot wide of the goal. 

As the game moved into the last 15 minutes, Airbus were starting to look tired despite having used all three of their substitutes and a Rob Jones 30 yard shot in the 78th minute was spilled by the keeper, but Jamie Petrie was unable to capitalise as the keeper somehow recovered the ball.

With the game moving toward extra time, Callum Hawthorne was called on to make an excellent save. Airbus substitute Steve Abbott picked up a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area and hit a strong shot on goal, but Hawthorne parried out before it was cleared by the defence. During the three minutes of added first half time, Airbus had another chance but Stephen Connor headed wide when well placed in front of the goal.  Nomads ended the added time with two corners but were unable to break the deadlock.

Extra time started with Rob Jones hitting another fierce shot which the Airbus keeper could only parry, but he quickly recovered as Jamie Petrie moved in. Both teams were trying to finish the game to avoid going to penalties and a Callum Hawthorne save from an Airbus header, bounced out to an Airbus forward, who could only hit the ball over the bar from two yards out. In the last minute of the first period of extra time, Rob Jones cut in from the left and forced the keeper into a save low down to his left.

Rob Jones hit another stinger in the 18th minute of extra time which the Airbus keeper could only parry. A minute later Airbus went 2-1 up after Steve Abbott headed in a cross from a free kick from the right and after another 4 minutes, the game was virtually over when Airbus got their third goal as a result of Nomads failing to clear the ball from defence properly. Callum Hawthorne rolled the ball out to Mark McGregor, but surrounded by a ring of Airbus forwards, his attempted pass to Nomads midfield was intercepted by Airbus, only for ex Nomad Mike Hayes to slot the ball home.

Macca moved into attack and Nomads tried to get back into the game, but it was too late and Airbus saw the game out.

Some encouraging signs from the Nomads, but a failure to deal with the aerial threat from Airbus free kicks, proved to be their downfall.