The Nomads ran out 3-1 winners against Denbigh Town in the Nathaniel MG Cup on Wednesday evening thanks to goals from John Disney and a Michael Wilde brace.  The result sent The Nomads through to the quarter finals despite an equaliser from ex-Nomad, Alan Bull.

The tie was The Nomads’ first taste of cup competition this season, having been awarded a bye into the second round.  They came into the game in good form having yet to lose in the new season, however Denbigh were without a win since August.

The Nomads started a strong side with 16-year-old Conor Harwood and 18-year-old Luke Blizzard handed their first full competitive debuts.  They joined the likes of Jay Owen, John Disney and Michael Wilde in the lineup.  Denbigh meanwhile started a strong side including a number of former Nomads including Alan Bull and Phil Molyneux with Aled Reece and Kieran Gaul on the bench.

The game began and both sides went for goal, making for an evenly contested first half.  The first real chance of the game came in the 15th minute, when Shelton Payne sent a wicked cross in front of goal towards Nick Rushton, who sent a shot wide of the goal from close range.

Payne was again involved in the action in the 19th minute when he went on a surging run into the Denbigh area before he was tackled, triggering a counter attack from Denbigh which John Danby dealt with well.

The Nomads had to wait until the near end of the first half to break the deadlock, when John Disney headed in a Matty Owen corner from the far post in the 37th minute.

After this goal, The Nomads nearly doubled their lead when Michael Wilde connected with another Matty Owen corner well, but Denbigh Town keeper John Hodgin saved well from just five yards.

At the start of the second half, Denbigh Town went out to stay in the game and it took them just six minutes to achieve this when Alan Bull equalised for the visitors. From a free kick on the very edge of The Nomads’ area, Bull sent a perfectly taken free kick straight into the back of the net.

With the game once again in deadlock at 1-1, The Nomads made changes which saw Shelton Payne be replaced by academy graduate Jake Leonard.  Leonard joined fellow youth players Harwood and Blizzard on the pitch, who all enjoyed strong and involved performances against Denbigh’s senior opposition.

After Leonard won a corner for Nomads, Michael Wilde got The Nomads’
second from that same set piece, connecting with Matty Owen’s corner kick at close range with a strike in the 66th minute.

Another academy player was involved in The Nomads' next and final goal in Conor Harwood, who crossed to Wilde who scored from close range again, catching the keeper off his line to score in the 68th minute.

This quickfire brace settled the game and gave The Nomads control for the closing stages.  Jordan Manley became the fourth academy player to join the action when he replaced goalkeeper John Danby in the 77th minute.

Holding their lead comfortably for the last ten minutes of play, Nomads were confirmed as Nathaniel MG cup quarter finalists at full time. They await the draw, which will be made on Friday afternoon, and will take a week’s break before meeting Bangor City at Deeside on October 16 in the Dafabet Welsh Premier League.

Match report by Will Catterall