Mark McGregor set an example to his players by scoring the only goal as Nomads recovered from a humbling midweek ‘Deeside Derby’ reverse to claim the points in a hard-fought battle at the often impenetrable Maesdu Park.

Player-manager McGregor headed home Jamie Petrie’s right wing cross to steal the points as early as the half hour mark in an evenly contested affair which offered little else with both defences largely holding firm.

With Gary O’Toole missing through suspension, ex-Tudno youngster Iwan Williams was handed his first start for the club alongside James McIntosh in attack, whilst Rob Jones replaced Shaun Roscoe in the starting line-up with the returning Andy Alston and Jack Rowlands both named amongst the substitutes as new arrival Michael Robinson retained his place at the heart of the defence.

As Nomads enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges it was Robinson who brought two good saves from Hawthorne with two headers from long Rob Jones throw-ins, whilst at the other end the hosts were making in-roads through Ross Rule and Lee Thomas on the wings but struggled to break down a solid Nomads backline, whilst midfield creator Joe Morgan saw his intricate through passes thwarted by quick-thinking defenders in red.

McGregor gave the hosts a taste of what was to come in the 21st minute when Petrie was clipped from behind just outside the box and the former Wrexham stalwart sent his header from Rob Jones’ delivery straight at Hawthorne – though the linesman had ruled a foul. With little to call between the two sides, McGregor struck ten minutes later after meeting Petrie’s testing cross from the right to direct his header across the rooted Hawthorne and into the far corner.

The closest the home side came to levelling came when Louis Mackin parried Lee Jones’ effort and his defenders cleared a goalmouth scramble, but Nomads were on the offensive after the opening goal and looked to press home their advantage. Williams sent a header narrowly wide from Ben Alston’s long range delivery, before Danny Forde snatched at a shot when well-placed on the edge of the box. Petrie then curled a left-footed effort narrowly over from a quickly taken Craig Jones free kick before the break, then Forde again blazed high and wide after an unmarked McIntosh had been charged down by the on-rushing Hawthorne.

The second period was much tighter than the first, with Rob Jones volleying over at one end and Rule coming close at the other, but the remaining 35 minutes was typified by a rush of three yellow cards for the home side in quick succession. Tom Dix was first into the book following a late tackle, before striker Lee Thomas saw yellow for dissent on 56 minutes after a hefty challenge by Craig Jones led to namesake Rob and Tudno’s Morgan retaliating. Amazingly, none of the three were cautioned.

Thomas received his second booking five minutes later after jumping into a tackle on the edge of the Nomads area, a dismissal which effectively killed off the home side’s chances of rescuing a point. As it was, Nomads surged forward to ensure the victory, once again led by McGregor who saw his header pushed away by Hawthorne – who then denied Forde from the rebound. The impressive Robinson skewed an effort wide then saw a goal-bound shot turned around the post by the increasingly overworked home stopper who then turned away McIntosh’s powerful snapshot from 20 yards.

As the visitors looked the close the game on the front foot, teenage attacker Stephen Belli made his bow for the final five minutes to harry a tiring home defence, as Nomads comfortably held on. 

NOMADS: Louis Mackin, Ben Alston, Ben Collins, Mark McGregor, Michael Robinson, Craig Jones, Jamie Petrie, Danny Forde, Iwan Williams (Stephen Belli 85’), James McIntosh, Rob Jones.

Substitutes not used: Shaun Roscoe, Andy Alston, Jack Rowlands, George Baxter.

Booked: Iwan Williams

Attendance: 149