The new kids on the bloc of the Huws Gray big spenders rolled into the Deeside Stadium last night and it took a last gasp leveller from player manager Mark McGregor to prevent them leaving with all three points.

With preparation and organisation every bit as professional as ours, they looked the part from the start. We gave a debut to Ricky Evans with new signing Danny Dobbins on the bench. However, our talisman and the league’s leading scorer Gary O’Toole was a late withdrawal suffering from a flu like virus. Conwy are a different proposition with the resources and enthusiasm of the Cartwright’s behind them. They were boosted by the arrival of new signing Dave Swanick (Aberystwyth), the return of midfield powerhouse Robbie Williams and with class acts like Eddie Jebb (on loan from Bangor City) and Dean Canning (signed for a fee from Colwyn Bay) already in the side.

On a freezing night with a surprisingly good pitch the game took the pattern it would follow till its end. Conwy defended in depth and were strong, quick and well marshalled. Nomads built from the back and pushed forward with plenty of possession but closed down as soon as the ball found its way into the area. Chances came rarely but there were enough for Nomads to lead. Mark McGregor got free and went wide following a Rob Jones cross. On the break, Canning found Jebb and Owen well with quick passing. It was a good tactical game. Referee Williams was invisible in the first half but unfortunately the teenage linesman on the far side was not. These youths have come from the excellent mentoring group NEWFA run, both will be very good. However, the teenager on the far side found the very vocal Conwy bench on his back. Twice he called Jamie Petrie for offside when the opposition bench howled and then a crucial error. On 31 minutes an excellent cross deep into the box was met by Mark McGregor who out jumped a defender to head home. A good goal, or it would have been had the lad not succumbed to the Conwy demands for a foul push. Referee Williams disallowed the goal. Conwy were busy and missed a good chance of their own when centre back Quinn volleyed wide.

If it was cold in the first half, it was absolutely perishing in the second. Both sides continued to match the first half stalemate. Conwy, strong and very well organised. Nomads’ continued to probe and try to stretch the visitors. Great chances fell to Danny Forde, Alan Hooley and Mark McGregor who hooked wide when he might have scored. At the other end ominous breaks looked increasingly dangerous. Canning hit at Rushton and then a golden chance when Jebb put a low cross into the box that Quinn missed netting by millimetres. Nomads brought on talented teen Rhys Healey and he made an impact drawing a great save from the busy Hawthorne. But Conwy were breaking with greater confidence and on 85 minutes they led. A ball fell to TOM ROONEY on the areas edge. The youngster smashed home a fierce volley that gave Rushton no chance. Then a moment of farce, referee Williams seems to have a blind spot halfway between goal and centre circle on the far side. On his last visit he overruled an offside that caused such confusion that Jamie Petrie ended up scoring with the opposition completely confused. This time in the same place he again overruled an obvious offside without telling anyone. As the players lined up for a free kick Rushton walked out of the area with the ball to plce to take the free kick , only to be shown a yellow card for handball and for Conwy to get a free kick. Bizarre. As stoppage time continued we mounted one last attack. The ball was worked wide towards the onrushing player manager. MARK McGREGOR steadied himself and with the last kick of the game found the net.

Two points dropped? One point gained? Only the final table will let us know that. One thing is for sure Conwy will be a real force in the next season.


Nomads : John Rushton, Jack Rowlands, Alan Hooley, Mark McGregor, Michael Robinson, Craig Jones , Jamie Petrie, Danny Forde, Rob Jones, Ricky Evans, Liam Loughlin:
Subs: Ben Alston, Danny Dobbins. Dave Dempsey, Rhys Healey, George Baxter