Connah’s Quay Nomads secured a 1-0 win over Cardiff Metropolitan University in the JD Welsh Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

• A first half Jay Owen goal sent The Nomads ahead
• Wilde saw a number of chances go close
• Met replied with pressure in the second half
• The victory sends The Nomads third in the table

A Jay Owen goal in the 37th minute was enough to give The Nomads a home win against a strong and tenacious Cardiff Met outfit.

The Nomads came into the game after just 41 minutes of football in their previous game, as floodlight failure forced an abandonment at Bangor City.

Andy Morrison handed a first start of the season to Nathan Woolfe who was coming back from an injury, while Ian Kearney made his return to the squad having spent the past 12 months out with an ACL injury.  Cardiff Met were without Adam Roscrow, but started Charlie Corsby with Eliot Evans and Jordan Lam on the bench.

The game saw an even start as both side’s looked to get an early goal.  Met won a free kick just outside The Nomads’ area in the third minute, but their effort hit The Nomads’ defensive wall allowing Kai Edwards to clear.  The Nomads then showed their attacking ability through the likes of Michael Wilde, who saw a number of chances go close in the first half.

In the 15th minute, a Joe Heath throw in sailed into the Met area and was sent over by Wilde from seven yards.  Wilde would again go close when Nathan Woolfe, whose crosses caused problems for Cardiff, set up Wilde who headed against the post in one of the best chances of the first half.

Andy Morrison was forced to make a change with half an hour played, as a groin injury for Matty Williams saw him replaced for Michael Bakare.

Wilde was again denied a goal at the Cardiff end on 30 minutes when he headed high towards the Met net only for goalkeeper Will Fuller to tip the shot over his crossbar.

Substitute Bakare soon made an impact on the left wing, as he ran with the ball before beating a Cardiff defender to cross to Jay Owen, who showed great composure to get past his man before sending a low shot into the bottom right corner of the goal.

After finally breaking the deadlock, The Nomads looked to make up for previously missed chances and increase their lead, but a Woolfe effort on 38 minutes went high over the Cardiff Met goal.

Kai Edwards also had a chance to double Nomads’ lead just before half time when he headed across the face of the opposition goal only for the ball to narrowly roll out for a goal kick.

The second half saw Nomads hold onto their lead, but Cardiff dramatically increased their share of possession as they pushed hard for an equaliser.  Met won another free kick close to the Nomads’ area, but Chris Baker’s effort was blocked by The Nomads’ wall.

Substitute Eliot Evans then threatened for Met when he sent a cross-shot which looped low towards Danby in goal before going safely onto the roof of the net.

The Nomads did see some chances in the second half, as Michael Bakare looked to chest down a cross from Woolfe in the Met area only to have a shot blocked.

With an hour played Cardiff Met were very much in the game, seen through Charlie Corsby who made a number of good runs into the Nomads area to keep the home defence on their homes.

Michael Bakare was unfortunate to not top his first half assist with a goal when he headed a Woolfe cross towards goal at close range, but keeper Fuller reacted well to parry the effort.

Nathan Woolfe was then taken off in place of Matty Owen as The Nomads looked to soak up the pressure from Cardiff Met.  On 74 minutes Eliot Evans once again launched an effort getting in a good position 25 yards from Nomads’ goal, but it went wide to leave Danby unchallenged.

Despite the visitors continually getting into The Nomads' area in the game’s latter stages, John Danby did not have a save to make thanks to a Nomads defence determined to retain their clean sheet.

Inside the final ten minutes The Nomads were lifted by the introduction of Ian Kearney who replaced George Horan to make his return after 12 months on the sidelines.

The returning Kearney was kept busy by a tenacious Cardiff, who never gave up on getting a result as the game entered its final few minutes.

Danny Harrison was pivotal in the Nomads defence as he successfully cleared a free kick taken 35 yards from The Nomads’ goal.  Michael Wilde showed his experience as he went on a run and held the ball in the corner flag to help see out the three minutes of injury time indicated by the fourth official.

Following this period of additional time, referee Tom Williams brought an end to proceedings to confirm The Nomads’ win which sends them to third in the JD Welsh Premier League table.

The Nomads now move onto Tuesday’s replay fixture away to Bangor City, before heading to Newtown AFC for a live televised S4C Sgorio fixture on Saturday 30 September for a 5:15pm kick off.

Match report by Will Catterall