Connah’s Quay Nomads returned to winning ways in the JD Welsh Premier League on Friday night with a 1-0 win over Bala Town.

• Wilde headed Nomads in front just before half time
• Nomads reduced to ten men in second half after Wignall saw red
• Bala threatened the home end but couldn’t find a breakthrough

A Michael Wilde goal in the 43rd minute was enough to hand The Nomads the win in a hotly contested encounter with fellow UEFA Europa League qualifiers Bala.

The game saw The Nomads return to league action after their 2-1 loss at Dumbarton in the Irn Bru Cup, a game that looked certain to go to penalties until the final minute when the Scottish side’s Dimitrios Froxylias scored a last gasp winner.  Bala meanwhile came into the match on equal points with The Nomads, below them in the table only by goal difference.

Andy Morrison started a largely unchanged line up from The Nomads’ past two matches with the exception of Michael Pearson, who whilst serving a suspension was replaced by Sean Smith, who started along with Matty Williams.  Ex-Nomad Les Davies started for Bala and tried to send a powerful effort goalwards from 20 yards out, only to have his attempt blocked.

With few major incidents in the opening stages of the game, Bala upped their tempo in front of goal to see a 25 yard shot from Andrai Jones go wide and Davies force Danby into a save from around eight yards out.  The Lakesiders continued to put Nomads under pressure, with Andrai Jones again sending an effort just wide of goal in the 16th minute.

The Nomads dealt with this period of pressure from Bala and eventually managed to even the game out as the half progressed.  In the 34th minute, Matty Williams went to run clear in front of Bala’s goal, but goalkeeper Ashley Morris swept the ball from him before Michael Wilde had a volley attempt blocked.

Just as the first half looked set to finish goalless, Michael Wilde sent The Nomads ahead in the 44th minute when after Ashley Morris came off his line to try and deal with Matty Williams, Sean Smith stepped in to send a perfect cross towards Wilde who headed into an open Bala goal.

CANLYNIAD | RESULT: @the_nomads 1-0 Y Bala
Michael Wilde yn sgorio unig gôl y gêm. | Michael Wilde with the only goal of the game. pic.twitter.com/suBBxioF5n

— sgorio (@sgorio) 8 September 2017

The goal gave The Nomads the lead after a tough first 45 minutes, but nevertheless a vital advantage to take into the second half.

Bala Town were keen to find an equaliser quickly in the second half, with Les Davies and Chris Venables having efforts blocked by a sturdy Nomads defence. Meanwhile, Harrison engaged in a tough battle with Michael Hayes who was also finding possession inside the Nomads area.

The Nomads were dealt a blow with just over an hour played when after a tackle triggered a scuffle between the two sides, Ryan Wignall was shown a straight red card, forcing the home side to play with ten men for the remaining 30 minutes.

Bala looked to assert their one man advantage with heavy possession inside The Nomads' half.  Chris Venables went inches from bringing Bala level, but his effort from a corner in the 73rd minute was somehow cleared off the line.

Ex-Nomad Mike Hayes then also saw a chance to go level missed when he couldn’t connect with a wicked cross into The Nomads’ area.

Despite playing under serious pressure from Bala, The Nomads held firm to secure all three points after a hard fought final ten minutes plus five minutes of injury time, during which they showed great composure to keep possession inside the Bala half.





The victory sees Nomads’ first win in three games as they turn their attentions to other tough fixture away to Bangor City on Friday 15 September for a 19:45pm kick off.

Match report by Will Catterall