Connah’s Quay Nomads succumbed to their first loss of the JD Welsh Premier League Phase Two on Friday evening, losing 1-0 at Bangor City.

In a highly competitive fixture, the only goal of the game came when a Kai Edwards own goal broke the deadlock with a headed goal early in the second half.

• Nomads started well and created numerous chances
• Bakare went close with a header into the side-netting
• Kai Edwards' 51st minute own-goal sent Bangor ahead
• The Nomads stay second on goal difference

The Nomads came into the game in strong form, having drawn 1-1 at Deeside against Bala Town before defeating Cardiff Met 2-0 at Cyncoed Campus on Sunday.

Bangor were meanwhile looking to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat at TNS, looking for a win in what both sides knew was a vital game in the race for Europe.  Before the fixture, The Nomads sat second with Bangor fourth with just three points separating the sides.

Andy Morrison made one change from his previous starting eleven with George Horan unavailable due to illness and replaced by full-timer Jake Phillips.  January signings Rob Hughes, Jonny Spittle and Andrew Owens were all included on the bench.

The Nomads started the match well and made a good account of themselves going forward.  Michael Wilde had a good chance to score just three minutes in, when he floated a Declan Poole cross wide of goal from six yards.

The attacks came thick and fast from The Nomads in the opening 20 minutes, with Jake Phillips sending a series of corners and long throw ins into the Bangor area.

Some at the VSM Stadium thought that Michael Bakare had scored on 17 minutes, but his header from a Phillips’ corner went into the side netting.

???? PHOTOS: One of The Nomads' best chances of the first half fell to Michael Bakare who headed inches wide #JDWPL pic.twitter.com/dVfYBPllh9

— Connah's Quay Nomads (@the_nomads) February 16, 2018

In the 24th minute Bakare nearly got an assist as he fed Michael Wilde, who had a shot cleared off the goal line in a packed Bangor area, as the Citizens sat back to try and soak up The Nomads’ pressure.

The home side eventually grew into the game, seen when, with a powerful volley, Gary Taylor-Fletcher forced Danby into a low save in the 28th minute which was the The Nomads’ keeper’s first real involvement in the encounter.

Michael Bakare’s search for a goal continued when on 40 minutes he had a
20 yard effort pushed just wide by Bangor keeper Matthew Hall.

Despite all their efforts on goal and a positive first half, The Nomads settled with a 0-0 scoreline going into the interval.

Soon after the restart The Nomads were dealt a blow, as inside a crowded away area, Bangor went 1-0 up via a Kai Edwards own-goal.

Despite Bangor’s lead, The Nomads stayed well in the game, bringing Ryan Wignall on in place of Callum Morris. Wignall caused problems for Bangor on the left wing and won a series of corners.

On 70 minutes, The Nomads were again ruing their misfortune in front of goal, as Wilde, Bakare and Kai Edwards all had efforts from close range blocked by blue shirts in the box.

Andy Owens was then introduced in place of Michael Wilde, as The Nomads looked to utilise Owens’ height and strength to influence play in the Bangor area as Wignall and Bakare continued to hit it with dangerous crosses.

Jay Owen, who had an instrumental game for The Nomads in the midfield, was replaced by Rob Hughes, who made his club debut going into the final ten minutes of the now tense encounter.

After Michael Bakare had an effort from seven yards blocked, Ryan Wignall won consecutive late corners for The Nomads which couldn’t be converted as time began to run out.

There was drama right to the end as in the 93rd minute Declan Poole was denied by keeper Matthew Hall, who made a finger tip save to stop a shot from Poole trickling across the Bangor goal line.

???? PHOTO: Matthew Hall keeps Declan Poole at bay to give Bangor the win #JDWPL pic.twitter.com/GYdyeZdRLr

— Connah's Quay Nomads (@the_nomads) February 16, 2018

Upon full time, The Nomads were forced to leave Bangor empty handed after a thoroughly positive performance in which they had looked the stronger side for large periods of the game.

The result does not displace Nomads’ position of second in the league, but brings now-third place Bangor joint on points with them.

The Nomads will look to bounce back next week at home to TNS in the JD Welsh Premier, kicking off at 2pm at Deeside on Saturday 24 February.

Match report by Will Catterall