Connah’s Quay Nomads defeated Bangor City by one goal to nil in the JD Welsh Premier League at Deeside on Saturday afternoon.

A Callum Morris goal on 58 minutes was enough to give The Nomads victory, despite Jonny Spittle being dismissed for a second yellow card on 65 minutes.

• Second half Morris header breaks deadlock
• Nomads reduced to ten men after Spittle sent off
• Bangor’s Hewitt misses close range effort
• Nomads hold on to retain second place

The game was seen as vital in the JD Welsh Premier race for Europe, as Nomads sat 2nd joint on points with third placed Bangor City.

The Nomads were in a rich vein of form, coming into the game on a run of five straight wins including an emphatic 6-1 victory over Bangor City in the JD Welsh Cup semi final last weekend.

Only one change was made from that game, as Danny Harrison replaced the injured Rob Hughes.  Bangor were missing Gary Taylor-Fletcher from their squad, but Anthony Miley returned to the lineup.

The game got off to a slow burning start on the pitch, but off it Andy Morrison was dismissed from the technical area after just five minutes.
Jay Catton took the reins on the touchline to oversee what would be a tough first half.

After an opening 10 minutes with no major chances, Declan Poole went on a run into the Bangor area and had an 18 yard effort held by keeper Matthew Hall.
Andy Owens, who scored a hat-trick against Bangor in his previous outing, was this time looking to create a Nomads goal with his long throw ins which were regularly sent into the Citizens’ box.

Nomads’ danger man Michael Bakare turned a defender on the edge of the Bangor area, but flicked his shot over the goal on 28 minutes.

The encounter was scrappy throughout with both sides having a number of players booked.  For Nomads, Danny Harrison was the first to go in the book on 30 minutes before Danny Gosset of Bangor was also shown a yellow.

The Nomads’ industrious left back Sean Smith made a vital challenge on 35 minutes, blocking Bangor’s Rittenburg from running into the home area.

On 40 minutes The Nomads were dealt a blow when Ryan Wignall was forced off with an injury - a suspected calf strain.

Michael Wilde replaced him, but despite having gone off Wignall didn’t escape a yellow card for re-entering the field of play whilst injured on the sideline.

At the interval nothing was separating the sides who continued a tight affair in the second half.

The Nomads started the second half well and forced three successive corners on 50 minutes. Bangor defended the set pieces before Declan Poole broke through on goal only to be found guilty of handball.

Bangor saw a big chance missed on 55 minutes, when Dean Rittenburg ran through on Nomads’ goal only for Danby to make a sweeping block. The ball then fell to Luke Wall who sent a 25 yard effort towards Nomads’ open goal, only for the effort to hit the crossbar and return safely to Danby’s hands.

As the game went more end-to-end, Nathan Woolfe was brought on in place of Michael Bakare to help The Nomads’ attacking line in their quest to break down the Citizens.

The afternoon’s solitary goal came on 58 minutes, when a Sean Smith cross was headed into the box by Wilde, with Callum Morris getting just enough of a header on the ball to score from six yards.

The Nomads nearly got their second just a minute later, as Andy Owens broke through on goal with only the 'keeper to beat, but Matthew Hall got a decisive block to deny The Nomads’ number 10.

The Nomads were buoyant after their goal, but on 65 minutes they were brought down to earth when Jonny Spittle was shown a second yellow, forcing Nomads to play the remainder of the game with 10 men.

As Bangor looked to go on the offensive with their one man advantage, Jay Owen was introduced in place of Andy Owens to keep the midfield in check.

Many of the 304 strong crowd thought a penalty had been given to Bangor with 15 minutes to play, but referee Huw Jones booked Joel Bembo-Leta for simulation after he ran into the Nomads area and went down.

With 10 minutes to play there was a great deal of tension in the air at Deeside as The Nomads looked to hold onto their vital lead.

Bangor targeted the The Nomads goalmouth and frequently pushed into the final third, but big clearances from Kai Edwards and Michael Pearson kept The Nomads in front.

The Citizens saw a golden chance to equalise go amiss on 84 minutes, when Steven Hewitt broke clear with only John Danby to beat from seven yards, but his shot went wide of the left post.

Bangor and their travelling support were boosted by an additional four minutes of injury time, but The Nomads survived a series of aerial attacks to claim a vital win.

The victory keeps The Nomads second in the JD Welsh Premier table, and guarantees a minimum third place finish with only two games of the season remaining.

Andy Morrison’s side will now turn their attentions to their next match, away at The New Saints on Friday 20 April for a 19:45 kick off.

Match report by Will Catterall