Date Published: Thursday, 8th December, 2022 - 9:00am by Adam Angerer
Sunday afternoon saw The Nomads held by reigning Adran North champions Llandudno after Ella Harvey’s brilliant first half header was cancelled out by a cool finish from Maddie Williams, seeing both sides go home with a point each after an entertaining battle.
Both sides knew this match was going to be a tough encounter where three points for either side may have been pivotal for the remaining course of this season’s Genero Adran North. Both Nomads and Llanduno have endured in a series of thrilling matches over the past year with Nomads defeating the Seasiders in last season’s NEWFA Cup final and also in this season’s Genero Adran Trophy group stage thanks to Kirstie Kural’s winner. Llandudno secured a 3-1 win over Nomads back in March which ultimately sealed their league winning success.
Form
The Nomads came into this game having only lost just one game all season which came against Adran Premier side Aberystwyth in the FAW Women’s Cup. However, Nomads returned to winning ways in some style following an emphatic 9-2 victory over Y Felinheli in the final Adran Trophy group stage fixture and also an astonishing 3-2 comeback win against Barry Town of the Adran Premier, which sent Nomads through to the last eight of the Adran Trophy.
As for Llandudno, another high stakes clash against Wrexham in the Adran North saw Wrexham run away 5-2 victors to move to the top of the table. Llandudno recorded a comfortable 4-0 victory over Airbus in their final Adran Trophy group stage game. Two weeks later in the same competition, Llandudno also clinched a memorable win after seeing off Adran Premier champions Swansea City, joining Nomads in the last eight.
Team News
Jordan Parry made a number of changes to his side as he brought in Tegan Hewitt for her Nomads debut following her recent arrival at Deeside. Meg Robinson returned in between the sticks with Shannon Hobbs and Sienna Strapp also making their way back into the starting eleven. Nomads’ other latest signing Amy Clark was named amongst the substitutes.
Llandudno made just the one change to their starting eleven as Shona Roberts came in to replace youngster Maddie Williams in defence.
The First Half
Nomads made a lively start, forcing Caitlyn Bibby-Fry into a vital save early on. Meg Robinson’s long ball upfield found Kylie Jones who found Shannon Hobbs before the Number 9’s powerful effort was stopped by the keeper at the near post.
Moments later, another quick move from Nomads saw Shannon Hobbs lay the ball out wide for Tegan Hewitt who stepped onto her favoured right foot and sent a curling shot from distance goalwards which Bibby-Fry tipped away. The resulting corner saw Nomads hit the front as Kirstie Kural’s inviting cross was nodded into the back of the net by Ella Harvey for her first goal of the season to make it 1-0.
Llandudno looked to get themselves level straight away and came inches away from doing so after Kelsey Davies burst into the final third and found Maddie Williams whose strike was narrowly wide of the top corner. Meg Robinson was called into action for Nomads after Mari Gibbard’s through ball into the path of India Hassall saw the Llandudno forward aim for the bottom corner but the Nomads shotstopper was able to hold on safely, keeping her side in the lead.
The final opportunity of the half nearly saw Kylie Jones double the lead as she brilliantly won possession back in midfield and drove forward, striking from long range which just whiskered wide of Bibby-Fry’s goal.
The Second Half
Llandudno began the second half in a similar way to how Nomads began the first. Llandudno were eager to find an equaliser with a low ball from the right just averting Maddie Williams in around the six yard box.
Nomads then made a triple substitution with Chelsea Bloor, Rachel Lever and Tamara Hamer all being introduced in place of Emily Luke, Shannon Hobbs and goalscorer Ella Harvey who was unable to continue after a slight knock. The visitors almost found their leveller with a shot from distance coming from Jasmin Dutton. Chelsea Bloor’s clearance was intercepted by Dutton who then looked for the bottom corner but Meg Robinson was alert to the danger and comfortably made the save.
Llandudno’s equaliser came in 73rd minute after a ball into the box was brought down by Kelsey Davies, allowing Maddie Williams to compose herself and find the bottom corner from close range to make it 1-1 with around 20 minutes to go. Kelsey Davies came close to grabbing another assist which almost put her side ahead, Davies’ back heel was the perfect set up for Mari Gibbard to strike on goal but yet another amazing stop from Meg Robinson kept the scoreline level.
Nomads found a way in behind the Llandudno backline as they looked to restore their lead. Sienna Strapp’s long ball wasn’t cleared by Sofie Owen which saw Rachel Lever race through down the left and look to catch out Bibby-Fry at her near post but a crucial block from Louisha Doran halted the attack.
Rachel Lever had another chance to put Nomads back in front as she combined superbly with substitute Elana Harley before Lever’s first time curling effort flew over the crossbar from just inside the area. In the dying seconds, Rachel Lever and Elana Harley combined again as this time Lever released Harley through on goal but Bibby-Fry was there to rush off her line and make the claim to ensure her side went away with a point.
Next Fixture
Nomads now turn their attention to Round One of the NEWFA Cup where they will look to begin their quest to retain the trophy. Nomads will take on Wrexham and the match will take place on Wednesday 14th December with a 7:30pm scheduled kick off time.
