Date Published: Wednesday, 6th September, 2023 - 8:15am by Adam Angerer
Sunday afternoon saw The Nomads Women make a perfect start to the new Genero Adran North season with a magnificent 5-0 victory against Airbus in the local derby.
Two goals from both Shannon Hobbs and Polly Wild-McGregor and a cool Phoebe Ellis strike completed a wonderful afternoon for The Nomads in scorching conditions at The Hollingsworth Group Stadium.
On from their impressive performances in last season’s NEWFA Cup Final against today’s opponents Airbus, Hobbs, Wild-McGregor and Ellis proved their worth with five excellent goals shared between them. The Nomads certainly made a statement of intent and after a tight first half, manager Jordan Parry knew that if the girls came out even stronger, hungry for more goals in the second half, a crucial three points would be in the bag.
Team News
Jordan Parry handed a first Nomads start for summer signing Sophie Hodson with fellow additions Anais Bathily, Sophie Adams and Morgan Churchill all named on the bench. Kylie Jones led The Nomads out for the first time after recently being appointed the new captain. Shannon Hobbs and Elana Harley led the line with Llinos Hughes and Aimee Redfern as the centre back pairing.
Bethan Davies captained a young Wingmakers side featuring talented teenagers Laura Platt, Ruby Stevens and Millie Henshaw. Georgia Spibey, match winner of Airbus’ only victory in the Adran North last season was also named in the starting eleven.
The First Half
The Nomads began the match on top, Jordan Parry’s side were dominating possession but as seen throughout last season, Airbus were certainly making it tough for Nomads. Elana Harley came close with a half volley which found the target but Ruby Stevens got down low to make the save.
The Nomads kept searching for a way through the Airbus backline, Sophie Hodson was causing problems down the left hand side but again the Wingmakers were able to deal with solid spells of pressure. The Airbus goal was threatened with a series of long shots from Kylie Jones and Shannon Hobbs but none of the attempts found the net, adding to the frustration as half time approached.
Around ten minutes before the interval, The Nomads had a glorious chance to take the lead, probably their best chance of the afternoon so far as Shannon Hobbs wonderfully picked out Megan Andrews making a darting down the right, Andrews went for power but her strike flew inches over the crossbar and the scoreline remained goalless.
Andrews made another run from midfield and in a similar position to her previous chance, the speedy No.16 went for goal despite Shannon Hobbs lurking in open space around the six yard box. Andrews looked to find the bottom corner with a low drive but was denied by Stevens.
After being in control for most of the game, The Nomads finally found the breakthrough and the Airbus resistance came to an end. Emily Luke spotted Shannon Hobbs outside the area and the striker used her tremendous eye for goal to lob Stevens who was a touch off her line and could not prevent the ball from bouncing into the back of the net.
The Second Half
The Nomads made three changes at the beginning of the second half as debutants Anais Bathily and Sophie Adams replaced Sophie Hodson and Elana Harley. Young striker Phoebe Ellis also entered the fray as Meg Andrews was brought off.
The Nomads began the second half in the same way they finished the first as Shannon Hobbs doubled her tally for the afternoon. The Nomads countered down the right and in a flash, Phoebe Ellis led a 3-on-3 attack. Ellis squared the ball to Hobbs who rifled her shot into the far corner and found the back of the net via the post.
Airbus had a great opportunity to half the deficit minutes after Hobbs’ second goal as a through ball down the middle towards Laura Platt allowed the youngster to race through on goal but to her dismay, the striker put her effort wide of the target from close range.
The Nomads made their fourth and final change as new signing Morgan Churchill came on for her Nomads debut in place of Emily Luke.
Sophie Adams and Shannon Hobbs carved open the Airbus defence with a swift combination on the left hand side which saw Hobbs’ strike at the near post stopped by Stevens.
Shortly after, The Nomads made it 3-0 courtesy of a Polly Wild-McGregor special. The attacker stood over a free kick from around 30 yards out and she struck gold, using height to beat Stevens who couldn’t prevent the ball from crossing the line.
The Nomads had the ball in the back of the net once more as another powerful Wild-McGregor was parried out but the ball fell kindly for Shannon Hobbs who tucked away the rebound, however the referee disallowed the goal for an apparent foul committed by Hobbs on her marker.
The Nomads weren’t to be denied a fourth goal seconds later as Sophie Adams’ diagonal ball across to Phoebe Ellis allowed the teenager to pick her spot, sending a thunderous near post effort beyond Stevens and the three points certainly looked to be heading back to Connah’s Quay.
Adams nearly turned provider into goalscorer with a great chance to make it five, some sharp passing from Nomads cut through the Airbus backline and Adams only had the goalkeeper to beat but could only send her curling effort wide of the top corner.
The fifth and final goal came just a minute before the full time whistle as Kylie Jones spotted Phoebe Ellis out who cut the ball back to Polly Wild-McGregor and the No.7’s lethal strike flew into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper no chance.
Next Fixture
The Nomads Women are back in action next weekend with a trip to NFA Women in the first group stage fixture of the Genero Adran Trophy. The match will take place at The Ffordd Derwen Playing Fields on Sunday 10th September with a scheduled 2:00pm kick off time.
