Flint agonisingly just fell short once again as Connah’s Quay Nomads bagged all three points thanks to a second half goal by Rhys Hughes, the build up to which had a definite whiff of offside about it. That effectively consigned the Silkmen to their fourth successive league defeat, but they can take some consolation knowing that they more than matched last season’s runners up for long periods, and once more it was just the fine margins that proved to be their downfall. It was always going to be tough collecting points from a difficult set of opening fixtures against four of last season’s top six, including the top three clubs, but we have remained competitive in all of these games, despite injuries to key players, and if we can approach the next set of fixtures with the same levels of application, then surely we shall start to put points on the board.
Jack Flint continued his good form for the home side, coming out on top of all of his one on one battles with the Nomads forwards, pulling off some great saves in the process.
Nomads had the first meaningful strike of the game after 4 minutes, Fumpa Mwandwe cutting in from the right before hitting a 25 yard strike that Flint comfortably held. Then, five minutes later, the dangerous Noah Edwards embarked on one of his trademark surges through the middle, but his final shot lacked sufficient power as he tried to place it, and once again Flint gathered safely.
A lovely passage of play by the Silkmen just after the quarter of an hour mark was almost rewarded. Florian Yonsian initially won the ball, breaking through the first challenge, before finding Ben Hughes, who returned the complement, sending him through on goal. George Ratcliffe dashed out from his goal to cut down the angle, and saved the shot with his body.
Then a Chris Marriott delivery picked out Tyler Berry inside the box, but his free header sailed over the bar, as another chance came and went for the Nomads.
Flint hit back, and Isaac Lee sent a near post header just wide of the upright.
The save of the half came on 37 minutes, when Nomads’ Hughes received the ball in space, and was allowed a free run on goal. Flint spread himself extremely well and blocked the shot to deny Hughes.
The Silkmen then carved out a good opening when a good switch of play saw Josh Jones pick out Bobby Beaumont who made good ground down the right, who set up Ben Hughes, and his first time shot was saved by Ratcliffe.
Nomads signalled their intent at the start of the second half when Mwandwe’s effort just cleared the bar. The game then settled into a period of stalemate with neither side able to create any decent openings. The introduction of some substitutes by the Nomads, however, was the key to unlocking this and getting the vital breakthrough.
Just after the hour mark, the newly introduced Luca Hogan received the ball on the right. though he looked to be marginally offside, but got the benefit of the doubt from the official on the far side of the pitch, who was struggling to keep up with the play. Hogan made the most of the call in his favour by racing away and supplying a pin point centre for Rhys Hughes to run onto and smash the ball home.
On 75 minutes, Nomads carved open the home defence courtesy of Edwards, who then cleverly squared the ball to Hogan, in space, but just as he was about to pick his spot, Flint bravely plunged down at his feet to claim the ball. Up at the other end, a cross picked out Yonsian, and any meaningful connection on the ball would surely have sent it flying into the Nomads net, but instead it merely brushed off his head.
Aron Williams thought he had made the game safe for Nomads when he received the ball in space down the middle and slipped his shot past Flint, only for it to strike the post and bounce back out, with Flint eventually able to recover and save a follow up effort.
With just under 10 minutes remaining, Flint created some quickfire chances that they were unable to convert. First, George Maire, who had just been introduced from the bench saw his shot deflected wide for a corner. Then, from the resulting set piece, Ratcliffe managed to scramble the ball away from a Harry Owen effort, and just round the post for another corner from the other side. This one was played short, and Ben Hughes took the ball to the bye-line before sending in a low dangerous delivery, but Edwards was positioned in the right place to clear the resulting shot away from just in front of the goal line, and secure the points for his side.
Report by Nigel Sheen. Photos by Damon Mead
Line Ups :
Flint Town United – J. Flint, B. Beaumont (H. Peagram 71), M. Burke, I. Lambert, H. Owen (c), I. Lee, J. Phillips, B. Hughes, F. Yonsian, B. Wynne, (G. Maire 80) J. Jones. Unused Subs – L. Murphy (GK), H. Cartwright, L. Sumner, B. Hoban
Connah’s Quay Nomads – G. Ratcliffe, J. Disney. C. Marriott, D. Poole, B. Nash, K. Edwards, J. Kenny (A. Williams 60), N. Edwards, T. Berry (L. Hogan 60), R. Hughes, F. Mwandwe Unused Subs – R. Berry (GK), D. Roberts, B. Maher, J. Pownall, H. Scott
Flint MOM – Jack Flint (made some important saves at crucial time to keep his side in the game)
