Played in front of a decent sized Boxing Day crowd, this Flintshire derby saw Nomads dominate the game from virtually start to finish, and deservedly take the spoils. Only the heroics of home keeper Jack Flint prevented the scoreline from being a bigger margin. There was no lack of effort on behalf of the Flint players, but they were just up against a better team on the day, who looked very threatening everytime they ventured forward. And once Elliott Reeves was forced to depart the action early once again, the goal threat from the Silkmen dissipated.
The only blot on Jack Flint’s otherwise exemplary display was his decision to come out and try and win the ball near the edge of his box on 8 minutes, as Abdi Sharif chased down a long ball, closely pursued by Ben Woollam. The angle was not in favour of the Nomads attacker, and Flint should have held his ground in the 6 yard box, but as he came out to challenge at Sharif’s feet, contact was made and a penalty awarded. Rhys Hughes sent Flint the wrong way from the spot to give Nomads an early lead.
Nomads continued to press, and Marco Fregapane clipped a delightful ball into the path of Callum West, who advanced on goal. Flint stuck out a hand to deflect his shot across goal, but Hughes picked up the loose ball, and chipped it back to Harry Franklyn whose flick header flashed just wide of the far post.
The visitors were having plenty of joy attacking down their right and the Flint left, and on 18 minutes, Fregapane was sent clear and drilled a shot across the face of goal, just the wrong side of the far post.
A good move by Nomads on 25 minutes ended with West laying the ball off to Hughes, who came infield to send in a curling shot that was beaten out by Flint, who then was on hand to stop the rebound from Sharif.
From a free kick on 29 minutes, West slipped the ball into Noah Edwards whose effort was well blocked.
Meanwhile the home side were struggling to make any impression on the Nomads rearguard. It was only Reeves who was able to pose much of a threat, as at least he was able to hold the ball up, and bring others into play, when given the chance. The best chance for the Silkmen in the first half came on 34 minutes, when Ben Wynne sprayed the ball out to Jake Phillips on the right, who whipped in a cross that was inches from Reeves’ forehead as he looked to connect with it.
The loss of Reeves at half time, as he continues to struggle with full fitness, was a further blow to the Silkmen, only compounded with the departure of Ben Wynne later in the half, as he also has injury problems. The pattern of the second period mirrored that of the first, and at times Flint was a one man barrier, keeping his team in the game, as shots seemingly rained down on him from all angles.
On 56 minutes, he pulled off a great reflex save from point blank range to deny Dan Cowan, and from that Flint broke with pace down the left, as they caught the Nomads defence flatfooted for once. Wynne delivered a cross to Darren Stephenson on the 6 yard line, with just Kit Margetson to beat in the Nomads goal. The ball was perhaps at a slightly awkward height, and the better option may have been to stoop and head it, but he tried to control it with his legs, and it ended up spinning harmlessly into Margetson’s gloves.
Meanwhile, Flint was doing his level best to keep his side in the game, and stuck out a leg to deny Hughes’ drive, but he was finally beaten in the 75th minute as Nomads scored the decisive second goal. A long ball down the right channel by Cowan was latched onto by Franklin, who drove in on goal, held off the challenge of Jack Thorn, and from the bye-line fired in a shot that deflected off Flint into the net.
We now travel to Colwyn Bay on New Year’s Day to complete our festive fixtures, with the game being a 12-30pm kick off at the Blue Turtle Arena.
Report by Nigel Sheen. Photos by Geoff Quinn.
Line Ups :
Flint Town United – J. Flint, B. Woollam, D. Davies (M. Burke 22), S. Fofana, H. Owen (c), J. Thorn, J. Phillips, J. Canavan, E. Reeves (J. Jones 46), B. Wynne (Cam Ferguson 73), D. Stephenson. Unused Subs – D. Szczepaniak (GK), Cal. Ferguson, L. Morrison
Connah’s Quay Nomads – K. Margetson, A. Sharif (D. Poole 46), C. Bratley, J. Cook (D. Roberts 74), B. Nash (c), D. Cowan, N. Edwards, C. West, M. Fregapane (Z. Ismael 74), H. Franklin (M. Woodcock 89), R. Hughes (J. Oswell 89). Unused Subs – R. Berry (GK), J. Hughes
Flint MOM – Jack Flint (despite an error of judgement leading to the penalty, he went on to produce a string of excellent saves to keep his side in the game)
