A GOAL good enough to win any game ensured a new era at Nomads began on a positive note – but it might have been different had it not been for goalkeeper Chris Maxwell. There were 29 minutes of a hard-fought contest to go when Liam Loughlin, a recent signing from Runcorn Linnets, delightfully volleyed in Paul Dowridge’s inviting left-wing centre. However, Haverfordwest would have returned to South-West Wales with a point they probably deserved had youngster Maxwell not brilliantly turned away Tom Ramasut’s 20-yard piledriver 10 minutes later. That was just one of a number of top stops the highly-rated 18-year-old made on his debut following his arrival on loan from Wrexham. Maxwell, watched by the Dragons’ youth boss Steve Cooper, saved well from Luke Bowen early on before a superb defensive clearance from captain Gary Pinch prevented the same player a tap-in. But it was Nomads, featuring seven new boys in their starting line-up, who broke the deadlock in the 41st minute when Danny Forde collected Christian Courtney’s pass before skipping inside from the left and cleverly converting. But the visitors were level three minutes later when Jack Christopher, having just been denied by Maxwell one-on-one, headed home Dyfan Pierce’s corner. Chances were hard to come by in the second half, but when Loughlin’s fell his way, he took his opportunity expertly. Substitute Tommy Mutton, back on Deeside for a fourth time in his well-travelled career, nearly made it three late on as Haverfordwest pushed forward in hope of an equaliser that, thanks to Maxwell and some stern defending from Pinch and Ben Alston, never came. STAR MAN: Chris Maxwell. Connah’s Quay: Maxwell, Clarke, Dowridge, Alston, Pinch, Quinn, Jones, Forde, Shannon (Mutton 81), Loughlin (Cronshaw 87), Courtney (McNutt 73). Subs: Baker, Bamber. Booked: Quinn, Forde. Goals: Forde 41, Loughlin 61. Haverfordwest: Idzi, Evans (Webbe 68), Hanford, Gilderdale, Elliott, Michael, Blain, Ramasut, Christopher, Bowen, Pierce. Subs: Hartley, Briers. Goal: Christopher 44. ON WEDNESDAY – Return to this site to see how Nomads fared in their Loosemores Challenge Cup Group Six clash at home to The New Saints. | 
Flintshire Sport 
