NOMADS’ hopes of a qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Loosemores Challenge Cup hang in the balance after three late goals condemned them to a Group Six defeat last night. Steve O’Shaughnessy’s side looked set for a valuable point against the full-timers until the 69th minute when goalkeeper Chris Maxwell punched a John Leach free kick to John McKenna, who scrambled in from the edge of the box. Former Wrexham youngster Alex Darlington, after getting the better of Peter Doran, stepped off the bench to double the advantage shortly after before Jamie Wood sealed the home side’s victory three minutes from time with a beauty. The final scoreline was extremely harsh on the visitors who felt they were denied penalties when Rob Williams seemingly handballed in the box. Craig Garside skimmed the Saints’ bar while Adam Dickinson came on for his first first-team appearance in more than a year following a serious knee injury. Nomads will need to win their final match, at home to Prestatyn on October 7, to stand any chance of making it through to the last eight. STAR MAN: Craig Jones. TNS: Harrison, McKenna, Baker, Williams, Taylor, Leah, Ruscoe, Toner (Darlington 67), Wilde (Marriott 82), Whitfield (Hogan 46), Wood. BOOKED: Wilde, Hogan. GOALS: McKenna 69, Darlington 75, Wood 87. NOMADS: Maxwell, Peter Doran, Phil Doran, B Alston, A Alston, Garside, Jones, Clarke (Dickinson 76), Shannon, Mutton (Loughlin 74), Davies (Pinch 80). Sub: Quinn. BOOKED: Peter Doran. ATTENDANCE: 205. ON FRIDAY – See The Flintshire Chronicle for a preview of Nomads’ Welsh Premier League trip to much-improved Caersws. |