Nomads entertained Buckley on the excellent 3^rd Generation artificial surface at Wrexham’s Colliers Park training ground on Saturday. In the final practice match before next weeks first friendly, both sides used a large squad which changed dramatically in each of the three thirty minute periods. Connah’s Quay were under firm instruction from the management to keep the ball down and make quick passing movements. Buckley were less far into their pre-season but gave debuts to a few good new signings with Dawson and Dodd impressing.  

From the off Nomads looked sharp, the ball was pinged around at speed and possession was kept. In only the third minute Kieron Quinn and David Nolan combined to send Chris Noone clear. As ex Druids keeper Louis Makin advanced, Noone lobbed well and the ball bounced up into the roof of the net. It looked a great goal but a linesman’s offside flag harshly ruled it out. Danny Pinch was showing well on the left and from Quinn’s close pass he fired just wide. We came very close to a goal when a neat move from left back to right wing was ended with a Trialist hooking a shot that Buckley’s Todd deflected just wide. With minutes left, in the first third Danny Pinch went on a run that took him past four defenders and ended with a great shot that beat Makin all ends up but came back off the bar. In the final minute Quinn, Nolan and Danny Pinch combined to send Christian Courtney through. Makin advanced but the Royal Marine took aim and steered a precise low shot home. 

A second third of even greater Nomads pressure saw fewer chances. One trialist looked very strong in the middle and another worked well on the flank. Ben Alston seemed to compliment Bungle in the defence. Buckley created a great chance when Robinson broke free and our second Trialist keeper spread well to save. Michael Cronshaw shot wide and Tom Baker shot high, both set up by the efforts of Aden Shannon who gave the Buckley centre backs a hard time. Makaruk in the visitor’s goal did well to foil Bungle who had got up to force a header goalwards.

The third period saw Buckley take the game to us with Alan Dawson good up front. Chris Poole took the whistle for his last outing in Wales before University and officiating in the Conference North. In another period of clever quick passing, Nomads didn’t make too many chances. Tom Baker cut his way through with a strong run only to be felled by Miles Todd. He took the spot kick himself and worse efforts have scored, but Makaruk went down low to his right to save one handed. Nomads deserved to be more than one goal better than the hard working visitors. With two minutes left a loose pass was pushed forward to Chris Herbert who steered it home to give the final score a more realistic look of 2-0.

Both sides will have gained from the outing and now set off on to serious pre season games. Nomads after weeks of training and practice matches on perfect surfaces will tackle the Crilly Park slope at Atherton LR next Saturday, on a surface similar to many they will encounter in the league this season. Then on Wednesday the 23rd, it’s a local Derby at Flint. The watching Connah's Quay contingent left very happy with the enterprise and style on show and were encouraged that their is much more to come yet, as Steve O'Shaunessy prepares for August 16th first competitive match at home to Haverfordwest.