JD Cymru Premier

Connah’s Quay Nomads 1

The New Saints 1

By David Figg

FORMER TNS forward Michael Wilde came back to haunt his old club with a late equaliser for Connah’s Quay Nomads on Friday night.

A close encounter between two of the league’s title favourites saw them share the spoils after an eventful second half could not separate the two teams.

Dean Ebbe opened the scoring shortly after the hour mark, but Wilde rescued a point for Nomads with his goal in the final 10 minutes of the game.

Scott Ruscoe’s side sit just one point behind Nomads who currently top the table, with Barry Town United also in the mix sitting between the two sides.

Neither side was able to threaten the opposing goalkeeper enough during the opening 45 minutes, with the first chance of note falling to Saints in the 43rd minute.

Ebbe, who had found space in the penalty area, latched onto a pass by Danny Redmond and fired his effort goalwards forcing an excellent stop by Lewis Brass between the posts for the home team.

With the second half starting in similar fashion, it was Ebbe who came close again after quarter of an hour.

As the forward lined up a strike on the edge of the Nomads penalty area, defender George Horan got in the way to make a crucial block and keep the score at 0-0.

With a penalty shout for Nomads dismissed moments later, TNS went on the attack and were able to give themselves the lead with half-an-hour left to play.

Ryan Brobbel beat his marker and found Ebbe with a well-weighted pass, allowing the striker to tap his effort into the net from inside the six-yard box.

The goal brought the game to life, and spurred the hosts on in search of an equaliser.

Wilde had his first chance of note in the game as he met a corner with his head,, but the effort was sent over the bar.

Saints thought they had been awarded a penalty at the other end of the pitch when the referee pointed to the spot after the ball struck the hand of a Nomads defender.

With Greg Draper stepping up and looking to double the side’s lead, the decision was revoked by the referee, and there was a drop ball. The incident caused a lot of confusion, and moments later, the huge decision by the referee proved detrimental for Saints.

The hosts went up the other end of the pitch with a long ball which found Jamie Insall – his effort was saved by Paul Harrison, but the keeper could only keep it out momentarily, with Wilde on hand to finish the chance with a second attempt to bring his side level.

It was the goal that would decide the game, with few chances falling for either side in the final 10 minutes.

TNS have taken their unbeaten run to four games.

Ruscoe’s men return to league action on Saturday when they host Carmarthen Town (kick-off 2.30pm).

North West Counties Football League Division One South

St Martins 2

Alsager Town 2

ST MARTINS came from behind twice against fellow mid-table side Alsager Town, to put an end to their 13-game losing streak.

A late William Wells goal deep into stoppage time rescued a point for the struggling Saints side.

Wells was one of the stand-out performers as he scored twice for the hosts, while George Archer was able to match his efforts for Alsager.

The visitors went ahead through Archer in the 19th minute with a well-taken chance to give St Martins an early setback.

They were not behind on the scoreline for long however, when Wells was on hand to level the score for his team in the 24th minute.

The goal set St Martins on the front foot momentarily, and the side looked to give themselves the lead before the break.

A strong end to the first half for Saints was undone by an early second half goal for Alsager.

Archer was in the right place again for the visitors just two minutes after the break as he found the net a second time to make it 2-1.

St Martins were again in pursuit of an equaliser throughout the second half.

Alsager were able to stay in the lead for 47 minutes, until Saints got an equaliser late in the afternoon.

Wells was the man to rescue a point for his team with his strike in the 94th minute proving to be the difference.

The goal was scored just moments before the final whistle was blown at the Park Hall Stadium.

The draw takes Saints on to 10 points from 14 games so far this season, as they sit in 18th place.

Wells has now scored in three consecutive games after he scored the only goal in last week’s midweek fixture with local rivals FC Oswestry Town.

St Martins lost 2-1 against their opponents, with whom they groundshare.

The side will hope the draw with Alsager can turn around a poor run of form.

They take on sixth-placed side Eccleshall away as they continue their league campaign on Saturday.

They will then be in cup action on Tuesday, November 12 when they face Allscott in the TJ Vickers Premier Cup.

North West Counties Football League Division One South

Wythenshawe Amateurs 0

FC Oswestry Town 1

A SECOND half own goal was the deciding goal in FC Oswestry Town’s league game with Wythenshawe Amateurs on Saturday.

The victory allowed Town to extend their lead at the top of the table to 11 points.

A close game between the two teams ended with Town as narrow winners to claim their 12th league victory of the season.

The sides were evenly-matched throughout the first half, with neither side able to find the net.

It took just eight minutes of the second half for Town to get their noses in front with the ball being diverted into the net by an Amateurs player to separate the sides.

The visiting side were able to hold onto the slim lead until the final whistle.

The win means it is now three consecutive victories for the side, after their home victory over West Didsbury and Chorlton, and their derby win against St Martins last Tuesday.

Harry Bower scored for Town, while an own goal in the second half was again what separated them from their opponents.

They will face Cheadle Heath Nomads in their next fixture in the league on Saturday, November 9.

They then have another midweek fixture when they take on second-placed Abbey Hey on Tuesday, November 12.

Elsewhere in the division, an eight-goal thriller between Cammell Laird 1907 and New Mills saw the sides share the points.

Meanwhile, at Barnton, Eccleshall returned home with all three points with a 2-0 win, while Cheadle Town are now up to 15th after a win over Ellesmere Rangers.

The only goalless draw of the weekend came at West Didsbury and Chorlton who drew 0-0 against Cheadle Heath Nomads.

Abbey Hey kept up their pursuit of Town at the top of the table with a 2-0 win over Abbey Hulton United.

First Division South side Vauxhall Motors were in cup action as they competed in the Buildbase FA Vase second round.

They progressed to the third round after beating Sunderland Ryhope 4-1, with Karl Noon bagging two goals.

Maine Road were sent out of the competition with a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Congleton Town.

North East Wales Football League Premier Division

Caerwys 2

Chirk Town 3

A BRACE for Tom Freeman helped Chirk Town to victory as they returned to league action against Caerwys.

The Taverners fell behind in the 13th minute of the game, but restored parity within a minute of conceding.

Freeman then found the net before and after the break to give his team a two-goal cushion.

The scoring was opened by Dylan Mackie for the hosts early on, as the forward netted his first of the day.

They had barely finished celebrating however when the score was brought level again – Town’s Shaun Morris rounded off a quick move in response to conceding by firing past the home keeper to make it 1-1.

The sides were evenly matched throughout the half, but Freeman’s first of the day 10 minutes before the break put his side ahead.

After half-time, Town looked to hold onto their lead while their hosts were getting forward well in search of an equaliser.

But it was the Chirk men who were next to score as they doubled their lead through Freeman in the 76th minute.

With the visitors looking as though they had put the game to bed, there was a late scare for them when Mackie grabbed his second on the afternoon for Caerwys to reduce the deficit to just one goal with four minutes to play.

Chirk were able to hold on and managed to take the three points home.

They move third in the table with five games in hand over the leaders who sit 13 points ahead.

Chirk will host Bradley Park in their next game on Saturday (kick-off 2pm).

Welsh National League Premier Division

Chirk AAA 1

Cefn Albion 3

DESPITE leading until the 70th minute of the game, Chirk AAA were handed another defeat in the league on Saturday when they took on Cefn Albion.

Chirk took the lead in the 10th minute of the game through Harry Jones, and held onto their lead for an hour.

But a late onslaught from Albion meant the scoreline was turned on its head, and the Colliers remain winless in the league this season.

Jones gave the Chirk men the perfect start when he burst through the defence and slotted past the keeper early on.

The hosts held onto the lead through the first half, and started the second half well.

However, they were unable to keep Albion at bay for the full 90 minutes, and conceded the first of three goals in the 70th minute, courtesy of Dion Gibbins.

His goal was soon added to by Danny Holland who put the team ahead with little time remaining.

And Alex Williams was next to score for the side as he doubled the visitors’ lead with minutes to play.

Chirk remain third from bottom in the Welsh National League Premier Division table.

Chirk face Holywell Town on Saturday (kick-off 2pm).

North West Counties Football League Division One South

Cheadle Town 3

Ellesmere Rangers 0

ELLESMERE Rangers remain winless at the bottom of the table after a second-half hat-trick for Cheadle Town handed them their 10th league defeat of the season.

Patrick Davin netted three times for Town in the last 30 minutes of the game to give the hosts the win.

Rangers are back in action on Saturday when they host Cleator Moor Celtic in The Macron Cup. They then face FC Oswestry Town away in the league on Saturday, November 16.