Nomads begin defence of title with five-goal show
GENERO ADRAN NORTH – OCTOBER 5
Llanfair United 2 (Wylde 43, Cook 54)
Connah’s Quay Nomads 5 (E Jones 2, Slack 14, McGregor 62, Redfern 78, Galeandro 90+4)
This is the way to begin your defence of the league title!
After lifting the Adran North crown last season with 14 straight wins, Nomads started 2025-26 in familiar fashion with a five-goal show on their travels.
Last season’s runners-up, Llanfair United, were no pushovers, fighting back from two-down to be level at 2-2, but the Deesiders had the staying power to get their opening W on the board.
Jordan Parry’s side made the perfect start, Phoebe Ellis’ through ball releasing Ella Jones to make it 1-0 after just two minutes.
Seventeen-year-old Hannah Slack then made her mark with a superb individual effort on 14 minutes to double the away lead.
Player of the match Slack ran half the length of the pitch, leaving several defenders trailing in her wake before firing in a beauty via the post.
Llanfair hit back through Tania Wylde just before the break, then nine minutes into the second half the ever-dangerous Sophie Cook levelled the match. Impressive new keeper Megan Bowen made a superb initial save, but Cook snapped up the rebound.
Nomads needed a moment of inspiration to turn the tide back in their favour and not surprisingly it was skipper Polly Wild-McGregor who provided it.
Last season’s league top markswoman applied a close range finish from Ella Jones’ assist to restore the away lead on 63 minutes.
Aimee Redfern has provided so many key goals for her side in recent months and another of them crucially made it 4-2 on 78. Ellis lofted in a corner and Redfern, who began the season as a stand-in keeper, headed home.
The points were in the bag and now all it needed was the icing on the cake to wrap it up.
Four minutes into added time, new signing Megan Galeandro scored with a magnificent free kick from distance to ensure it finished 5-2 to the champions.
NOMADS
Megan Bowen, Megan Abdrews, Mae Hodgers, Tia Lockley, Elana Harley, Polly Wild-McGregor (c), Phoebe Ellis, Ella Jones, Natasha Spearing, Aimee Redfern, Hannah Slack. Subs used: Evie Chard, Nicole Samson, Megan Galeandro, Alisia Whitehead-Hughes, Libby MacKenzie.