Dominance alone does not always prove a team is ready for the next level, but the way Connah’s Quay Nomads Women have performed this season suggests they are destined for Genero Adran Premier football.
I am certainly not the only one who thinks this team has outgrown the Genero Adran North and shed spotlight on a second tier grassroots league. The results have been impressive, but it is the manner of performances which stand out the most.
It is not everyday you see teams convincingly winning games by 8-0, 9-0 and 10-0 scorelines, but the Nomads have done just that against Felinheli, Bangor and Berriew in the Genero Adran North this season – all of which came within the space of two months… which tells its own story if you ask me.
These victories have also helped the Nomads reach a remarkable milestone…
Jordan Parry’s young, free-flowing side have the perfect balance of storming to these high-scoring victories and also grinding out a hard-fought win when matches become tight and unpredictable.
The perfect example for this is shown by Connah’s Quay’s recent 3-2 triumph over Llanfair United at Deeside Stadium, where three set-pieces from Mel Barlow led to goals from Hannah Slack and Elana Harley either side of Millie Evans’ own goal. .
Not only was Parry left proud as a coach for his team’s attacking threat from set-pieces, but it was their ability to defend a host of crosses from Llanfair – something the Nomads would face a lot of in the Genero Adran Premier…
Togetherness and maturity are two other major factors in why the Nomads are ready for the Genero Adran Premier.
For me, this is even more impressive when you consider that the average age of this squad is only 21. In football, teams can transition into a younger side with the risk of too much ego, but the Nomads play with a confidence and understanding that many sides would envy.
A first full season at Deeside for striker Ella Jones has proved to be a revolution, with the 21-year-old scoring 20 league goals in nine games to take firm control of the golden boot race and put the Nomads on course for back-to-back titles.
Jones, along with Slack, Megan Galeandro, Phoebe Ellis and Polly Wild-McGregor have all showed their attacking prowess this season by causing problems for many teams, while Barlow, Tia Lockley and Natasha Spearing already bring past Genero Adran Premier experience into the squad.
Things are gelling together nicely, and it is credit to the players’ commitment and Parry for maintaining high standards throughout the past five years, where the Nomads have improved their points tally each time. Promotion would be the icing on the cake, and Parry will not want to let this opportunity slip again.
The heartbreak of conceding three late goals to lose against Pontypridd United in last season’s Promotion Play-Off final still hurts…even more so now that Pontypridd have already been relegated from the top-flight…without a single point on the board…who knows how the Nomads would have fared this season? With the experience they possess, I think it is safe to say they would have caused teams a few problems.
Although the Flintshire-based side are competing in the second tier, the Nomads have already proven they can compete with Wales’ elite clubs in competitions such as the Genero Adran Trophy…
If the Nomads do secure promotion this time around, I am hoping that they follow in a similar path to Wrexham.
Since they won the Genero Adran North, Wrexham have excelled in their step up to the first tier by challenging for the Genero Adran Premier and winning the Genero Adran Trophy.
Not only is the success on the pitch, but there is rapid growth elsewhere with increased investment from Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhinney, leading to a semi-professional status, paid contract for players and the ability to attract stars from across the world.
In my view, this is what Connah’s Quay Nomads should be aiming for.
The foundations are already there – a young squad full of talent, a clear style of play and a manager who trusts his players to express themselves.
If they finish the job this season and beat the winners of the Genero Adran South in the Play-Off final, the Nomads will not just compete in the Genero Adran Premier…they will belong there!
(Featured image credit: Nik Mesney/FAW)
Check out more content from our Quay To Victory below, including exclusive interviews with some of the most important figures at Connah’s Quay Nomads!
No responses yet