Saturday 28th January 2012

Andy Miller could only name two substitutes for the game and was forced to make several changes. Darren Taylor is still out with a knee injury and left back Craig Lynch was absent which meant new signing Calvin Smith made his full debut.

Many saw this fixture as the perfect chance for Nomads to return to winning ways.

Radford were going into the game full of confidence after a 2-1 home win against Ellistown on Tuesday evening. Their new coach and former Leicester City player Mark Draper was in the stands watching his new side.

Both teams started brightly and Nomads had several early chances including a shot from Leon Thraves who failed to hit the target from Oliver Preston’s cross.

Wade Ball also had an early chance when Clint Gunn’s perfect cross found Wade inside the 6-yard box but couldn’t convert his chance.

Nomads went behind after 13 minutes. Radford’s Richard Dean found himself unmarked in the area, receiving the ball from a failed clearance after a Radford corner.

Simon Alexander found himself in the referee’s book. Tracking back from a broken down Anstey attack, he went in late on a rushing Radford winger.

Radford’s right winger was causing all sorts of problems and found himself unmarked coming forward on 28 minutes. He managed to get a shot on goal from 20 yards which Stef Joyce was equal too.

Just 2 minutes later Nomads found themselves back in the game. Leon Thraves getting his first goal of the season since his return to the club. A Nomads corner was headed on from James Edmonds which found Thraves un-marked inside the Radford 6-yard area.

Nomads were unlucky not to go into the break with the lead. Clint Gunn brought down a Stef Joyce goal kick with his chest and his resulting touch played in Wade Ball who found himself 1 on 1 with the Radford keeper. His 20 yard strike was easily saved at the keepers near post.

Half time 1 – 1

Nomads came out for the second half looking the better side. Steve Armson being judged offside from a through ball which would of seen him go 1 on 1 with the Radford keeper. It was a tight decision from the linesman.

Nomads continued to push forward and were inches from taking the lead. Clint Gunn made a superb run on the right wing, turning inside the Radford defender and released a curling shot which looked set to beat the Radford keeper at his far post. Wade Ball made a darting run forward and made contact with Gunn’s effort which beat the Radford keeper but unfortunately could only hit the post.

Nomads were made to woe their earlier chances. Ten minutes later when a Radford cross was once again not dealt with by the Nomads defence, Radford’s Danny Pownall had the easy task of knocking in at close range.
Nomads boss Andy Miller made a double substitution soon after.

Simon Alexander was replaced for Chris Rudkin and Leon Thraves made way for Louie Finney-Neckles.

Oliver Preston found himself being booked for an accidental hand ball which almost everyone in the ground thought was a very harsh decision on the defender.

Minutes later and Shane Gibbs also found himself in the book. Trying to stop a Radford attack he was a judged to of tackled with studs showing on the Radford player. The decision from the referee sparked a heated exchange between the two dug outs with both managers being warned from the referee.

The referee had a busy second half booking several Radford players. One of which was booked for stopping Nomads from taking a quick free kick on the half way line. The free kick found James Edmonds on the edge of the Radford area who won another Nomads free kick for being pushed in the back. The resulting free kick was fired just over from Clint Gunn.

Nomads kept pushing forward in the dieing minutes and it was the two substitutes that combined to almost put Nomads level. Chris Rudkin’s switched ball from the right wing found a rushing Finney-Neckles running down the left flank. He was pinned into the corner but managed to play himself out and got a shot away from the edge of the area which was saved.

Nomads final chance in the dieing minutes came from Clint Gunn. A failed Radford clearance caused a mad scrambled inside the Radford penalty area. Gunn managed to find a gap between the players to get a shot away which hit the post and was collected by the Radford keeper.

Starting XI: Joyce, Preston, Edmonds (C), J.Armson, Smith, S.Armson, Gibbs, Alexander, Thraves, Gunn, Ball
Subs: Finney-Neckles, Rudkin
Attendance: 64