Rudkin steals the show and the win for Nomads!
By Reece Preston-Hayes.

Nomads win 3-2 against Barrow

Nomads set the stage to welcome a local side to Davidsons Homes Park as the Riversiders from Barrow came to take part in some exciting EMCL action. Nomads were looking to bounce back after losing out to Holwell away from home but other than that minor blemish 2017 has looked very positive for Nomads who have upset the likes of Stapenhill and sent Arnold home with their wings clipped.

Both teams had a solid start to the match, no timid behaviour as the challenges came keen from early on. Both sides having pretty good chances in the first 20 or so minutes, Barrow getting as far as the Nomads keeper who saved their best effort with a long outstretched arm.

Daz Taylor had it in for the sky as he fires Nomads’ quick counter into the clouds, but Nomads found themselves through on the counter when Barrow moved towards our half, Ollie with a clean tackle before sending Joe Hartopp through 1on1 but he was denied by the keeper.

Barrow came close as a first half of plenty of chances and zero goals were drawing to an end, not much notes written on my sheet but the striker was unfortunate to go the wrong side of the post and the half ends pretty much as it started, both teams with possession, chances but no goals, a shame no doubt but after the break surely someone could break the deadlock?

I don’t know what was said at half time but I imagine something like “HIT IT INBETWEEN THE POSTS AND PAST THE KEEPER!” and on 60 minutes Mark Foster would do just that, running into dangerous position down the far side wing, before cutting into the box and a quick shot slid into the near post hitting the inner side of the post before going in.

No time to celebrate though as within 3 minutes, fast pace movement on and off the ball put Barrow into our box and a solid finish levelled the game.

Both teams continued to press, it seemed, maybe biasedly, that Nomads were slightly leading the drive with Barrow simply reacting on what we did (and they did that very well.)

Joe Hartopp continued to be outmatched by the keeper as he finds he way on the end of Daz Taylors cross, another fine save.

Mark Foster would have another go at taking the lead, the keeper saving the first attempt, and Joe Hartopp saw an opportunity to finally get the better of him and fired in the rebound which in turn meant Nomads lead the game once more.

Nomads lead would once again only last for 3 minutes as Barrow marched into Nomads box winning a corner. Ball was whipped adequately into the box with Nomads seemingly shy to head the ball out it was rather simple for Barrow to once again pull the game back level.

Nomads knew they had to make up for lackluster moments of amateurism, play to their strengths press the ball and counter, Nomads once again denied by the keeper as Daz Taylor has a go now. Ash day also looked to beat the keeper after skillfully beating past not 1, not 2, but 3 players but then managed to trip himself over, from this Barrow quickly countered seeing an opportunity for them to gain the lead, ending up one on one with Nomads keeper, beating around him for a sure goal the player hits the ball but it picks up height and bounces out of danger from the crossbar, lucky for Nomads to be let off there.

Game draws ever closer to the end, past the 90th minute and into injury time Nomads;’ Mark foster is brought down and Nomads have a free kick about 25 yards out, Chris Rudkin steps up as the Noisy Nomads peek through the gaps in our fingers… he hits it hard as it flys into the sky, takes a kamikaze down towards the goal and ITS IN, what a free kick by a player who has struggled to find his place today, he has found it now, the final kick of the ball (pretty much,) Chris Rudkin has sparked memories of his goals galore days, Nomads sneak off the pitch with a narrow but decisive 3-2 lead, everyone must of expected a draw with the game going fairly well matched but maybe it wasn’t a 50/50 affair, maybe a 51/49 as that makes all the difference, Nomads beat bitter rivals Barrow.

Full Time: Nomads 3-2 Barrow