Jay Owen`s last-gasp winner sends Airbus back on top
AIRBUS UK Broughton won the Flintshire derby thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Jay Owen and returned to the top of the Welsh Premier table as rivals TNS lost at Newtown.
Kearney and Budrys celebrate the late winner.
The Wingmakers suffered blow in the warm-up when Glenn Rule hobbled off on crutches after injuring a knee, with Mike Pearson going to right back and Phil Bolland drafted off the bench into the centre of defence.
But the Airmen made light of the disruption to take the game to Connah’s Quay in the early exchanges and they were rewarded on 20 minutes when Sam Hart’s shot from the edge of the box struck the ground before looping over the grasp of keeper Terry McCormick.
Danny Forde came close to an equaliser after 34 minutes when his shot hit the foot of a post before rebounding to safety before Richie Partridge fired wide at the other end.
Gary O’Toole looked to be in on goal for Nomads but had handled the ball and the half ended with another Partridge effort being cleared by Jack Riley.
The Nomads asserted more in the second half and Paul Mooney’s powerful drive rattled the crossbar on 52 minutes.
With the hosts looking more likely to score it was no surprise when they levelled just past the hour mark, a breakway finding former Wingmaker Mike Hayes, who coolly slotted into the corner past keeper James Coates.
Home player-manager Mark McGregor headed just wide from a Mooney free-kick but Hayes headed tamely at Coates from another opening.
Airbus reorganised with sub Tom Williams partnering Chris Budrys up-front, but a winner looked unlikely until the hosts made a mess of clearing their lines and Ian Kearney followed-up to gleefully ensure Owen’s shot had crossed the line.
There was still time for Nomads to mount a final attack from which Danny Desormeaux fired over from a good position as Airbus reversed last season’s New Year’s Day result at the Deeside Stadium.
Below: Lewis Short celebrates with goal scorer Sam Hart.
