A DISAPPOINTING year ended on a gloomy note as Airbus crashed to a ninth consecutive league defeat on Deeside.

Gap Connah's Quay celebrated a festive double over the Wingmakers, with home captain George Horan celebrating his return from a four-month injury lay-off by scoring a hat-trick.

In an evenly-contested opening, both sides created chances with Nathan Woolfe and Ryan Wignall testing the keepers.

But, after 11 minutes, Nomads took the lead when Horan's header just went over the line. Seven minutes later, the lead was doubled when Matty Williams seized on a loose ball eight yards out and steered his shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Bailey Jackson was just beaten to the ball by home keeper John Danby in the 27th-minute, with Woolfe and Les Davies testing Airbus keeper Ryan Neild.

Williams went close with a shot  just over the Airbus goal before Woolfe hit the base of a post with a half volley.

Any hopes of a second half revival were soon dashed when Horan slotted the ball through a crowded box to defeat Beild and, three minutes later, completed his hat-trick with a diving header.

Former Wingmaker Tom Field added the fifth after coming off the bench, sending an unstoppage trade-mark free kick past Neild from 25 yards after Jonny Spittle had handled the ball to stop play and get treatment for Jackson.

Ex-Nomad Ryan J Edwards fired an 18-yarder for the visitors with four minutes remaining but it was little consolation for manager Andrew Thomas, who faces a huge task in the New Year to lift his side out of the relegation mire.

Photo: George Horan opens the scoring for Nomads [NCM Media].