Daffs Wilt After Healey Header

Teenage substitute Rhys Healey netted a late goal to ensure Nomads booked their place in the third round of the Welsh Cup with victory over the Mid Wales League outfit. The highly-rated starlet came off the bench to send a diving header beyond the Daffodils' stopper five minutes from time to seal a 2-0 win after Jamie Petrie's deflected cross had handed Mark McGregor's side a slender first half lead.

Llanidloes were well-placed near the top of their division and boasted former Newtown and Welshpool hitman Jamie Breese in their line-up but his phenomenal scoring record at Victoria Park – 22 goals in 14 appearances – evaded him as the visiting defence held firm to lay the foundations for a thoroughly professional victory. Nomads boss Mark McGregor, who was still without the services of leading marksman Gary O’Toole, brought in Sam McNutt for suspended captain Craig Jones whilst Ben Alston was included amongst a very youthful bench.

Nomads found the heavy and uneven pitch difficult in the early stages and their attacking force struggled to create, but a solid backline was rarely threatened during a tense first half and home star Breese was well marshalled by the increasingly impressive Michael Robinson. Driven on by the experienced Welsh Premier duo of the aggressive and excellent Gareth Mansell and the controlling calmness of Karl Seiliarts in midfield, the Daffs’ only chance of note came through Mansell’s long range effort which cannoned back off the crossbar.

Indeed, the early goal inside 12 minutes effectively settled the contest in Nomads favour. A swift passing move out of defence released Petrie down the right flank and his dangerous low cross was diverted into the net by unfortunate home defender Warren Sherwood to hand the Huws Gray Alliance champions the lead. With three visiting attackers quieting up, Sherwood’s attempts to block the cross proved fruitless. Neither side created a clear chance until five minutes before half time when James McIntosh shaped to head Rob Jones’ teasing delivery goalwards only to be pulled from the ball by a home defender – the unsighted referee and his assistant refraining from awarding a penalty.

A war of attrition from a heavy midfield saw a similar stalemate after the break right up until the 82nd minute when one of four teenage substitutes, Rhys Healey, provided new life into Nomads’ frontline by replacing the tiring McNutt. Three minutes later and in the one golden moment of the second period, Alan Hooley hit a high, hopeful cross from deep which saw Healey and the home goalkeeper race to get to the ball first.

Healey won the race with a perfectly-timed header but felt the full force of the on-rushing stopper’s challenge and collapsed to the floor, coming close to losing consciousness and even his two front teeth. Fellow Academy graduate Barely five minutes after entering the fray he was replaced by fellow Academy graduate George Baxter as Nomads wound down the clock.

The starlet’s third first team goal of the season – and second in as many Welsh Cup rounds - was also his bravest and clinched a safe passage into the third round of the competition for McGregor’s men.

NOMADS: John Rushton, Jack Rowlands, Ben Collins, Mark McGregor, Michael Robinson, Alan Hooley, Jamie Petrie, Danny Forde, Rob Jones, James McIntosh, Sam McNutt (Rhys Healey 82', George Baxter 87').

Substitutes not used: Ben Alston, Ryan Jones, Jordan Beck.

Booked: -

Attendance: