Nomads cruise home with a Rhys Healey Hat-trick

The Nomads bounced back from their recent defeat to Stockport Sports with a convincing 4-1 victory over Glantraeth featuring a hat trick from Rhys Healey.

We recorded a comfortable win over a Glantraeth side that had beaten two Cymru Alliance teams in the past week. Macca used the match to take a look at most of the under 19 side and to give a chance to the three trialists that are still with us.

Our first Half Team were: Callum Hawthorne and Michael Thompson (Trialists); Shaun Tinsley, Jordan Beck, Ryan Edwards, Aled Reece and Rhys Healey (Under 19’s), and Mark McGregor, Danny Dobbins, Craig Jones and Alan Hooley (senior first team squad).

On a near perfect surface and in front of a sparse crowd, Glantraeth opened well and were unlucky not to take the lead on 5 minutes when a Rowlands effort came back off the crossbar. Nomads were soon keeping possession and working the Glantraeth players about the field. Reece just failed with an effort and Macca  headed wide before Rhys Healey took a Michael Thompson pass into the area and scored on 22 minutes. We controlled well and got a few efforts in without troubling their keeper before Rhys Healey took advantage of a scramble to net his second on 34 minutes.

Just on half-time it was 3-0, this time Aled Reece the scorer, persisting to hook home after his first effort was blocked.

Changes were made at the interval and our second half team was possibly the youngest ever to take the field as a Nomads first team. Under 19 squad members, Bryn Jones, Ryan Jones, Jamie Wynne, Josh Williams and Rhys Healey, were supported by senior players Ben Alston, Mark McGregor and Jamie Petrie. Two from last year’s under 16’s, Abe Dobson and Sam Jones. Liam Gough a 19 year old trialist completed the side which had an average age of 20!

Glantraeth were a decent experienced side, fresh from 4-0 wins over Holyhead and 5-2 at Rhydymwyn. As our youngsters adjusted they were often chasing the ball and the visitors pressed Nomads higher up the field. We soon settled though and Abe Dobson caught the eye; the u-16 was alert and very comfortable on the ball and with his first few touches, people in the stands were asking about him.

We were under a little pressure and Bryn Jones in goal took the chance to show his worth with two good saves; blocking at point blank range from Anthony Hughes and saving well from Paul Rowlands. Glantraeth finally made a breakthrough on 73 minutes as Slezok looped a header from far to near post from a corner kick.

We then became more comfortable and regained domination of midfield and a 75th minute break led to a penalty kick when Rhys Healey was fouled from behind inside the area. Rhys picked himself up off the floor and confidently converted the kick for his hat-trick.