Quay in cruise control as Talbot return to Port empty handed

A  very good team performance by the Nomads produced the first win of the new campaign against a Port Talbot side which has been strongly fancied to do well this season.  After an even 30 minutes with both sides willing to shoot on sight, two goals in four minutes gave the Nomads the upper hand and try as they might, Port Talbot found the Nomads in no mood to give them a way back into this game.

With Danny Forde and Dean Canning unavailable, Gary O’Toole and Chris Rowntree started and Nomads employed the same 3-5-2 format that was used in the Bangor game. 

In the early stages of the game, both sides showed their attacking intentions and Port Talbot created the first chance in the 5th minute, when Cortez Belle headed over from a free kick. After 15 minutes the Nomads had a chance from a free kick after a foul on Jamie Petrie, but the visitors cleared and moved forward at pace, with the lively David Brooks forcing a good save from John Rushton.

With both sides playing an open game and it was only a matter of time before a goal would come. Just as visitors appeared to get on top for a short spell, Nomads took the lead on 33 minutes courtesy of Michael Thompson. Ricky Evans long pass forward to Gary O’Toole was intercepted by a Port defender, but a determined O’Toole dispossessed him and moved the ball on to Michael Thompson. Thompson took the ball in his stride, evaded tackles from two defenders and stroked the ball beyond the reach of the goalkeeper just inside the far post.

Port Talbot pushed forward again and had a free kick awarded just outside the Nomads’ penalty area, but this came to nothing as the ball was blasted high and wide. Then only 4 minutes after the first goal, Nomads scored their second, largely due to an error by the visiting goalkeeper.  A long ball up the Nomads’ right wing saw the keeper try to let the ball run out for a goal kick.  But Michael Thompson had other ideas and though the keeper tried to stop him, he managed to cross the ball into the goalmouth for Gary O’Toole to tap the ball into the empty net.  The Assistant Referee flagged for a penalty for a foul by the keeper, but Referee Mark Petch played the advantage and the goal stood.

The remainder of the first half was played with the Nomads in control, as the visitors looked shell-shocked by the two goals.  As the fourth official showed two added minutes, the Nomads almost scored a third. Michael Thompson put a through ball to Gary O’Toole whose shot rebounded off the goalpost.

The second half started with Port trying to get back into the game and Cortez Belle caused the Nomads’ defence a problem with a cross in the 49th minute, but with a two goal cushion, the home side were playing their normal passing game with increasing confidence. 

Jamie Petrie continued to cause problems with his pace and after the fullback fouled him in the 59th minute, Ricky Evans went close with a volley from Tigger’s free kick. Port Talbot showed they were still in the game when John Rushton was forced to tip a long range shot over the bar in the 65th minute, but in general, the Nomads’ defence looked solid. 

On 67 minutes, Gary O’Toole who had taken a couple of knocks, was replaced Rhys Healey and he immediately started to show his pace against a tiring Port Talbot defence. With the Nomads in control, the visitors were creating fewer opportunities, but on 77 minutes they almost got a goal when Cortez Belle headed down to Lewis Harlin who volleyed just wide of the post.

Nomads’ second substitution saw Rob Jones return to action from injury in place of Michael Thompson on 78 minutes.  With fresh legs from the substitutes and Port Talbot tiring, Nomads picked up the pace and created more chances in the closing minutes, with Ricky Evans clipping the post and Rhys Healey heading a good cross from Jamie Petrie straight into the arms of the visiting keeper. 

Finally, in the second minute of 4 minutes of added time, a third goal almost came as Jamie Petrie hit a fierce shot which was tipped over the bar by the Port Talbot keeper.    

A very good team performance by the Nomads was typified by the determination of Michael Thompson and Gary O’Toole in creating and finishing the goals.

Attendance:  238

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