A bad day at the seaside for The Nomads

Match Report written by Trevor Green.

On a day of cold driving rain and gales, Nomads dominated this strange match but somehow lost by three goals to nil, which allowed Aberystwyth back into the race for the Welsh Premier League Top Six place. I was envious of those back on Deeside sitting in the warm watching on the telly.

We picked up possession of the ball from the off and the chances came and went with regularity, as Alan Hooley blasted wide when very well placed early on and Jamie Petrie fired over from a good position out on the right. Despite almost constant possession, our best chance to score could have come from a penalty for a blatant handball that was missed by the referee and his Assistant. The full back deliberately scooped the ball away from goal with his hand for a corner. The TV cameras missed it, but referee Harrington saw the incident, paused, and  awarded a corner instead.

Carroll shot narrowly wide for Aber and Nomads Rhys Healey had an effort blocked, then in1st half injury time an Aberystwyth corner was played over everyone to Cledan Davies, who smashed home a shot that John Rushton tried to stop with his foot but only succeeded in diverting into the net.

Nomads trooped off unable to believe that after complete dominance they were behind.

Nomads played on the sodden pitch in the second half, with the gale into their faces and continued to commit men forward. Though the football was very good, Nomads left huge gaps behind them which Aber players succeeded in hitting long balls into. After another neat Nomads move had broken down on 50 minutes, a long punt down the left wing found Aberystwyth’s Davies who drove the ball goal-wards. Nomads’ keeper John Rushton saved the shot but spilled the greasy ball and after a 2nd attempt to gather failed, Jordan Follows drove the ball into the Nomads net.

Nomad, Rhys Healey tormented Wyn Thomas and Stuart Jones all after-noon and had endured them kicking out at him, dragging him down and pushing him with little protection from Referee Harrington, however after two fouls in two minutes from sub Barri Hogan, the official finally did book the offender. A turning point in Nomads fortunes may have come after Healey tricked Thomas in the box and was brought down. It was clearly a foul but the penalty wasn’t given. Moments later Healey limped off and perhaps Nomads hopes went with him.

Another Aberystwyth punt out of defence found Follows who beat the defenders and pulled the ball across for Carroll to score. In injury time a penalty was finally awarded to the visitors for a slight push by Stuart Jones, but Robert Jones penalty was saved by home keeper Mike Lewis, who fainted right before making a left handed save.

Our style of all-out attack was a joy to watch and rarely can any side in the WPL have enjoyed such total domination of possession and lost. In hindsight, trying to play like Barcelona in those conditions was probably a a bit ambitious and losing to a side that got everyone behind the ball and hit us with three long balls in to the flanks and three crosses aquaplaning across the turf was probably predictable. But long may it continue.