Nomads draw with Penybont in live Sgorio clash

Connah's Quay Nomads played out a 1-1 draw with Penybont in the JD Cymru Premier at the SDM Glass Stadium on Saturday evening.

A Lewis Harling goal sent the hosts ahead, but an equaliser from Byron Harrison ensured the spoils were shared between the two sides.

• Game marked debut for striker Byron Harrison
• Penybont took the lead with 21st minute Lewis Harling goal
• Harrison hit back with a debut strike in the 35th
• Both sides took a point from the competitive encounter

The Nomads came into the game on the back of two successive victories in the league over Cefn Druids and Aberystwyth and were looking to make it three from three. Ahead of the game, Andy Morrison was dealt a blow with Declan Poole being ruled out through a groin injury and Jamie Insall with a positive Covid case.

Byron Harrison was named in the starting eleven for the first time while Harrison Webster was also named on the bench for the first time since their international clearance came through.

His counterpart Rhys Griffiths meanwhile started the likes of Billy Borge, Sam Snaith and stalwart goalkeeper Ashley Morris as Penybont looked to continue their push for the top six this season.

The game began and the disciplined shape of both sides was quickly clear, as both limited chances on their respective areas early on.

Debutant Harrison started to exert his strength in the Penybont area, rising up for a challenge with goalkeeper Morris in the 14th, which saw the Nomads striker go down but with no foul given from the referee Iwan Griffith.

After 15 minutes, Nomads were forced into an early change when Aeron Edwards went down with an injury and had to make way for Aron Williams.

Things then got more challenging for Nomads in the 21st, when Lewis Harling slotted in inside the Connah's Quay area to give his side the lead in what had been a tight game so far.

Penybont were boosted by their goal, but Nomads were targeting their final third with good runs down the wing from the likes of Williams, who won a corner ball in the 27th to put more pressure on the South Walian side.

This paid off in the 34th, when Byron Harrison got on the end of an excellent delivery into the area from Kris Owens which allowed him to finish first-time on the edge of the box.

The debut goal had brought Nomads level, and the score remained 1-1 for the interval with both sides well in the JD Cymru Premier clash.

The second half was started strongly by Connah's Quay as they pushed up into the Penybont half, looking to break down the Penybont defence, who conceded the third-least goals behind Nomads and TNS last season.

After the hour mark, the likes of Jordan Davies and Craig Curran were getting in good positions in the final third, with Curran receiving a yellow card for a high foot as he looked to connect with the ball close to goal.

With 20 minutes remaining, the score was still tied at 1-1 and as the latter stages approached Nomads saw more chances to grab a winner.

In the 75th, Davies flicked a header towards Williams who was in front of the goal, but unable to fully connect with his strike from five yards allowing keeper Morris to collect.

On 78 minutes, Jamie Mullan whipped in a free kick from the left wing, which narrowly missed the oncoming Byron Harrison on the far right post.

Into the 83rd minute, club captain George Horan sent a powerful shot which was pushed onto the crossbar by the fingertips of Morris in another close chance for the visiting Nomads.

In the 87th, there was another close chance with Nomads putting serious pressure on goal as a Kris Owens corner was headed just wide by Harrison.

Two minutes later, Nomads were handed a free kick around 20 yards out in a dangerous position, but Kris Owens' curling delivery to the box was headed away by the Penybont defence.

At full time, Nomads were forced to settle for a draw knowing they could've taken more, but remain undefeated in the league campaign so far and in third place.

They now move onto more JD Cymru Premier action, taking on Caernarfon Town at Deeside on Tuesday 31st August for a 7:45pm kick off.

Match Photos

Match Report by Will Catterall