Franklin’s fantastic four helps Nomads go twelve unbeaten in convincing fashion

Friday evening saw The Nomads soar to a 6-1 victory against Caernarfon in the JD Cymru Premier. An astonishing four goals from Harry Franklin including a hat-trick inside the first ten minutes got Nomads off to a flying start before goals from Jack Kenny and Josh Williams completed a wonderful night of football.

For the third time this season, The Nomads blew away The Cofis. Firstly, four different scorers at The Oval secured a famous away day win and then just over two weeks ago, it was a Jordan Davies masterclass that saw Nomads progress into the third round of the Welsh Cup, sending Richard Davies’ side out of the competition. Tonight, it was Harry Franklin’s night, four first half goals, a ten minute hat-trick and a Player of the Match performance sent The Nomads level on points with the league leaders.

It took only 40 seconds for Franklin to open the scoring, his square ball for Jack Kenny was blocked but the ball fell kindly back to Franklin who simply couldn’t miss. Franklin slotted past the goalkeeper for his second in the fifth minute before he completed his hat-trick by heading home from John Disney’s cross. On the stroke of half time, Franklin got his fourth by bundling the ball into the back of the net as Nomads continued to dominate from the wide areas. Declan Poole set up Jack Kenny for the fifth before substitute Josh Williams rounded off a wonderful evening with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.

Form
Neil Gibson’s side came into this game as one of the in-form teams in the JD Cymru Premier. Unbeaten in their last eleven, The Nomads wanted to make another statement against a team who they haven’t lost to in their previous 13 games. Since beating The Cofis in the JD Welsh Cup, Jack Kenny salvaged a point against Bala in a midweek clash before a first half blitz in South Wales against Pontypridd saw The Nomads return to winning ways.

Caernarfon have their eyes set on a top six finish as we fastly approach the closing stages of Phase One. Recent home victories against Aberystwyth and Cardiff Met increase their chances of reaching their target in what has been a real turnaround start to the season for Richard Davies’ team having been in a relegation battle for quite a while last season.

Team News
Neil Gibson named the same exact starting eleven that defeated Pontypridd last weekend with just a couple of changes to the bench. Youngsters Jordan Pownall and Lucas Gregson returned as Aron Williams, Callum Bratley, Mike Wilde and Eddie Clarke all remained injured.

Richard Davies also made zero changes as he kept the same eleven that overcame Cardiff Met last weekend. Sion Bradley was aiming to continue his form in front of goal after scoring a hat-trick against Met last time out. Iwan Cartwright and young goalkeeper Tom Pritchard both returned to the bench.

The First Half
The Nomads defined the term “dream start” just like last weekend against Pontypridd, however this time it was even quicker as Harry Franklin opened the scoring inside an astonishing 40 seconds. The No.12’s square ball aimed for Jack Kenny was blocked but the ball fell kindly back to Franklin who made no mistake from close range.

Another swift counter attack carved open the Caernarfon backline who simply had no answer. Noah Edwards, against his former team, found Franklin on the left who used his pace to beat his man and slot home past the goalkeeper to double the lead.

A hat-trick inside ten minutes is virtually unthinkable for many footballers but Harry Franklin stunned The Essity Stadium when he grabbed his third. Another brilliant piece of work down the right hand side saw John Disney deliver into an unmarked Franklin whose accurate header beat Lewis Webb for the attacker’s first ever professional hat-trick in league competition.

Around ten minutes later, Caernarfon were forced into their first change as the evening got worse for goalkeeper Lewis Webb. A nasty injury meant he was replaced by youngster Tom Pritchard, whose last first team appearance came when The Nomads defeated The Cofis 4-1 in the JD Welsh Cup.

With the whole crowd still in awe of Franklin’s ten minute hat-trick, Caernarfon nearly pulled one back through Zack Clarke. The striker latched onto a through ball and with options at the back post, Clarke decided to go alone, cutting inside onto his left foot and eventually sending his effort into the side netting to his dismay.

Webb’s injury earlier in the half meant there were seven minutes of stoppage time to be played at the end of the first half.

In the third minute of those seven, Franklin grabbed his fourth of the evening as the three points already looked to be heading The Nomads’ way. John Disney’s wide free kick was headed back across goal by Ben Nash whose effort looked to be heading over the line, however Franklin made sure of the goal by bundling the ball home for his sixth of the season.

Dan Roberts thought he had scored his first ever Nomads goal with a bullet header from Disney’s corner but the goal was disallowed for an apparent foul committed by Roberts as he jumped for the ball.

However the fifth goal would come just two minutes later in the final minute of stoppage time as a breakaway down the right hand side allowed Declan Poole to cross for Jack Kenny whose brilliant finish saw The Nomads go into the interval with a five goal lead in what already has to be said as one of the best, if not the best first half performance under Neil Gibson’s reign.

The Second Half
Caernarfon were already back out onto the pitch with five minutes to spare at half time. Richard Davies and his side knew they needed something special if they were to get back into this one and so the manager turned to his bench as the trio of Iwan Cartwright, Grufydd Williams and Ben Maher all came on for Dion Donohue, Ben Wynne and Danny Gosset.

Maher’s first action saw him receive a yellow card for a rash challenge on Harry Franklin who nearly turned goalscorer into provider, but his low ball across the face of goal just averted Jordan Davies at the back post.

It could have and probably should have been six on the hour mark as dynamite Franklin used his pace to reach a long ball and prevent a goal kick, and with the Caernarfon defence switched off, Franklin sensed an opportunity as his first time cross found Jack Kenny who somehow curled his shot inches wide of the target from inside the six yard box.

Neil Gibson then made two changes as Ryan Stratulis and Josh Williams both came on for Noah Edwards and goalscorer Jack Kenny.

Less than ten minutes after he was introduced, Josh Williams made an instant impact as he scored a sixth goal for The Nomads and after he was denied by the woodwork in our last home fixture against Bala, the midfielder was pleased to see his long range effort fly in this time. Declan Poole laid the ball off to Williams on the edge of the box who turned onto his right foot before beating Pritchard at his near post.

Caernarfon bagged themselves a consolation goal through Louis Lloyd’s strike but the damage was already done, meaning The Nomads go level on points with the league leaders before Saturday’s other JD Cymru Premier matchups.

Harry Franklin will now remember this night for the rest of his life as he becomes the second player, along with Jordan Davies to score a hat-trick against The Cofis this season.

Next Fixture
The Nomads are back in action next weekend with another huge JD Cymru Premier clash as they make the long journey down to South Wales to take on fellow top six challengers Cardiff Met at Cyncoed Campus. The match will take place on Saturday 5th November with a scheduled 2:30pm kick off time. Let’s hope the lads can continue their phenomenal run of form and deliver a bonfire night treat!

Match Photos

Match Report by Adam Angerer