Nomads frustrated at home again in Bont defeat

The Nomads suffered consecutive home losses in the JD Cymru Premier for the first time in almost three years as Gabe Kircough’s second-half goal gave Penybont a 1-0 victory at the Essity Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Bont, who are the current league leaders, applied several spells of pressure in the second half and were rewarded when Kircough controlled Keyon Reffell’s header and slammed home into the top corner from close range.

The Nomads looked destined to snatch a late equaliser deep into stoppage time, but John Disney and Declan Poole both had efforts from inside the area cleared off the line.

Team News
Billy Paynter made one change from our 2-1 loss to Barry Town as Elliott Dugan returned from a short spell on the sidelines. Dugan replaced Aron Williams, who dropped to the bench, and there was also back-to-back appearances in the matchday for academy star Dan Flanders.

Gabe Kircough replaced Dan Jefferies in the only change to the Penybont side that defeated Caernarfon Town 2-0 last weekend.

First Half
Keyon Reffell had a glorious chance to put Penybont ahead inside just two minutes as his deft touch from Chris Venables’ header back across goal looped over the crossbar.

There was a slight injury scare for The Nomads with five minutes on the clock as Jack Kenny went to ground following a nasty collision. However, after consultation with physios, he was able to continue with play.

Noah Edwards soon had The Nomads’ first real chance of the match as his deflected strike flew inches wide of the bottom corner. Straight up the other end, Reffell had another chance for Bont, but his volley from just inside the area was also narrowly off target.

George Ratcliffe was forced into a crucial save on 34 minutes as the goalkeeper managed to tip Mael Davies’ curling effort past the post at full stretch. Seven minutes later, Ratcliffe made another fine stop, this time denying Venables from a tight angle down the left hand side.

Second Half
Elliott Dugan came so close to scoring his first competitive Nomads goal just two minutes into the second half.

Fumpa used his pace to beat two Bont defenders down the left hand side and deliver a powerful low ball across the six yard box, where Dugan slid in at the back post, and any contact from the striker would have probably ended in a goal, but the pace on the cross was what eluded him.

The Nomads soon made their first substitution as Luca Hogan replaced Jack Kenny, who had been booked in the first half.

Hogan nearly made an instant impact off the bench, but he was unable to keep his header from Chris Marriott’s cross on target. Another substitution arrived seconds later as Aron Williams replaced Dugan up front.

The game quickly started to open up and Rhys Hughes was next to go close. Fumpa was fouled by Billy Borge on the counter-attack, but the referee played the advantage, which allowed Hogan to pull the ball back to Hughes, whose curling strike only just averted the bottom corner. Borge received a yellow card for the foul on Fumpa in the build-up to the chance.

Hughes and Fumpa were involved once again with the duo combining to create another opportunity. Hughes slid in Fumpa down the left hand side, but our summer signing had his thunderous strike tipped over the bar by Bont goalkeeper Adam Przybek.

Bont took the lead five minutes later as Mael Davies’ cross was not fully cleared, which allowed Keyon Reffell to head into the path of Gabe Kircough, who controlled the ball well on the turn before he fired into the top corner from close quarters.

Billy Paynter turned to his bench for a third time as Ben Maher replaced Rhys Hughes on 82 minutes with The Nomads throwing everything at Bont in search of an equaliser.

The Nomads would go close in the dying stages, but luck was not to be on their side.

Bont threw bodies on the line, which went according to plan as they were able to clear efforts from Noah Edwards and John Disney off the line.

Bont were able to repeat their defensive heroics two minutes later as Marriott’s corner saw Edwards and Poole denied on the line. The Nomads appealed for handball and a penalty when Poole’s shot was blocked, but the referee waved away the claims before shortly blowing the final whistle.

What’s Next?
We aim to bounce back this Tuesday, 17 September as we host Caernarfon Town at the Essity Stadium in the Nathaniel MG Cup Third Round with a 7:45pm scheduled kick off time.

The last time we faced the Cofis in this competition was in 2015 when we scored three goals in extra time to eventually seal a thrilling 5-3 victory in the quarter-finals.

Match Report by Adam Angerer