Unbeaten run on the road ends in Met defeat

The Nomads’ four-match unbeaten streak away from home came to an end in a 2-1 defeat to Cardiff Met in the JD Cymru Premier on Saturday afternoon.

Elliott Dugan produced a clinical finish to cancel out Eliot Evans’ opener and score his second goal in two games, but Evans’ sweetly struck volley into the top corner early in the second half was enough to give the Archers all three points.

Team News
An impressive display in our Nathaniel MG Cup fixture against Caernarfon Town in midweek meant Jordan Pownall was handed his first JD Cymru Premier start. Kai Edwards made his 100th competitive appearance for The Nomads, while Ben Nash and Chris Marriott were absent from the squad.

Cardiff Met manager Ryan Jenkins made three changes from his side’s Nathaniel MG Cup victory over Goytre United last Tuesday as Adam Roscrow, Eliot Evans and Matt Chubb replaced Tom Vincent, Jac Clay and Evan Cadwallader.

First Half
The Archers were rewarded for their early pressure as Eliot Evans opened the scoring with just 11 minutes on the clock. Lewis Rees burst forward on the counter-attack and laid the ball off to Evans, who curled into the bottom corner beyond George Ratcliffe.

However, Met’s lead only lasted 12 minutes as Elliott Dugan finished off a well-worked move from The Nomads. Jack Kenny latched onto John Disney’s through ball and squared for Dugan, who produced a neat first-time finish to make it one apiece. The goal was Dugan’s first in the JD Cymru Premier since arriving in Flintshire this summer.

Disney was involved once again as he beautifully controlled Kai Edwards’ long ball and spotted Dugan making a darting run into the area, but a vital block from Matt Chubb denied Dugan a sight of goal.

From the resulting corner, Dan Roberts nearly put The Nomads ahead, but his volley at the back post flew narrowly over the bar.

Met had a glorious chance of their own to take the lead, but Sam Jones’ header from Rees’ cross was denied by the post and luckily, Disney was in the right place to clear the danger.

Fumpa Mwandwe had scored three goals in four away matches prior to kick off, and our summer signing almost made it four in five when his looping header from Rhys Hughes’ corner was cleared off the line by CJ Craven.

Second Half
Billy Paynter made his first substitution ahead of the second half as Noah Edwards replaced Rhys Hughes, who was celebrating his 23rd birthday.

Met restored their lead nine minutes after the restart as Evans bagged his second of the afternoon. Noah Edwards’ headed clearance fell kindly back out to Evans, who controlled the ball well before firing into the top right hand corner on the half-volley.

Declan Poole nearly gave The Nomads an instant leveller on the hour mark in what would have been one of the goals of the season. His strike looked destined for the top corner, but the crossbar came to Met’s rescue, leaving Poole frustrated.

A second change for The Nomads soon arrived as Aron Williams made way for Ben Maher, who also produced a solid performance in our Nathaniel MG Cup over Caernarfon last Tuesday.

Teenage trio Luca Hogan, Dan Flanders and Tyler Berry also entered the pitch for another taste of JD Cymru Premier football.

Met had a glorious opportunity to extend their advantage in the dying stages of the match through Ryan Reynolds, but Ratcliffe made a fine save to deny the midfielder from a tight angle.

The Nomads dominated possession and pushed for an equaliser in stoppage time, but the Archers defence did their job and held out until the final whistle.

What’s Next?
The Nomads are back in JD Cymru Premier action on Tuesday, 24 September at 7:45pm as Newtown make the trip up to the Essity Stadium.

Billy Paynter will be hoping for a response from his side following three straight league losses.

We won our first three league matches against The Robins last season, but we were frustrated in a goalless draw in March.

Match Report by Adam Angerer