Hughes scores stunner as Nomads edge past Ferry

The Nomads closed the gap on the JD Cymru Premier’s top six with a crucial 2-1 victory over Briton Ferry Llansawel at the Essity Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Rhys Hughes picked out the top corner with a tremendous curling effort from outside the area, before Noah Edwards quickly doubled the lead from close range for his first goal of the season.

Ferry halved the deficit in the second half through Kian Jenkins, but Billy Paynter’s side were able to hold on and claim an important three points in their pursuit of a top six finish.

Declan Poole was sent off for a second bookable offence in stoppage time, but thankfully his dismissal did not affect the result.

Team News
Paynter made just one change to his side that drew 0-0 away to Bala Town in their last league outing as Elliott Dugan replaced Jack Kenny up front. There was also a milestone for Dan Roberts as he made his 50th Nomads appearance.

Briton Ferry manager Andy Dyer made three changes from his side’s 2-1 loss to Haverfordwest County just under a fortnight ago as Jaime Rickard, Keiran Williams and Tyler Brock replaced Ryan Bevan, Alex Gammond and Kris Evans.

First Half
It was Ferry who had the first major chance of the match as in the seventh minute, Caleb Demery was played through one-on-one with George Ratcliffe, but had his effort across goal saved by the goalkeeper.

The Nomads began to take control, and forced visiting goalkeeper Will Fuller into a series of saves. Firstly, it was Chris Marriott who had his sweetly-struck effort from outside the area palmed away, before Rhys Hughes’ curling free-kick from out wide was stopped.

Hughes eventually found the target and opened the scoring with 34 minutes on the clock as he picked out the top corner with a cross-turned-shot from the right hand side of the area, which left Fuller no chance of the save.

The lead was soon doubled courtesy of Noah Edwards, who latched onto a loose ball and slammed the ball home beyond Fuller after Marriott’s cross was not fully dealt with by the away side.

Hughes nearly added a third shortly before the break with what would have been a goal of the season contender. The former Cymru U21 international received the ball on the halfway line and spotted Fuller some distance off his line, but his audacious effort drifted inches wide of the bottom corner.

Second Half
The two goalscorers, Hughes and Edwards, almost combined for a third goal in the early moments of the second half as Hughes’ low ball across the face of goal narrowly averted Edwards in the six yard box.

Caleb Demery tried to half the deficit for Ferry from long range, but just like in the first half, he was denied by Ratcliffe again.

The Nomads were forced into their first substitution on the hour mark as an injury to Elliott Dugan saw him come off for fellow striker Jack Kenny.

Fumpa then fired over from Disney’s low ball and Roberts had his header from Marriott’s corner blocked in the six-yard box as The Nomads continued to cause danger.

However, it would be Reds who grabbed the next goal as Kian Jenkins fired into the bottom corner after the ball kindly fell back out to him from Jaime Rickard’s cross.

Another Nomads change arrived in the 71st minute as Aron Williams replaced Fumpa Mwandwe in attack. Both sides then received yellow cards with Keiran Williams fouling Kenny, before Poole was penalised for dissent.

The visitors had positive spells in attack, and went close to finding their leveller when Tom Walters’ deflected effort flashed wide of the post.

Poole received a second yellow card in stoppage time for a foul on Ollie Anderson, and as a result, he was sent off.

However, his dismissal did not affect the outcome of the match as The Nomads held on to claim a vital three points and extend their unbeaten run in the JD Cymru Premier to four matches.

What’s Next?
The Nomads are back at the Essity Stadium again on Wednesday, 30 October as The New Saints make the short trip down to Flintshire for a rearranged league fixture.

We will kick off against the Saints at 7:45pm and we will be hoping to build on this performance in search of another impressive result which would further boost our hopes of a top six finish.

Match Photos

Match Report by Adam Angerer