Five-star Nomads reach third round in style

The Nomads made the perfect start to their JD Welsh Cup defence with a 5-0 victory over Guilsfield at the Essity Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Tyler Berry continued his breakthrough season as he gave us a narrow lead at the break, before goals from Ben Maher and Rhys Hughes opened up a three-goal cushion midway through the second half.

Jordan Pownall had a moment to remember as he bagged his first senior goal for the club with a clinical finish. Aron Williams wrapped things up in stoppage time, heading home from a tremendous Fumpa Mwandwe cross.

The result also saw Billy Paynter’s side keep their fourth consecutive clean sheet in all competitions.

Team News
Paynter made three changes from our goalless draw at Bala Town last Tuesday as Ben Maher, Elliott Dugan and Tyler Berry replaced Fumpa Mwandwe, Dan Roberts and Jack Kenny.

Guilsfield manager Bernie Jones made four changes from his side’s 5-0 defeat to Colwyn Bay in the JD Cymru North last weekend as Chris Cathrall, Jake Cook, Dan Tinsley and James Smallwood replaced Callum Bromley, Jamie Hyne, Callum Graybrook and Evan Roberts.

First Half
There was a glorious chance for Dugan to break the deadlock inside just five minutes as he met Berry’s perfectly-weighted cross into the area, but was unable to steer his effort on target.

However, the pair eventually combined for the opening goal on the 15-minute mark as Dugan’s low ball across the face of goal left Berry with a simple finish into the back of the net.

Rhys Hughes nearly doubled the advantage moments later as his curling effort from the edge of the area forced a diving save from Luke Evans.

The Guils had positive moments in search of their equaliser, but Sean Griffiths’ strike from distance flew narrowly over the top, before James Smallwood’s audacious attempt was safely dealt with by George Ratcliffe.

Ben Maher looked destined to have doubled the lead five minutes before the interval when Noah Edwards’ deflected cross fell kindly into the path of him, but his strike from inside the six-yard box was blocked at the last second.

Ben Nash had the final chance of the half as he guided his header from Declan Poole’s delivery wide of the post from close range.

Second Half
There were no major chances in the first 15 minutes of the second half, but there were some changes as Aron Williams and Jordan Pownall replaced Elliott Dugan and goalscorer Tyler Berry.

Williams nearly made an instant impact as his low ball was met by Maher, whose powerful drive was saved by the foot of Evans.

However, the above combination eventually paid off as Williams’ cross found an unmarked Maher, who sent a clinical volley from close range into the bottom corner.

Things got even better for The Nomads just one minute later as Hughes received Maher’s pass, ran through on goal and slotted beyond Evans to give his team daylight.

A fourth goal arrived in the 78th minute as Poole’s inviting cross was fired home by Jordan Pownall, who netted his first ever senior goal for the club.

The Guils may have had fewer counter-attacks than they wished for, but when they did, they threatened. Substitute Steffan Rogers tried his luck from long range, but his driven effort was stopped by Ratcliffe.

Williams then rounded off a five-star performance in stoppage time as he met Fumpa’s delicious cross towards the back post and headed home past Evans for his first goal on home turf in almost three years.

The result gives us a place in the JD Welsh Cup third round, where we will face a team from the northern section on the weekend of 15-16 November.

What’s Next?
We turn our attention to more cup competition as we host Aberystwyth Town at the Essity Stadium in the Nathaniel MG Cup quarter-final on Tuesday, 22 October at 7:45pm.

This fixture comes just over two weeks since we defeated the Seasiders 3-0 in the JD Cymru Premier thanks to goals from Fumpa Mwandwe, Jack Kenny and Elliott Dugan.

Match Photos

Match Report by Adam Angerer