Nomads continue bright form in Aber victory

Connah’s Quay Nomads made it three straight victories for the first time this season as goals from Rhys Hughes, Olly Wright and Jack Kenny secured a 3-0 win over Aberystwyth Town in the JD Cymru Premier on Friday night.

It was a fast start from The Nomads at the Essity Stadium as Hughes opened the scoring early on with a neat finish from a short corner routine, before Wright, who was making his first start for the club, fired home from a tight angle just after the hour mark to double the lead.

Substitute Jack Kenny then bagged his seventh league goal of the season in stoppage time to seal an important victory and keep us in the pursuit of seventh place in the Play-Off Conference.

Team News
Transfer window signings Olly Wright and Sam Durrant both made their first JD Cymru Premier starts for the club, while Dan Roberts made his 100th appearance in domestic league football. Defensive duo Ben Nash and Kai Edwards were both absent from the squad due to suspension.

Aberystwyth manager Antonio Corbisiero made four changes from his side’s narrow Nathaniel MG Cup final defeat to The New Saints last Friday as Iwan Lewis, Tom Mason, Ben Davies and Alex Darlington replaced Jack Thorn, Niall Flint, Elliott Scotcher and Niall Flint.

First Half
There were few chances for either side in the opening stages of the contest, but a well-worked short corner routine saw The Nomads hit the front with 15 minutes on the clock.

Noah Edwards received the ball on the edge of the area and spotted the run of Rhys Hughes in behind the Aber defence, which then allowed the former Cymru U21 international to beautifully curl the ball past Dave Jones for his 11th league goal of the campaign.

Hughes nearly doubled up for the evening when he stood over a free-kick on the edge of the area, but his effort was tipped over the bar by Jones.

Kris Owens went close with a free-kick of his own towards the end of the half, but he curled narrowly wide of the bottom corner, before Max Woodcock had an effort one-on-one with Jones saved.

Second Half
Durrant had two glorious chances to get his name on the scoresheet early in the second half, but when meeting crosses from Hughes and Woodcock, the Sri Lanka international was unable to find the target on both occasions.

Billy Paynter then made a double change shortly before the hour mark as Jack Kenny and Callum Bratley replaced Durrant and Owens.

Just five minutes later, Olly Wright found a crucial second goal for The Nomads. Wright, who making his first league start, was played through by Woodcock and was able to squeeze the ball past Jones from a tight angle to open his account for the club.

After Cameron Ferguson had replaced Woodcock, Aber probably should have halved the deficit through Darlington, who intercepted a loose ball inside the area, but could only fire straight at George Ratcliffe. A fourth substitution then arrived as Aron Williams came on for Noah Edwards.

Ratcliffe was called into action again late on, this time making a smart stop to deny Abdi Sharif on the right hand side.

All three points were fully in the bag as Kenny added a third goal in stoppage time. A swift counter-attack allowed Bratley to send a teasing low ball into the path of Kenny, who slid in and made no mistake in finding the bottom corner.

The fully deserved victory means The Nomads are still firmly in the race for the all-important seventh-place spot in the Play-Off Conference. Billy Paynter’s side trail Barry Town United by five points with just five games left to play, which includes a clash against the Linnets next month.

What’s Next?
There is a midweek Flintshire derby in store at the Essity Stadium on Tuesday, 11 March as we face Flint Town United (7:45pm KO)

The Nomads will be seeking revenge after suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat to the Silkmen at the beginning of Phase Two.

Match Photos

Match Report by Adam Angerer