Hughes’ strike earns Nomads special win at Penybont

Rhys Hughes late lob gave Connah’s Quay Nomads a 1-0 win over Penybont at the DragonBet Stadium on Saturday afternoon as John Disney’s side earned back-to-back JD Cymru Premier victories and a first league clean sheet of the season.

After both sides had chances to take the lead in South Wales, it was a moment of magic from Hughes which broke the deadlock. The attacker was not closed down on the edge of the area, allowing to lift the ball over Archie Matthews with some help from the woodwork.

The victory now takes the Nomads up to sixth in the table with a game in hand on the majority of the league.

Team News
Disney made three changes from Monday’s win over Flint Town United as Zeli Ismail, Jack Kenny and Harry Franklin, who all made an impact off the bench in the Flintshire derby, returned. Unfortunately Callum Bratley missed out through an injury sustained in training.

Wales and Somalia internationals Kit Margetson and Abdi Sharif also started, while Max Woodcock, Jason Oswell and Jacob Cook dropped to the bench.

Penybont made four changes from their win at home to Llanelli last time out as James Crole, Kane Owen, Ash Baker and Billy Borge all made their way back into the starting lineup.

First Half
Both defences did their job in the opening stages in Bridgend as Ben Nash made a vital tackle on Noah Daley despite the appeals for a free-kick on the edge of the area from the hosts. Zeli Ismail then had a shot blocked on the edge of the area, which would have certainly tested Archie Matthews.

The Nomads came agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 22nd minute as a long ball into the box caused confusion amongst the Bont defence, although they did make amends with blocks to deny Nash and Dan Cowan from close range.

The tension began to build at the DragonBet stadium as Bont defender Gabe Kircough was shown a yellow card for dissent, before Nash and Billy Borge were both booked for an off-the-ball altercation.

Nash came up clutch again towards the end of the first half as he made a crucial clearance on Daley’s low ball, before the defender headed two more teasing crosses clear.

Second Half
Bont had probably the best chance of the game just seconds after the restart as Daley raced down the left hand side and cut inside onto his right foot, only for his close range effort to curl wide of the bottom corner.

Noah Edwards and Rhys Hughes were then booked for fouls in quick succession, before Bont goalkeeper Matthews was forced to rush off his line and catch Ismail’s teasing cross into Jack Kenny.

Mael Davies tried an audacious effort for Bont in the 68th minute, but his swerving volley from Owen’s cleared corner flew wide of the top corner.

Max Woodcock replaced Zeli Ismail in our first change of the afternoon, and the striker nearly found the net just five minutes after entering the field. Woodcock latched onto the rebound from Hughes’ saved curling effort, but his first-time strike was blocked in the six yard box.

However, the Nomads eventually made their spell of pressure count as Hughes broke the deadlock in style with one of his trademark strikes from outside the area.

Hughes was allowed time and space on the edge of the area, and his cross-turned-shot flew over Matthews and found the net via some help from the post. Hughes now has 19 goals in just 40 starts for the Nomads since arriving last summer.

A slight injury to Woodcock was a frustrating blow, and he was replaced by the returning Dan Roberts, while Jason Oswell replaced Harry Franklin to provide fresh legs in attack.

Those substitutions once again proved vital as the fresh energy helped Nomads see out five minutes of stoppage time, with Bont not really testing Margetson during that period.

The hard-fought three points now brings us up to sixth in the JD Cymru Premier table.

What’s Next?
John Disney’s side can climb up to second in the league table with victory over Bala Town in our rescheduled fixture on Tuesday, 2 September (7:45pm KO).

This match was originally postponed due to a water crisis in Flintshire, but we will finally welcome the Lakesiders to the Essity Stadium, and our full focus will be on claiming a third consecutive win.

Match Report by Adam Angerer