Nomads continue bright form with hard-fought triumph at Bala

Connah’s Quay Nomads earned back-to-back JD Cymru Premier victories with an emphatic 3-1 win over Bala Town at Maes Tegid on Tuesday night.

Ben Nash poked home from close range and Rhys Hughes scored yet another stunner from distance as the Nomads opened up a two-goal advantage inside the opening 13 minutes.

Hussein Mehasseb converted from the penalty spot to immediately give Bala a lifeline, but Callum West’s clinical finish midway through the second half ensured John Disney’s side took all three points back to the Quay.

The Nomads are now four points clear in the top six and have made it four consecutive away games without conceding from open play.

Team News
John Disney made two changes from Saturday’s 3-0 win over Llanelli Town as a slight knock to Declan Poole saw him replaced by Callum Bratley, who made his first league start in over a month following an injury. Captain Chris Marriott also returned to replace Marco Fregapane, who dropped to the bench.

Bala manager Steve Fisher made just the one change from his side’s 2-0 loss at Cardiff Met last Saturday as first-choice captain Nathan Burke was replaced by Harry Dean.

First Half
The Nomads were instantly on the front foot as Max Woodcock and Jacob Cook went close to testing Joel Torrance in the early stages, before an early eventually arrived in the 11th minute thanks to Ben Nash.

Callum West’s corner was not cleared by the hosts and that allowed Nash to stab the ball home from a tight angle for his first goal of the season.

Rhys Hughes then doubled the lead just two minutes after Nash’s opener as he received West’s lay-off and beautifully curled past Torrance from outside the area to add yet another stunning goal from distance to his collection.

Bala were awarded a penalty in the 18th minute after Callum Bratley’s foul on Louis Hall inside the area. Striker Hussein Mehasseb stepped up from the spot and squeezed his effort beyond Kit Margetson despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to the ball.

The Lakesiders were on top for the remainder of the first half, but Margetson came up clutch with a stunning save to deny Hall in a one-on-one situation to keep us ahead at the break.

Second Half
Cook nearly scored with a bizarre cross-turned-shot six minutes into the second half before Hughes’ powerful effort was blocked.

Hughes then had his free-kick on the edge of the area denied by a Bala wall, while Woodcock saw his curling cross safely caught by Torrance.

However, the Nomads eventually made their dominant second half pressure as West restored the two-goal advantage on 67 minutes. West was left unmarked inside the area and that allowed him to meet Bratley’s pinpoint low ball and fire past Torrance and into the far corner for his second goal in as many games.

Bala had a glorious chance to half the deficit late in the evening as John Owen latched onto Levi Lumeka’s long ball, but Margetson produced another remarkable save to maintain the two-goal advantage.

The Nomads comfortably saw out four minutes of stoppage time to make it back-to-back victories with three goals scored in each of those.

What’s Next?
The Nomads face another tough test on the road this Saturday (11 October) as John Disney’s side travel south to face Briton Ferry Llansawel at The Renewable Centre Stadium. Please note the earlier 12:30pm kick-off time.

Rhys Hughes scored in both Nomads wins against Ferry last season, but our upcoming opponents were victorious in both Play-Off Conference meetings.

Match Photos

Match Report by Adam Angerer