Gary On The Double As Nomads Secure Win

Hot-shot striker Gary O'Toole scored twice as Nomads fought back from behind to return to winning ways in the humble surroundings of Cae Baker.

The league's leading scorer registered his 31st and 32nd goals of a highly productive campaign to seal the win, after Josh Shaw had given the hosts a half time lead.

Player-manager Mark McGregor named himself amongst the substitutes after partly-recovering from recent injury troubles, but he had to make do without the services of Ben Collins, Stuart Scheuber and James McIntosh.

Dean Thurston and Rob Jones came into the starting line-up as McGregor opted for a 4-4-2 formation, whilst teenage prodigy George Baxter was called onto the bench.

Nomads were bidding to put to bed a horrendous seven days that had seen them lose their grip on pole position with successive defeats to Llangefni and Rhyl, but it was the hosts' who started on the front foot.

Taking advantage of the noticeable downward slope from one goal to the other, Penrhyncoch were quick to show why Rhyl have been defeated on both visits this season and handed Nomads an early scare when leading scorer Stuart Fraser had the ball in the net inside the opening five minutes.

His close range finish, though, was flagged offside to the relief of visiting 'keeper Louis Mackin who had spilled a fierce free kick into the striker's path.

Slowly, Nomads began to gain a foothold despite kicking up the steep hill and skipper Craig Jones flashed a quick-fire shot across goal after finding space to meet namesake Rob's deep cross from the left, before the lively Jamie Petrie was tripped inside the Penrhyncoch area - referee Alan Alexander pointing to the corner flag as white shirts crowded round him to protest.

It would not be the last time Nomads frustrations centered on the officials, as a number of contentious decisions at both ends of the field left the visiting charges perplexed as they tried in vain to find an early goal.

After Petrie blazed over from a good position and Thurston somehow found the home 'keeper when meeting a close-range rebound from O'Toole's effort, Nomads were tested by Chris Wilkins' distant screamer which whistled past Mackin's left-hand upright.

It was a sign of things to come and the hosts' took a 25th minute lead when Shaw raced through to fire a half-volley across Mackin and into the bottom corner, after a long ball forward had been flicked on to catch Ben Alston out.

But McGregor's troops have a habit of reacting positively to falling behind and they proceeded to bombard the home penalty area with Danny Forde and O'Toole both finding the home 'keeper with first-time efforts inside the box, before Petrie saw a goal ruled out for a foul on a defender after meeting O'Toole's fierce cross from the byline with the 'keeper stranded.

By half time Penrhyncoch's lead remained intact, though Nomads were relishing the prospect of utilising O'Toole's pace on a downward slope throughout the second period.

They started the half in a similar fashion as they ended the first and it was not long before the scores were level when, after Rob Jones sent a 25-yard free kick straight at the 'keeper and O'Toole saw his header from the edge of the area pushed over the top for a corner, a fierce shot struck a Penrhyncoch hand and the referee pointed to the spot.

O'Toole stepped up to power his effort low into the bottom left of the goal to chalk up his 31st strike of the season.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Coventry City youth was now on a roll and came inches away from forcing a quick-fire second after Petrie had charged down a hurried clearance by the home 'keeper - O'Toole was just edged from the ball by a pressuring defender.

Five minutes after his first, though, the hitman had doubled his tally to hand Nomads a deserved lead when he met substitute Sam McNutt's right-wing corner to scramble the ball over the line from close range.

Nomads were in the driving seat and McNutt curled an effort over following a sustained period of possession, before the towering Andy Alston headed into the side-netting, but the hosts' offered another brief scare when Mackin was clattered attempting to collect a high free kick from deep and Alan Hooley had to hook the ball off the goalline.

It was only to be a brief respite for the home defence, however, as Rob Jones was denied at the other end when he touched past the on-rushing 'keeper but saw his effort stopped on the line by two hurried defenders, then O'Toole dragged a shot tamely across goal with the clock ticking down.

The final whistle was sounded shortly afterwards and signalled a return to winning ways for McGregor's men with a scoreline that did not totally reflect their dominance on proceedings.

NOMADS: Louis Mackin, Ben Alston, Alan Hooley, Tom Baker, Andy Alston, Craig Jones, Jamie Petrie, Danny Forde, Gary O'Toole, Dean Thurston (Sam McNutt 51'), Rob Jones.

Substitutes not used: Scott Baker, George Baxter, Mark McGregor.

Booked: Gary O'Toole