Rhyl Take The Spoils As Nomads Lose Ground

An underwhelming afternoon at the Deeside Stadium saw Rhyl consign Mark McGregor's side to their first home defeat of the season, leaving them four points off the pace - albeit with two games in hand over leaders Cefn Druids.

In front of a bumper crowd of 327, it was the home side that drew first blood when Ben Collins found space on the edge of a crowded penalty area to drive in a low left-footed shot inside eight minutes.

Nomads, who were without influential duo Craig Jones and Gary O'Toole through suspension, drafted Tom Baker and Jamie Petrie into a changed starting X1 from the 5-3 Cup victory over AFC Porth last weekend.

Chris Herbert and Dean Thurston were sacrificed for a more defensive line-up in an attempt to nullify Rhyl's midfield presence.

And it looked to have worked after Collins' early strike, which was almost doubled soon after when pacy lone striker Michael Hayes jinked his way to the left side of the area and clipped the crossbar with a looping effort that left visiting 'keeper Chris Howarth stranded.

A midfield battle in full swing meant for a scrappy opening half but Rhyl began to take control and after a handful of near misses they found themselves on level terms past the quarter hour.

Former Nomads utility man Mark Cadwallader found room beyond the home defence and rounded Terry McCormick to slot into an empty net.

The equaliser gave the Lilywhites' the impetus to drive forward and Nomads were pegged back for long periods as Chris Williams, in particular, threatened cutting in from the left flank - shaving the outside of the post with a low shot on one occasion.

It was Williams who struck to hand Rhyl the lead with a little over ten minutes of the first half remaining.

The former Stockport County man found space on the left side of the area to shoot inside McCormick's near post, much to the delight of the strong travelling contingent.

The second half followed much of the same pattern, with Rhyl hovering around the home penalty area and McCormick called into action to keep his side in the game with a string of fine saves.

He was to be beaten in the 58th minute, though, with a debatable goal. A through ball carved open the home defence and as two Nomads' players left the ball for each other Rhyl frontman Michael Pritchard took full advantage to round McCormick and roll in for a two-goal advantage.

The home defence protested to the assistant referee in vain calls for an offside decision, but the goal stood to rock any hopes of a win.

But McGregor's side have proven that they are made of sterner stuff and set about mounting a familiar late fight-back.

With the player-manager by now in a centre forward role, having earlier pushed into midfield in an attempt to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, Nomads drove forward but were let down by communication breakdowns and poor quality in dangerous positions.

Substitute Dean Thurston, who had replaced Tom Baker, blazed over after a neat passing move down the left, and Andy Alston's cross from the left byline evaded a string of white shirts in the box.

Nomads did pull a goal back with two minutes of normal time remaining - Collins sliding in at the far post to meet another left-wing cross from Hayes for his second of the game, but it was too little too late and Rhyl held on for the three points.

NOMADS: Terry McCormick, Ben Alston, Ben Collins, Mark McGregor, Andy Alston, Rob Jones, Tom Baker (Dean Thurston), Stuart Scheuber, Michael Hayes, Jamie Petrie, Alan Hooley.

Substitutes not used: Chris Herbert, Danny Forde, Danny Pinch, Scott Baker.