Caersws end Nomads Euro hopes

CAERSWS secured their Welsh Premier status with a late winner from Chris Venables, which ended Connah's Quay hopes of European football.

Graham Evans broke free of the Nomads' defence in the 89th-minute, before squaring the ball to Venables for his second goal of the evening to give the Bluebirds only their second home win of the season.

As early as the second minute of the game Caersws had a chance of opening the score, but Neil Mitchell shot over from 20 yards while Graham Evans sent a shot narrowly wide from 16 yards.

The hosts should have taken the lead on the half hour when Andy Davies found himself in the clear, but his 10-yard effort was blocked at the expense of a corner and two minutes Mitchell hit the post after rounding keeper Paul Smith.

The first goal finally arrived in the 34th minute when Venables hit an unstoppable low shot from 20 yards, the ball clipping the post before nestling in the corner of the visitor's net - the first Bluebirds goal in five games.

Five minutes before the interval Caersws had a scare when the dangerous Adam Dickenson's shot was cleared off the line by a defender, following a scramble in the six-yard box.

Nomads obtained a fortuitous equaliser on 68 minutes when a free kick from wide on the right by Paul Carvill resulted in a scramble in the six-yard box, with the loose ball eventually falling to Gary Pinch who netted low beyond keeper Mulliner from 10 yards.

But Caersws were not content to settle for a point and their pressure was rewarded with Venables' late winner.

Report and stats courtesy of welsh-premier.com