Three Points But No Easy Ride

For the second time this season Nomads found it difficult to breakdown a stubborn Rhayader Town defence whose performance belied their lowly league position. Having won the Huws Gray Alliance championship before being denied promotion to the Welsh Premier League on a technicality, Nomads made several changes from the side that drew with Cefn Druids last weekend.

Teenager Jamie Wynne, son of former Nomads midfield dynamo Darren, was given a full debut in midfield while Adam McGee was back between the sticks and Stuart Scheuber started in midfield with Alan Hooley rested. The Rhayader Town players lined up to applaud the new league champions onto the pitch but that is as far as their generosity went.

The Weirglodd pitch was rock hard and bumpy after weeks without rain and control of the bouncing ball was difficult. The hosts were quick to the tackle in the early stages yet it was Nomads who were creating the chances and dominating possession. James McIntosh went close when a rebound off the goalkeeper struck him and flew just over the bar but it was not long before McIntosh did find the net heading home firmly from a left wing cross in the 13th minute.

The first of a series of incidents to go against the visitors involved Gary O'Toole who was scythed to the ground outside the field of play by Glen Evans, the referee admonishing the Nomads striker for complaining that his ankle could have been broken! Young Jamie Wynne was showing some good touches in midfield and almost sent O'Toole through on goal with a delicate pass.

Against the run of play, and with only their second attack of the game, Rhayader equalised on 25 minutes when Tyrone McFadden, who looked a decent player, fired home from the left side of the penalty area into the far corner of the net. A swirling breeze did nothing to assist the flow of the game and whilst Nomads tried to add to their goal tally they rarely threatened the home goal.

Danny Forde replaced Ben Alston at half-time while McIntosh and Wynne were substituted after 54 minutes by Dean Thurston and Rob Jones. Both sides upped the pace after the break but it was Nomads who continued to call the shots. Gary O'Toole fired over from close range, Rob Jones saw a goalbound effort rebound for a corner while Eifion Price dived to palm away a Craig Jones shot.

Rhayader began to create chances as the game wore on without troubling Adam McGee but the game really boiled over in the 69th minute when Andy Alston was dismissed for throwing the ball at Rhayader striker Rhys Thomas who had raked his studs down Alston's calf. Thomas continued to show his petulant side as he three times refused to shake the hand offered by Nomads player-boss Mark McGregor who was trying to calm things down.

If Nomads were fuming at this chain of events then they were positively incensed minutes later when Stuart Scheuber was dragged to the ground and struck by Lance Jones. The referee took Jones to one side but produced only a yellow card before, inexplicably, giving Rhayader the free-kick!

With only three minutes remaining Nomads launched another attack down the right wing and when the ball reached the goal area Dean Thurston was on hand to fire past Price. Deano rushed into the main stand to celebrate and was promptly cautioned for the offence but the delight of the travelling supporters had hardly died down before Gary O'Toole added a third goal.

Sent away down the right channel, Gary was twice tackled from behind but rode the flailing boots to firmly plant the ball into the back of the Rhayader net for his 36th goal of the campaign.

NOMADS: Adam McGee, Ben Alston (Danny Forde 45), Ben Collins, Mark McGregor, Andy Alston, Craig Jones, Jamie Petrie, Stuart Scheuber, Gary O'Toole, Jamie Wynne (Rob Jones 54), James McIntosh (Dean Thurston 54).

Substitutes not used: Sam McNutt, Alan Hooley.