Wonder goal wins it for Nomads at Rhyl

The Nomads secured a vital win over Rhyl in dramatic fashion on Saturday evening.

Connor Bell opened the scoring in the third minute, with Wes Baynes equalising for The Nomads in the 84th, and with seven minutes of injury time played, Sean Miller scored to clinch a late victory for The Nomads.

The game was a significant one for The Nomads who needed a win to strengthen their position in the Dafabet Welsh Premier League's top six ahead of the January split.

Rhyl came into the game having drawn their previous five encounters, and were eager to get back to winning ways to escape the relegation zone.

Further spectacle was added by the presence of S4C Sgorio who broadcasted the game live.

Nomads started a side including Chris Rimmer, Les Davies and George Horan. Rhyl included former Nomad Terry McCormick in goal, and new signing Curtis Langton.

The game began and it was Rhyl who started brightly, with Danby saving a shot towards goal made immediately by Levi Makin. In the third minute Rob Hughes made a darting run towards the Nomads area and sent a pass to Connor Bell clear on goal.

Bell composed himself and sent a low shot into the bottom left corner of the net, confirming a dream start for the home side.

The Nomads looked to retaliate, and may have done so in the 13th minute if not for a great double save by McCormick. Les Davies surged towards goal and had his effort blocked, before Parry’s effort met the same fate from the left side of the Rhyl area.

Nomads continued to play a positive attacking style towards the Rhyl area, but could not find a breakthrough with an organised Lilywhite defence muting any Nomads chances.

Connor Bell was denied his brace when after Danby saved an effort from Rob Hughes, Rimmer made a vital block on the goal line to deny Bell on the second ball.

Terry McCormick continued a great performance when he made the save of the game against Callum Morris.  Crowther sent a cross into the Rhyl area which Morris headed low towards goal, where McCormick dived to his left and tipped the chance out.

Despite the first half being an end to end affair, the score was 1-0 at the interval, where Rhyl went in as the dominant side having so far controlled the game against Nomads who had been on the back foot for large parts of the half.

At half time a double substitution was made with Miller and Smith replacing McIntyre and Rushton. In the second half Nomads hit back with the majority of possession but no immediate end product.

With Nomads building up play in the Rhyl half yet showing no sign of achieving the equaliser against a determined Rhyl side, Ruane was introduced in place of Crowther.

Robbie Parry had a great opportunity to get Nomads level in the 68th minute when a square ball from Ruane met him in the centre of the Rhyl area, but his shot went over the crossbar.

Ruane then had a chance himself, but McCormick saved the shot despite initially dropping the ball. Rhyl had the lead but were now pushed into their own half, and so introduced Rey for Rob Hughes in the hope of maintaining the lead.

The fruits of  Nomads’ labour finally came in the 84th minute when after a cross from Ruane was cleared from the Rhyl area, Wes Baynes stepped up and delivered a powerful strike into the bottom left of the net from 15 yards.

Ibou Touray then made a heroic block on the goal line for his home side to deny Nomads a golden opportunity to steal a win late on.

Due to injuries in the game, a minimum of six minutes injury time was given. This time was extended when from a great block to deny Rey off his goal line, Danby was injured but had no choice other than to stand on his goal line with all three substitutions made.

With seven minutes of injury time now played, Sean Miller made a dash up the right wing and sent a cross towards goal, which deflected and went high over the penalty area, leading the Rhyl defence to believe it was going out.

Yet the ball looped over and landed in the home net, gifting Nomads the win in extreme circumstances and sending them into jubilation both on and off the pitch.

The win was a lucky one for Nomads against a Rhyl side who could feel hard done by having deserved at least a point from the game. Nomads are now fifth in the Dafabet Welsh Premier going into the festive double header versus Airbus UK FC.
The first of these fixtures will be played on Boxing Day at Deeside, for a 2:30pm kick off.