Nomads Are On Cloud Nine!

gap Connah's Quay Nomads opened their home account for the new campaign by rattling in no less than nine goals in a crushing victory over a Penycae side who had also conceded six on the opening day last weekend.

The defending champions, themselves having scored six times at Caersws on matchday one, offered a thoroughly dominant display to leave the league newcomers in a desperately sorry state - though the dismissal of two of the visitors' outfielders did not help their cause.

Nomads boss Mark McGregor made two changes to the starting X1 that cruised to their first three points of the season at the Recreation Ground, with Jack Rowlands replaced by debutant Mike Robinson in a defence that was still without the influential Andy Alston through suspension.

Rob Jones also came into the line-up at the expense of Shaun Roscoe, who dropped to a substitutes bench that included Academy starlets Rhys Healey and Jamie Wynne.

In swirling winds and a light drizzle, the opening exchanges could have been much more closely-fought if not for a reckless two-footed lunge by visiting midfielder Ryan Jones inside the first six minutes - his challenge on Ben Collins resulting in a three-minute delay and an early dismissal that essentially gave the Welsh National League champions a mountain to climb.

Despite the numerical advantage, Nomads could only offer a couple of crosses which flashed across the face of Richie Cowderoy's goal until taking the lead inside the 21st minute when leading marksman Gary O'Toole scored his fourth goal in just two outings after meeting a square ball from the industrious Rob Jones to cap a flowing passing move in which Ben Collins and Danny Forde were also involved.

Within seven minutes, O'Toole had rifled home his second of the game with a powerful shot inside Cowderoy's near post following Jamie Petrie's defence-splitting through ball - but not before Petrie, himself, got on the scoresheet with a tremendous looping effort that sailed over the stranded visiting stopper and dropped delicately under the crossbar.

By the mid-point of the first period Nomads were constantly bombarding the dishevelled Penycae defence and after Collins had brought down a Petrie cross at the far post only to drill wide of goal, Rob Jones was released through the middle to pick his spot high into the net for goal number four with a little over ten minutes of play before the interval.

With a comfortable lead and with torrential conditions worsening, Nomads somewhat lost their rhythm leading up the half time but still Rob Jones managed to crack an effort from range which flew narrowly over the crossbar to bring the half to a close - much to the relief of the overwhelmed visiting outfit.

Nomads have two tougher fixtures to come in the next six days, and injury doubt McGregor wisely withdrew from the action as the second half commenced, but with no natural defender waiting in line highly-rated midfield creator Shaun Roscoe was given the chance to shine in an unfamiliar position.

Yet there was no particular threat to Louis Mackin's goal with his outfield team-mates continuing their surge forward, and within six minutes of the restart Forde had plundered goal number five by delicately dinking the ball over the advancing Cowderoy after he was given enough space to walk into the opposition's penalty box.

Despite a first opportunity to pull a goal back when Dave Powell's shot on the turn took a slight deflection behind, Penycae's woe was confounded by the 63rd minute dismissal of full back Sean Dodd for a foul on Nomads' skipper Craig Jones which resulted in a second bookable offence and a two-man difference between the sides.

And after Forde blazed narrowly over, Roscoe's free kick came close and Rob Jones lofted wide, the sixth goal eventually arrived in bizarre fashion when the latter curled an in-swinging corner over the despairing Cowderoy and into the net - although substitute Iwan Williams, who had replaced O'Toole seconds earlier, claimed a touch on the goal line.

After some debate, the goal was credited to flag-kick taker Jones, but Williams came close to a definitive goal three minutes later when his neat one-touch flick off the boot rattled against the foot of a post.

Seconds later, in the 72nd minute, Collins cut inside from the right to rifle home the seventh goal of the afternoon and less than 60 seconds after that Williams finally broke his competitive duck with the simplest of finishes after being handed the freedom of the Penycae penalty box to round the 'keeper.

The one-way traffic never halted even going into the final ten minutes with Petrie twice blazing high and wide either side of a Rob Jones shot that was diverted behind. Williams then ended a lovely passing move by firing wide, though he was flagged offside prior to striking the ball.

With seven minutes remaining, makeshift centre half Roscoe showed his quality with a deft chip from outside the box that only narrowly landed the wrong side of the crossbar as the fervent Junior Nomads began chanting "we want ten!"

It was not quite to be, in fact Penycae finally had something to shout about in a woeful afternoon for the minnows when, with one minute of normal time remaining, substitute Mike Pugh struck arguably the goal of the game from all of 35 yards - the ball soaring high into the top corner over the dive of Mackin, who was beaten by the only shot he faced all afternoon!

There was still time for Nomads to have the final say, however, as deep into stoppage time teenage substitute Rhys Healey poked home from close range for his first professional goal for the club, after Forde had headed down a cross, completing the scoring at an incredible 9-1.

Given the visitors' reduction to nine men for most of the second half and after the two sides' contrasting results on the opening weekend, this scoreline was far from stunning, and Nomads must brace themselves for two tricky encounters with Flint Town United and Llandudno in midweek - but they can take every confidence into both clashes knowing that last term's championship-winning goal glut continues.

NOMADS: Louis Mackin, Ben Alston, Ben Collins, Mark McGregor (Shaun Roscoe 45'), Mike Robinson, Craig Jones, Jamie Petrie (Rhys Healey 81'), Danny Forde, Gary O'Toole (Iwan Williams 67'), James McIntosh, Rob Jones.

Substitutes not used: John Rushton (GK), Jamie Wynne.

Booked: Craig Jones, Rhys Healey.

Attendance: 104