Nomads Lose Away Record In Table Topper

A toothless performance in the weekend's highly anticipated third versus second clash saw Nomads succumb to defeat at Porthmadog, seeing their envious unbeaten away record disappear in the process.

That Mark McGregor's men looked likely to hold out for a point, facing into the wind, after a first half in which they struggled to make effective contribution, owed a lot to rookie referee Gareth Wynne Jones. In a half without a serious foul he managed three bookings and gave stern final warnings to most on the field.

In the rare outbreaks of football between the blasts of the whistle, Porthmadog exploited the wide open spaces behind Nomads' wingbacks and from one of the many free kicks Gareth Jones-Evans floated one on the wind over John Rushton and off the bar to safety.

Porth's impressive young strikers Darren Thomas and Jamie McDaid - both having proven to be thorns in Nomads' side in the past, continued to create chances and it needed a well-timed McGregor tackle to deny ex-Llangefni man Thomas just as the forward steadied himself to pull the trigger. Jones-Evans then placed a header too close to 'keeper Rushton who retained his place in a lineup that saw six changes from the previous week's Huws Gray Cup win at Llandudno.

Nomads finally got in a shot in the 24th minute when teenage striker Rhys Healey, given the nod to partner James McIntosh in attack, fired wide from the edge of the box. Porthmadog, meanwhile, might have led at the break when Grahame Austin shot over the bar when well placed in the final minute of the half.

With the wind behind them, the visitors were expected to produce a better showing after the break, but as early as the 47th minute Thomas was allowed to put a defence splitting pass behind Ben Collins which sent McDaid in on goal. With Nomads standing for an offside appeal, correctly ignored by the linesman, the youngster ran on and although Rushton did brilliantly to get a hand on the shot he couldn’t keep it out.

Nomads tried to rally but Healey's shot from distance went over the bar before, on 63 minutes, the game was put beyond the champions. Rushton saved superbly at the Rhys Roberts' feet but Jack Rowlands' attempts to play the ball out of danger ran only to the home side's star performer Thomas who cracked a high shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the penalty area to double the lead. 

The Quay responded by bringing on Rob Jones, Michael Robinson and new signing David Dempsey and for the first time the white shirts powered forward. Nomads' best moment came on 81 minutes when Dempsey floated a great pass to Rob Jones whose goal-bound volley was athletically turned away by the home 'keeper Richard Harvey, but typically it was the hosts who had the final say through substitute Aaron Richmond who was unfortunate with two late efforts.

Port's unbeaten run has now stretched to 12 matches in all competitions whilst Nomads slip to fourth in the table on a weekend of two giant clashes at the top - with captain Craig Jones' fifth booking of the season meaning he joins Gary O'Toole on the sidelines, compounding McGregor's woes.

NOMADS: John Rushton, Jack Rowlands, Ben Collins, Mark McGregor, Andy Alston, Craig Jones (Dave Dempsey 77'), Jamie Petrie, Danny Forde, Rhys Healey (Rob Jones 60'), James McIntosh, Alan Hooley (Michael Robinson 71').

Substitute not used: Sam McNutt.

Booked: Alan Hooley, Jamie Petrie, Craig Jones.

Attendance: 174