OToole Strike Earns Gritty Win

Gary O'Toole netted the only goal of a closely-contested encounter as Nomads moved to within two points of the Huws Gray Alliance lead, ending Caersws' stunning nine-match winning streak in the process.

Returning from a third suspension of the season, last term's leading marksman was thrown straight into the starting line-up by player-manager Mark McGregor whose decision was vindicated when the former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Coventry City hot-shot prodded in Ben Collins' left-wing cross in the 13th minute.

O'Toole replaced club captain Craig 'Tigger' Jones in the only change to the X1 that sunk to a narrow defeat in the table-topping clash at Belle Vue in midweek, as the home side looked to recover from two successive defeats having also been dumped out of the Welsh Cup by Cefn Druids. Jones was joined on the substitutes bench by another of the club's Academy graduates, Shaun Tinsley, with fellow teenagers George Baxter and Jamie Wynne making way in an otherwise unchanged squad. 

The visitors were looking to take advantage of a difficult period for the defending champions by extending their incredible winning run to ten matches, but with Nomads targeting a vital three points to maintain some pressure at the pinnacle of the division neither side gave much away during the opening exchanges.

It was the hosts, however, who showed a greater attacking intent with Rob Jones revelling in his now natural trequartista role behind the front two. Quay's number 11 was guilty of choosing to thread a through ball towards O'Toole when well-placed to shoot from the edge of the area following a good passing move - the ball rolling safely to David Jones in the Caersws goal - before Jamie Petrie twisted and turned his way into the visitors' box but saw his deflected cross evade James McIntosh in the centre. 

The early pressure was rewarded soon after, however, when McIntosh's neatly angled pass released Collins on the touchline and his dangerously whipped cross picked out the unmarked O'Toole who had enough time to take a touch before prodding the ball over the line from six yards out. His first league goal for almost three months, oweing to a combined eight-match suspension, was also his 13th of the season and gave the hosts a 13th-minute lead - after which Nomads began to invite the visitors forward with a period of disjointed, sloppy play inside their own half.

John Rushton, who was perhaps still recovering from an incredibly busy second half at Belle Vue on Tuesday evening, had to be alert to divert a low Scott Quigley shot away from danger after the Caersws striker had made his way to the right byline before firing an angled effort towards goal in the 15th minute. The same player then had a goal ruled out by an offside flag seven minutes later after Rushton had kept out a fierce long-range effort.

At the other end, however, once the home side could reach the half-way line with the ball in possession, they managed to string enough passes together to create openings and after Petrie tested the visiting 'keeper with a firm shot from the right McIntosh blazed well over when well-placed. In the 31st minute Collins was once again sent flying down the left flank by a lofted Michael Robinson pass and his cross was flicked on by O'Toole but Petrie's attempts to bring the ball down enabled Jones to gather.

With the protection of the tireless work by stand-in captain Danny Forde and Alan Hooley in midfield, Rob Jones was continuing to pull the strings for Nomads' attacks. Playing 'in the hole' he frequently exchanged one-touch passes with Petrie and Collins on either flank, as well as deep-lying target man McIntosh, and his creative passing posed a threat to a Caersws backline who were beginning to be pressed and probed once more.

A brief respite was offered just after the half-hour mark when Neil Mitchell's 20-yard effort was fumbled behind for a corner by Rushton. The Caersws number eight, who partnered number seven Quigley in attack, had created the opening for himself with a jinky solo run and the resulting corner caused some more consternation for Rushton who dropped the ball, though three defenders were on hand to assist in clearing the danger.  

The visitors' confusing choice of positional squad numbers provided a number five, Scott Williams, and a number nine, veteran Graham Evans in a central midfield pairing whilst Iain Edmunds - wearing the number 10 jersey - was switched from the left side of midfield to left back after Tyrone McFadden hobbled off to be replaced by Tom Lapworth.

Tradtional striker Graham Evans was one of four Evans' named in the matchday squad by manager Mickey Evans but the former Aston Villa prodigy, now in his 13th season at the Recreation Ground, was proving less effective in a deeper role and Nomads ended the half strongly. In the 39th minute Petrie curled over from the edge of the area after McIntosh had dummied Hooley's forward pass, then a succession of corners forced a fine save from Jones a minute later.

Although Mitchell fired a thumping half-volley straight at Rushton upon meeting Edmunds' left-wing cross for Caersws, 'keeper Jones had to be alert to deny namesake Rob from close range then O'Toole's mid-height turn and shot as the half drew to a close.

Nomads were also fastest out of the blocks as the second period commenced, with Forde threading a through-ball to O'Toole only for the striker's fierce 18-yard shot to be beaten away by Jones in the 48th minute. Soon enough, though, both goal areas were to become threatened in an increasingly-even half. Quigley saw a shot deflected over and Mitchell was denied by Rushton for Caersws, whilst at the other O'Toole's blazing run and fierce low shot produced a save out of Jones before Forde fired high and wide from distance.

Either side of the hour mark, the visitors produced a brief period of sustained pressure on Nomads' penalty area which eventually resulted in lively first-half substitute Lapworth heading a testing corner wide when well-placed to find the target. Graham Evans' powerful free kick was deflected behind for a corner which was scrambled clear, then Robert Evans had space to run and shoot but could only fire straight at Rushton. In the 62nd minute Craig Jones made his bow off the bench for tiring namesake Rob, allowing the industrious Forde more freedom to drive forward but it was Collins who came closest during the mid-point of the half with a blazing effort from the left of the area which was well held by Jones at his near post.

As was the case during the recent defeats to Cefn Druids and Rhyl, Nomads began to sit back and invite their opponents onto them whilst holding out for quick-fire counter attacks. One such break saw Craig Jones, Petrie and Forde combine to force one of two consecutive flag kicks - the second of which was headed poorly wide by an unmarked McIntosh at the back post. A similar white-shirted wave ended in the visiting 'keeper grasping a Collins shot at the second attempt, but Nomads' deep line handed Caersws a handful of opportunities to snatch an equaliser in the final quarter of an hour.

The impressive Lapworth drove narrowly across goal after latching on to Graham Evans' high cross-field ball to the left side of the Quay penalty area, then Rushton held onto a dangerous Evans free kick after McGregor had joined Jack Rowlands in the referee's notebook for a foul just outside the box. Then, in the 81st minute, Mitchell sent an acrobatic volley whistling inches past the post after the home defence had failed to clear two corners. Unlike either of Nomads' prevoous two opponents, however, Caersws ultimately failed to turn their pressure into a goal - despite throwing on Luke Evans and Neil Evans to join namesakes Graham and Robert in search of an equaliser.

As it was, Nomads held firm in defence and almost registered a second goal in the final stages when, first, substitute David Dempsey delivered a deep free kick which Petrie headed wide, before Forde's shot under pressure rolled safely into Jones' arms then Collins was denied by an excellent sliding tackle by a Caersws defender after nudging the ball beyond the advancing 'keeper.

In the second minute of stoppage time, teenager Tinsley was rewarded for some impressive displays in defence, midfield and attack for the club's youth and reserve teams by making his first-team bow in place of the tiring O'Toole, as Nomads wound the clock down to hold on for a vital victory that keeps them well-placed in a fiercely competitive championship battle.

NOMADS: John Rushton, Jack Rowlands, Ben Collins, Mark McGregor, Michael Robinson, Alan Hooley (David Dempsey 74'), Jamie Petrie, Danny Forde, Gary O'Toole (Shaun Tinsley 90+2'), James McIntosh, Rob Jones (Craig Jones 62').

Substitutes not used: Ben Alston, Rhys Healey.

Booked: Jack Rowlands, Mark McGregor, James McIntosh.

Attendance: 103