Hodkin and Franklin score twice as Nomads sink Barry

Connah's Quay Nomads produced an emphatic performance in South Wales as braces from Jordan Hodkin and Harry Franklin secured a 4-1 victory over Barry Town United at Jenner Park on Saturday. 


Hodkin produced a stunning, powerful effort across goal to open the scoring for the Nomads before two quick, clinical finishes from Franklin made it 3-0 heading into half time. 


The Nomads continued to apply serious pressure onto the Barry defence and earned a deserved reward as Hodkin doubled his tally for the afternoon with another neat finish inside the area. Callum West and Iwan Murray also bagged two assists, meaning our starting front four attackers went home with two goal contributions each. 


Barry substitute James Lester pulled a goal back for the hosts from close range, but that only proved to be a consolation as the Nomads stormed to their third consecutive Novira Cymru Premier win, which lifts us up to third in the league table. The victory was made even more special for Alex Hughes and Chris Renshaw as they celebrated their birthdays. 



Team News

John Disney made two changes from his side that beat Cardiff Met 1-0 last Friday as Max Woodcock returned to replace Adam McCoy, while Shane Flynn made his first senior start since our UEFA Conference League outing in Kosovo by replacing James Jones, who was absent through injury along with Mikey Stone. Jones' absence meant Dan Cowan fashioned the captain's armband at Jenner Park. There was also a place on the bench for 17-year-old Steven Gerrard Academy scholar Owen Cropper, who was named in the senior matchday squad for the first time ever. 

Barry Head Coach Steve Jenkins made three changes from his side's 5-2 defeat at Colwyn Bay last time out as Josh Bernard, Jadyn Crosbie and Owen Cuddihy replaced James Lester, Dan Smith and Theo Wharton.


Both teams had talented midfielders away on international duty as Abdi Sharif played 85 minutes for Somalia in their first ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Gambia on Friday night, while Wharton was away with the St. Kitts and Nevis squad. 




First Half

The Nomads immediately started the game on the front foot ans forced the Barry defence into several clearances from corners and low crosses. Franklin had the game's first major opportunity as West intercepted the ball in midfield and played through the forward, who could only shoot wide at the near post despite getting a great amount of power on his effort. 

Franklin got into another great position to give himself another chance as Hodkin did well to control Flynn's clipped ball towards the edge of the area and play through Franklin, who tried to lift the ball over George Ratcliffe but was denied by the Barry goalkeeper. 

All frustration was put aside a minute later though, as Hodkin raced onto West's long ball upfield, held off Will Richards  and sent a thunderous first-time effort over Ratcliffe, which left the goalkeeper hardly any chance of the save. 

Hodkin's wonderful strike opened the floodgates for the Nomads as Franklin doubled the lead on the half-hour mark at his third time of asking. Renshaw's long ball was not fully dealt with by Ratcliffe, and that allowed West to find Franklin, who finessed the ball into an empty net. There was a brief VAR check after Barry appealed for an offside when West received Renshaw's long ball, but the on-field decision of goal stood. 

Franklin bagged his second of the afternoon just seven minutes later to round off a fantasatic 18-minute period for the Nomads as the Northern Irish forward met Murray's chipped pass and produced another composed finish, this time through the legs of Ratcliffe. This marks the first time Connah's Quay have scored three first-half goals away to a South Wales-based team since October 2023. 

Second Half 

Woodcock thought he had added a fourth goal for the Nomads when he met fellow Scotsman Frankie Deane's ball over the top and slotted home at the near post, but the celebrations were cut short as the flag was raised for offside. 


The Nomads eventually got their deserved fourth goal thanks to Hodkin, who joined Franklin by bagging a brace as the 19-year-old received Murray's accurate through ball and applied a composed finish past Ratcliffe from close range.


Barry substitute James Lester then pulled a goal back for the home side when he tapped in from Mikey George's low cross. 

Conor Partridge, Adam McCoy, Hussein Mehasseb and Darren Stephenson were all introduced for the Nomads in the closing stages, with Hodkin, Franklin, Hughes and West all making way. 

Lester's goal did not faze the Nomads at all, as John Disney's side continued to work the Barry defence. Rhys Watson came extremely close to his first goal for the club late on as he did well to meet Woodcock's deflected free-kick at the back post, but somehow the ball was hooked off the line. 

Mehasseb tried to round off a sublime display from the Nomads in spectacular fashion in stoppage time as he spotted Ratcliffe a short distance off his line and went for goal, but could only watch his effort trickle wide. 

The Nomads have now won eight out of their last 10 league matches and an emphatic victory in South Wales lifts us up to third in the table. John Disney has now guided the Nomads to victory away to every South Wales-based team he has faced during his managerial reign. 

What's Next? 

The Nomads are back in Novira Cymru Premier action next Saturday, 3 October (2:30pm KO) as Penybont visit the Essity Stadium in what is sure to be an exciting top-of-the-table clash as both sides aim to continue their bright form. 

Tickets are now available to purchase for this fixture via our Fanbase system. Simply head to the link below to purchase your affordable tickets, which you can have sent straight to your device! 

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Match Report by Adam Angerer