Hussein clinches epic victory over Bont with late strike

Hussein Mehasseb scored a dramatic late winner as Connah's Quay Nomads climbed up to second in the Novira Cymru Premier table with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at the Essity Stadium on Saturday. 


Both sides were extremely close to finding the opening goal throughout the contest as Callum West struck the bar from distance, while Max Woodcock made a remarkable goal-line clearance to deny the visitors. 


The Nomads and Penybont have usually showcased how well their defensive setup proves vital when playing each other down recent years, and it seemed both sides would be heading home with a clean sheet each, but Mehasseb came off the bench and ensured that was not the case as his close range finish gave John Disney's Nomads a fourth consecutive league win. A number of important saves from Chris Renshaw at key moments during the match was also a standout talking point, as our goalkeeper received Club President John Gray's Player of the Match award at full-time. 
 

Team News

John Disney made just one change to his Connah's Quay squad that triumphed 4-1 at Barry Town United last Saturday as captain James Jones replaced Shane Flynn, who was sidelined with a slight knock sustained at Jenner Park a week ago. Abdi Sharif was welcomed back onto the bench as he returned from his recent adventure with the Somali National Team in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, which saw Sharif and the Ocean Stars face Gambia and Cote d'Ivoire, whose squad feature Real Madrid winger Yan Diomande. Young Steven Gerrard Academy scholar Owen Cropper was also on the bench for the second week running. 


Penybont boss Rhys Griffiths made four changes from his team's 2-1 win over Airbus UK Broughton last weekend as Alex Pennock, Tom Mehew, Marinho Manga and Owen Pritchard replaced Daniel Higgs, Chris Venables, Ryan Hill and Ashley Baker. 

First Half

Both goalkeepers were forced into saves early on as Renshaw palmed away Nathan Wood's fierce effort before Pennock got down low to stop Iwan Murray's low curling strike aimed for the bottom corner. 


Moments after Renshaw made another crucial save to deny Wood, the Nomads had an even better opportunity than Murray's to try and find the breakthrough as West played the ball out to Harry Franklin, who tried to pick out the bottom corner, but dragged his effort just a couple of inches wide of the post. 
 

Franklin was involved once again as half time approached, with the forward's header from a tight angle at the back post proving to be a comfortable catch for Pennock. 
 

The Nomads came even closer to the opener on the stroke of half time as West received a short pass from Alex Hughes and found a space for a shot on the edge of the area, which rattled the crossbar, denying the Novira Cymru Premier Player of the Month nominee his 15th goal contribution this season. 




Second Half 

Both teams had opportunities to test the goalkeepers at the start of the second half as Franklin did well to escape his marker, but saw his low cross cleared inside the six-yard box by Daniel Jefferies. Wood then met a diagonal ball at the back post straight up the other end, but could only steer the ball wide of Renshaw's goal. 
 

Penybont thought they were going to wheel away in celebration when Wood's effort from Mael Davies' low cross looked destined to find the net, but remarkable speed and determination from Max Woodcock saw the Scotsman produce a stunning goal-line clearance to keep the score level. 

Neither side created any real gilt-edge chances for next 20 minutes, with Murray the only player to have a sight of goal as his free-kick from the edge of the area flew over the bar. 


Disney turned to his bench and made four changes within the space of 15 minutes as Mehasseb, Sharif, Rhys Watson and Freddie Redshaw replaced Jordan Hodkin, Frankie Deane, Woodcock and Jones. 


Mehasseb nearly had a glorious opportunity just two minutes after his introduction as the Egyptian met Hughes' low cross,  but got the ball stuck under his feet and Bont were able to surround him and clear the danger. 
 

Bont duo Marinho Manga and Ethan Vaughan were booked in quick succession for fouls on Murray and Redshaw respectively, but the Nomads were unable to test Pennock from the resulting free-kicks. Mehew's clearance saw Bont launch a swift attack, but Jefferies' eventual volley was caught by Renshaw. 


Renshaw made a crucial double save to deny Mehew and Wood once more as Bont began to threaten, but up stepped Mehasseb in the 88th minute to break the deadlock for the Nomads as Franklin's initial shot from Hughes' cross fell kindly to the Egyptian forward, who fired home from six yards out to spark wild celebrations amongst the majority of the Essity Stadium.
 

Mehasseb's sixth goal of our competitive season gives the Nomads a fourth consecutive win and sends John Disney's side up to second in the table. The Nomads are now the only team in the Novira Cymru Premier to have scored in every league fixture so far, while we have also gone six consecutive home matches without conceding from open play. 
 

What's Next?   

The Nomads return to action next Friday, 3 October as we travel to face Briton Ferry Llansawel at the Renewable Centre Stadium searching for our fifth consecutive win (7:45pm KO). 


Harry Franklin scored an incredible nine-minute hat-trick to give the Nomads a 3-0 win on our last visit to Ferry, who will also be hoping to build on an impressive showing from this Saturday as they secured a  1-0 home win over Colwyn Bay.

Match Report by Adam Angerer