Nomads begin new year with epic comeback to sink Barry

Connah's Quay Nomads secured an eighth consecutive JD Cymru Premier victory with a 3-1 victory over Barry Town United at the Essity Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

The Nomads were trailing for almost an hour after Ieuan Owen's close-range finish for the visitors, but some game-changing substitutes from the Nomads bench, which included new signing Freddie Redshaw, proved decisive as Callum West unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner from outside the area.  

West's equaliser opened the floodgates for John Disney's side as Noah Edwards produced a clinical first-time finish inside the area to complete a quickfire turnaround late in the day. 

Rhys Hughes was introduced to replace the injured Dan Cowan in the first half, and the attacker's positive performance was rewarded with a goal in stoppage-time as he picked out the top corner with a curling shot from distance to wrap up all three points.  

The Nomads now strengthen their position in second-place, extend their unbeaten league run to 13 matches and close the gap on leaders The New Saints to just one point.

Team News 

Due to the busy festive schedule, John Disney made four changes from Wednesday's memorable 3-1 win over TNS as Dan Roberts, Abdi Sharif, Callum Bratley and Max Woodcock replaced Kai Edwards, Rhys Hughes, Callum West and the injured Harry Franklin, who picked up a slight knock last time out. Freddie Redshaw was announced as our first signing of the January transfer window and he went straight onto the bench, while Declan Poole started for his 200th Welsh top-flight appearance. 

Barry manager Steve Jenkins made just one change from his side's 2-1 loss away to Briton Ferry Llansawel on New Year's Eve as Eliot Richards replaced Keston Davies, who was suspended from this fixture after his red card against Ferry. Former Nomads goalkeeper George Ratcliffe started for the Linnets along with Ben Margetson, who is the brother of current Nomads goalkeeper Kit Margetson. 

First Half 

The first slight chance of the match arrived in the 13th minute as Woodcock met Sharif's low cross, but saw his shot on the turn caught easily by Ratcliffe. 

Despite an energetic start and some neat passing, Barry took the lead with 19 minutes on the clock as teenager Ieuan Owen ran onto Ben Margetson's cross and turned the ball home at the front post. 

The remainder of the first half saw neither side create any notable opportunities, although the Nomads were forced into their first change of the afternoon shortly before the break as Rhys Hughes replaced Dan Cowan, who exited the pitch due to injury. 

Second Half 

Two more substitutions were made ahead of the restart in an attempt to turnaround a frustrating first period as Freddie Redshaw came on for his for Nomads debut, replacing Sharif, while Callum West was brought on in place of Woodcock, who was on a yellow card. 

The Nomads immediately showed signs of improvement as they continued their search for an equaliser. Dan Roberts was first to go close four minutes into the second half as he met Hughes' curling free-kick and forced George Ratcliffe into a save from point-blank range. 

Redshaw had his first sight of goal in a Nomads shirt after he was spotted by Declan Poole, however our new signing's first-time strike from close range brushed the side netting. 

A yellow card for Nomads captain Chris Marriott meant he was taken off as a precaution, with Zeli Ismail replacing him in another attacking change from Disney and his staff. 

The Nomads had been continuously working the ball well throughout the second half and eventually got their reward in the 74th minute as West received the ball from Hughes before drifting into space and firing an unstoppable effort beyond Ratcliffe, leaving the goalkeeper absolutely no chance of the save. 

Noah Edwards completed a quickfire turnaround to put the Nomads ahead four minutes later as he retrieved the loose ball from Hughes' blocked delivery and fired into the bottom corner after his initial effort was blocked.

The Nomads kept on having the upper hand on their opponents and went close to a third goal as Hughes received West's short pass and shot across goal, only for Ratcliffe to be equal to the effort. 

However, Hughes was not to be denied at the second time of asking as he drove forward after Callum Bratley dispossessed Dan Barton in midfield and curled beautifully into the far corner, leaving Ratcliffe stranded once again. Hughes has now scored in three consecutive fixtures over the festive period, taking his league tally up to 11 goals for the season. 

An eighth consecutive league victory takes the Nomads to within a single point of leaders The New Saints, who do have a game in hand. 

What's Next?

The Nomads conclude their stellar Phase One campaign next Friday, 9 January against fourth-place Caernarfon Town.  A key reminder for supporters is that Friday's match will be played at the Go Goodwins Stadium in Llandudno due to maintenance work at Caernarfon's Oval. 

It was a positive display in September's reverse fixture against the Cofis, but the Nomads walked away empty handed after a narrow 2-1 loss. 

A win for John Disney's side on Friday would see the club gain their second-best ever points tally in a Phase One campaign, sitting behind our tally achieved in our 2020/21 title-winning season. Information and ticketing details for travelling supporters will be announced on our social media channels this week, so stay tuned and let's hope we can finish the first phase on a high note!

Match Report by Adam Angerer