Nomads storm past Bont to edge closer to top six

Connah’s Quay Nomads edged closer to a spot in the JD Cymru Premier Championship Conference with an impressive 4-0 victory over Penybont at the Essity Stadium on Saturday. 

The Nomads were two goals to the good inside the first half hour in Flintshire courtesy of Declan Poole’s clinical finish and Rhys Hughes’ penalty. John Disney’s side found more comfort in first half stoppage time as Bont midfielder Clayton Green was shown a straight red card. 

Callum West bagged two assists in the second half as he set up Callum Bratley and Hughes to make it four. Bont tried to find a late consolation, but the Nomads defended well to maintain their clean sheet and extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight matches. 

Team News 

Disney named an unchanged starting lineup from last weekend’s 3-0 victory away to Cardiff Met. Ben Nash continued to captain the side with Chris Marriott still sidelined, while Abdi Sharif was back on the bench after returning from injury. 

Penybont manager Rhys Griffiths made two changes from his side’s 4-3 victory over Flint Town United last time out as Joe Woodiwiss and Kai Ludvigsen replaced Mark Little and Owen Pritchard. 

First Half 

Neither goalkeeper was tested in the opening 20 minutes of the contest, but when Bont failed to clear Hughes’ cross towards the back post, Declan Poole was on hand to meet the loose ball and find the breakthrough with a low driven effort into the bottom corner. 

The Nomads were then awarded a penalty just six minutes later as Nash was fouled at the back post. Hughes, who scored two penalties against Cardiff Met last weekend, stepped up and once again made no mistake in finding the net, sending Armstrong the wrong way in the process.

Noah Edwards went close to adding a third goal shortly before half-time as the midfielder’s ferocious effort from the edge of the area deflected inches over the top. 

Bont were reduced to 10 men in the final action of the half as Clayton Green brought down West on the edge of the area while the forward was clean through one-on-one with only Armstrong to beat. West curled the resulting free-kick over the bar, but the Nomads knew they were in a commanding position at the break. 

Second Half

Harry Franklin nearly continued his red-hot scoring run early in the second half as his strike from an extremely tight angle was stopped by the legs of Armstrong. 

However, a third goal did arrive on 54 minutes as West was not closed down out wide, allowing him to deliver the ball into Bratley, who glanced home into the bottom corner for his first goal of the season. 

Things got even better for the hosts three minutes later as Hughes bagged his second of the afternoon by receiving a lofted pass from West and slotted into the far corner with not a single defender marking him. 

Disney made three changes within the space of 10 minutes as Sharif made his return from injury by replacing our third scorer Bratley, while Max Woodcock and Dan Roberts replaced Franklin and Poole. 

Woodcock was instantly involved in two swift attacks as the Nomads continued to put Bont to the sword. The youngster slipped in Noah Edwards, who saw his low drive tipped away by Armstrong before he attempted to pick out the bottom corner with a spectacular curling effort which flew a whisker past the post. 

U19 star Jack Waterhouse got more senior minutes under his belt as he came on for Dan Cowan in the closing stages. Jason Oswell also replaced West.

The Nomads nearly had a fifth goal late in the evening as Hughes pulled the ball back for Noah Edwards, who was denied by Armstrong once more.

Bont failed to test Kit Margetson in the closing stages, seeing the Nomads keep their sixth clean sheet in eight matches. Disney’s side are now just one point behind second-place Penybont, with the primary aim of finishing in the top six looking strong. 

What's Next?

The Nomads are at the Essity Stadium again next Saturday (15th November) as we host Barry Town United in another key top six battle (2:30pm KO). 

Both sides shared the points in September’s reverse fixture after a goalless draw at Jenner Park. 

Match Report by Adam Angerer