Match Report written by Ray Brown

The Nomads double over a determined and well organised Newtown team, came after a fight back from the shock of the visitors’ early goal. Some superb football resulted in second half goals from Rob Jones and Rhys Healey and Nomads recorded a well-deserved 2-1 victory over Newtown.

Unsurprisingly, Nomads line-up was unchanged from the team which recorded an outstanding win at Llanelli and the home fans looked forward to the game with a sense of expectation of another home win.

The Nomads were quickly into their stride and there were early chances for Jamie Petrie and Michael Thompson, but it was Newtown who scored the first goal in the 7th minute.  A Newtown attack down the right wing produced a cross which the Nomads defence failed to clear and from a measured pass from Gareth Partridge, Luke Boundford found himself unmarked and calmly hit the ball home from about five yards. 

Nomads’ early woes continued when after only 12 minutes of play Michael Thompson had to leave the field with what looked like a calf injury. Ricky Evans, back after suspension, came on as substitute.

After a quiet spell of play, things came to life in the 21st minute when Rhys Healey made a run down the left before cutting inside and hitting a shot from about 20 yards. With the keeper well beaten, the ball hit the crossbar and went out for a goal-kick. This sparked the Nomads into a spell of attack and Ryan Edwards showed his passing skills as he sent a superb pass down the right wing to Jamie Petrie. Then Rob Jones got into the act with a shot that was deflected for a corner, with Danny Dobbins heading over from the corner.  A good run by Ryan Edwards resulted in Rob Jones forcing another save from the Newtown keeper and Nomads were completely controlling the game, but not having luck with their finishing. 

Jamie Petrie was seeing plenty of the ball and giving the Newtown defence a hard time and after a good pass from Craig Jones, Jamie’s teasing centre was headed away by a defender for a corner. The resultant corner saw Rhys Healey meet the ball with an overhead bicycle kick which went just over the bar. Newtown then had a chance of  their own. John Rushton was forced to make a good save down to his left, after a shot by a Newtown forward was deflected towards goal by Jamie Petrie. This was a rare Newtown attack though, as they were being forced to defend in numbers to contain the swarm of Nomads constant attacking play.

As the first half came to a close with Nomads still pressing for a goal, the Newton keeper was fortunate after dropping a Rob Jones cross from right under his crossbar and he was very relieved to see it drop to safety. Ricky Evans was denied a clear penalty in the 45th minute. Rhys Healey had a made a good run across the right side of the penalty area and Ricky was brought down as he advanced on Rhys’s cross

Somehow, Newtown held on to their 1-0 lead until half time, so The Nomads started the second half by pressing for the equaliser that their first half play had deserved. The reward came quickly in the 49th minute, after a good passing move had reached Rob Jones and his low shot from 10 yards out found the far corner of the net. 

Now looking for a winner, Nomads continued to pressure Newtown’s defence. Ryan Edwards was outstanding in midfield as the home side put on an impressive display of passing. It was inevitable that another goal would come and it was Rhys Healey who duly obliged in the 61st minute. He latched onto a cross-field ball from Ryan Edwards and after cutting inside, he slotted the ball past three defenders and the keeper into the far corner of the net.

Newtown had problems coping with the lively Healey and in the 62nd minute, their big centre half Mills-Evans clattered into Rhys and his frustration resulted in a yellow card. With Newtown forced to defend in numbers, the game became an exhibition of the Nomads’ skills, so it was almost a surprise when Newtown had a scoring chance in the 70th minute and one of their forwards headed over from a rare corner. 

The game was played out with Nomads in complete control and Newtown looked thankful to have kept the score down to 2-1.  Rhys Healey may have taken a slight knock before being replaced by Jamie Wynne in the 90th minute, but the game ended with the home fans in a very happy mood, having witnessed one of the very best displays of football by the Nomads.

It was an excellent team performance by the Nomads and an outstanding individual performance by Ryan Edwards.  A top six place is a realistic target, if this form continues.