Match Report Written by Ray Brown.

A disappointing performance put the Nomads’ hopes of a place in the European play-offs in jeopardy and once again, an away game at Bala takes on major significance.  Playing the first half with the advantage of a strong wind behind them, Newtown scored twice within the first 30 minutes and left the out-of-sorts Nomads with an uphill battle that was beyond them.

Six points behind the Nomads and with an inferior goal difference, Newtown showed their attacking intentions straight from the kick-off and almost scored in the 2nd minute when a header from a corner kick went narrowly wide. A minute later and the home side were relieved to see a Newtown effort go just over the crossbar. With a strong wind blowing on a bone-dry pitch, the conditions were against the expansive football that the Nomads favour and the visitors continued to dominate proceedings. There was a short break in play as Rob Jones received treatment for a head injury and then Newtown’s Andy Jones forced John Rushton to divert his shot for a corner. From the corner the ball arrived at the feet of Matthew Cook and his shot on goal from about 25 yards was punched round the post by Rushton. The resultant corner required a goal-line clearance by the Nomads but in the scramble to clear the ball, Alan Hooley sustained an injury which required treatment from the Nomads physios. 

Newtown got the breakthrough they had been looking for in the 14th minute, when a long throw into the penalty area landed at the feet of Matthew Hearsey and he directed the ball into the goal via a deflection from Mark McGregor. 

The Nomads were finding it difficult to get any rhythm in their play but created a chance in the 20th minute when Mike Hayes fed Jamie Petrie, who hit a fierce shot on goal but it was blocked by a Newtown defender. 

The Nomads’ physios were being kept busy and were called into action for the third time in a little over 20 minutes when Mike Robinson went down with what appeared to be a knee injury. It became clear that he could not continue and Danny Dobbins was called on as his replacement. Soon afterwards in the 26th minute, the Nomads found themselves 0-2 down as Craig Williams collected a long ball out on the right side of goal before cutting in and hitting a low shot into the far corner of the goal.

The remainder of the first half was fairly even. The Nomads could not be faulted for effort, but were finding it difficult to retain possession. At 2-0 up, Newtown looked content to defend their lead but continued to look dangerous when they broke out of defence.

The first period of the second half saw the Nomads on the attack and Mike Hayes was presented with a good chance from a through ball from Ricky Evans, but his shot was too close to the keeper who put the ball out for a corner. Then Jamie Petrie was put through but pulled his shot across the face of the goal.

After this initial flurry, the game settled into the pattern of the first half with the Nomads still struggling to get any pattern into their game and Newtown looking comfortable with their lead. Craig Jones came on in place of Ryan Edwards and was lucky only 5 minutes later, when he and Newtown’s Matthew Cook were let off with a warning by referee Morgan after they clashed following a foul by Alan Hooley who was booked.

The Newtown forwards continued to look threatening and the Nomads were relieved when an Andy Jones shot rebounded to safety off the post and John Rushton was forced to make a very good save from the cross that followed.

In an attempt to get back into the game, Mark McGregor moved into attack and Jamie Wynne came on in place of Rob Jones, but the Newtown keeper was rarely threatened.  Mike Hayes made a good run down the left and hit a good shot on goal but it was pushed out for a corner. The last few minutes saw Newtown bossing the game as they kept the Nomads hemmed into their own half and the last chance of the game saw John Rushton being forced to concede a corner, as he pushed a shot from Craig Whitfield round the post.

The full-time whistle from referee Morgan brought an end to a disappointing game and brought the curtain down on this season’s home campaign. The post-match discussions were about the importance of next week’s game at Bala, where only a win or a draw can guarantee the Nomads retaining 8th position. A defeat would leave the door open for Newtown to overtake the Nomads on goal difference. Everyone at the club will be looking for a much improved performance at Bala and hopefully a repeat of the 19 January result.