NOMADS 2, RHYL 3

NOMADS 2, RHYL 3

By wivey - December 10 2010
NOMADS LOSE PERFECT HOME RECORD AS RHYL TAKE THE POINTS:- An 8th minute Ben Collins goal gave Nomads an early lead, but with Rhyl's mid-field bossing for most of the game, they were 3-1 up before a belated Nomads fightback reduced the deficit with another Ben Collins goal in the 88th minute.

From Nomads Official Website:-

13/11/10: Rhyl Take The Spoils As Nomads Lose Ground

An underwhelming afternoon at the Deeside Stadium saw Rhyl consign Mark McGregor's side to their first home defeat of the season, leaving them four points off the pace - albeit with two games in hand over leaders Cefn Druids.

In front of a bumper crowd of 327, it was the home side that drew first blood when Ben Collins found space on the edge of a crowded penalty area to drive in a low left-footed shot inside eight minutes.

Nomads, who were without influential duo Craig Jones and Gary O'Toole through suspension, drafted Tom Baker and Jamie Petrie into a changed starting X1 from the 5-3 Cup victory over AFC Porth last weekend.

Chris Herbert and Dean Thurston were sacrificed for a more defensive line-up in an attempt to nullify Rhyl's midfield presence.

And it looked to have worked after Collins' early strike, which was almost doubled soon after when pacy lone striker Michael Hayes jinked his way to the left side of the area and clipped the crossbar with a looping effort that left visiting 'keeper Chris Howarth stranded.

A midfield battle in full swing meant for a scrappy opening half but Rhyl began to take control and after a handful of near misses they found themselves on level terms past the quarter hour.

Former Nomads utility man Mark Cadwallader found room beyond the home defence and rounded Terry McCormick to slot into an empty net.

The equaliser gave the Lilywhites' the impetus to drive forward and Nomads were pegged back for long periods as Chris Williams, in particular, threatened cutting in from the left flank - shaving the outside of the post with a low shot on one occasion.

It was Williams who struck to hand Rhyl the lead with a little over ten minutes of the first half remaining.

The former Stockport County man found space on the left side of the area to shoot inside McCormick's near post, much to the delight of the strong travelling contingent.

The second half followed much of the same pattern, with Rhyl hovering around the home penalty area and McCormick called into action to keep his side in the game with a string of fine saves.

He was to be beaten in the 58th minute, though, with a debatable goal. A through ball carved open the home defence and as two Nomads' players left the ball for each other Rhyl frontman Michael Pritchard took full advantage to round McCormick and roll in for a two-goal advantage.

The home defence protested to the assistant referee in vain calls for an offside decision, but the goal stood to rock any hopes of a win.

But McGregor's side have proven that they are made of sterner stuff and set about mounting a familiar late fight-back.

With the player-manager by now in a centre forward role, having earlier pushed into midfield in an attempt to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, Nomads drove forward but were let down by communication breakdowns and poor quality in dangerous positions.

Substitute Dean Thurston, who had replaced Tom Baker, blazed over after a neat passing move down the left, and Andy Alston's cross from the left byline evaded a string of white shirts in the box.

Nomads did pull a goal back with two minutes of normal time remaining - Collins sliding in at the far post to meet another left-wing cross from Hayes for his second of the game, but it was too little too late and Rhyl held on for the three points.

NOMADS: Terry McCormick, Ben Alston, Ben Collins, Mark McGregor, Andy Alston, Rob Jones, Tom Baker (Dean Thurston), Stuart Scheuber, Michael Hayes, Jamie Petrie, Alan Hooley.

Substitutes not used: Chris Herbert, Danny Forde, Danny Pinch, Scott Baker.

Goals: Ben Collins (8' & 88')

by Nathan Auty

Nov 15 2010 by Dave Jones, Daily Post  

Gap Connah’s Quay 2 Rhyl 3

BRILLIANT back-to-back wins have sparked new life into Rhyl’s season but player-manager Greg Strong is keeping his feet firmly on the ground. The Lilywhites followed up their tremendous Welsh Cup victory at Neath with a crucial three points at fellow Huws Gray Alliance high flyers Gap Connah’s Quay on Saturday.

Rhyl went behind to an early Ben Collins strike at the Deeside Stadium, but a fantastic Mark Cadwallader equaliser and Chris Williams’ close range effort made it 2-1 at half time. When Michael Pritchard added a third for the visitors after the break the Lilies looked comfortable, but a late reply from Collins set up a nervous last few minutes for the Belle Vue outfit.

“We made life difficult for ourselves at the end, but I felt overall our quality shone through and we deserved the victory,” said Strong.

“Every single player put their heart into it today and there were some great individual performances. That’s two good wins back-to-back now, but no-one’s going to get carried away. There’s so many big games to come between now and the end of the season and we’ll take it one at a time.”

Rhyl had a decent early penalty shout rejected when the outstanding Williams went down in the box, but it was the Nomads who edged in front on nine minutes. Rank bad defending saw the Lilywhites squander two opportunities to clear the ball and after a couple of Quay shots were blocked Collins drilled past keeper Chris Howarth at the third attempt. And it was so nearly 2-0 when Michael Hayes was forced out wide on the left but saw his lovely curler come back off the bar.

On the quarter hour Rhyl levelled with a special goal. Ex-Nomads player Cadwallader accelerated past two defenders, played a neat one-two with Williams, then burst into the box, skilfully avoiding advancing goalkeeper Terry McCormick before finding the empty net. Soon after a cracking ball from Paul Mooney to the left wing picked out Williams who jinked his way into the area but his low drive failed to trouble McCormick.

Gap should have regained the lead when a bad error from Russell Courtney let Hayes through on goal, but although the striker beat the dive of Howarth he kicked the ball too far and subsequently out of play. There were a few flutters for home supporters when McCormick lost his bearings trying to deal with a John Keegan delivery from the left and nearly carried the ball over the goal-line.

Then on 34 minutes Rhyl went ahead. Cadwallader broke down the right and crossed low into Pritchard whose shot was blocked, but the ball ran kindly for Williams who applied an easy finish. Mooney whipped a 30-yarder inches wide before the half-time whistle which was blown around 30 seconds early.

Rhyl began the second stanza on the attack and only a fine stop from McCormick denied Cadwallader, while at the other end Howarth produced two smart saves. It was the Lilies who looked the more potent, though, and in the 58th minute the Nomads defence failed in its bid to set an offside trap and Pritchard was left to slot home with ease.

The away side pressed for a fourth, Brad Maylett’s corker hitting the bar before great work down the left between Williams and Pritchard enabled Cadwallader to get in a shot, but McCormick saved superbly.

Nomads’ never-say-die spirit, however, and a late rally could have earned them a point. Several efforts flew off target before Hayes’ cross was headed across the six-yard box by Mark McGregor and Collins stole in at the back post for his second on 89 minutes. And Hayes went close to a dramatic equaliser when his angled strike almost dipped in under the Lilies’ crossbar.