PENYBONT secured a shock win over Connah’s Quay Nomads on Saturday (Apr 10), as they came away from Deeside with a 2-0 win.
A first half penalty from Kane Owen and 80th minute strike from Kostya Georgievsky saw Nomads lose at home in the league for the first time in over two years.
Andy Morrison’s side came into the game top of the league and on an impressive run of 14 games unbeaten, culminating in a 5-1 demolition of Newtown in the final phase one fixture on Good Friday.
Morrison made two changes from that side, with John Disney and Aeron Edwards replacing Danny Davies and Neil Danns, who both featured later on in the game.
Penybont manager Rhys Griffiths watched the game from the stands due to suspension as his side looked to take more points from Connah’s Quay after a goalless draw at the SDM Glass Stadium in March.
He started a familiar line up including the likes of Billy Borge, Sam Snaith and seasoned JD Cymru Premier goalkeeper Ashley Morris.
The Nomads were immediately in the Penybont half as they chased an early chance. Aron Williams was a constant threat, targeting the visitor’s final third with a long throw in in the 4th minute as Nomads kept up the early pressure.
Penybont won a corner in the 11th which was cleared away by Morris after a series of aerial challenges in the Connah’s Quay area.
Craig Curran and Michael Wilde were chasing down chances up front, but found themselves held back on 16 minutes with referee Dean John awarding a free kick to Penybont for a push on a defender.
In the 20th, Nomads were dealt a blow when a mix up between Danny Holmes and George Horan saw Ben Ahmun break through on goal before being taken down by Holmes.
A penalty was awarded, and Penybont captain Kane Owen stepped up to send his side 0-1 up.
The goal only served as further motivation for Nomads to take control, and they went onto play much of their football in the Penybont end for the rest of the game.
This was seen in the 23rd when Williams sent another targeted throw in into the Penybont area, and on 27 minutes when his cross just evaded the oncoming Wilde close to the goal.
After a half hour of play, Nomads continued to chase an equaliser against a tenacious Penybont side. In the 39th, Williams was again in the thick of the action firing a shot in from the edge of the area, which was just about held by GK Morris.
Despite their efforts, Connah’s Quay went in at half time trailing 0-1 after three additional minutes of play.
They came out for the second half and quickly resumed their flurry of attacks on the Penybont end, winning a corner in the 49th which was headed wide by captain Horan.
Andy Morrison then made his first sub, bringing on striker Jamie Insall in place of Craig Curran to further boost Nomads’ search for a goal.
As the hour mark approached, Nomads had some of their best chances to bring the game to level terms. In the 55th, a Wilde header was tipped wide by keeper Morris, and on 58 minutes Horan headed a Williams cross just over the bar.
Then in the 60th, Nomads again went agonisingly close when Wilde hit the post at close range, before their second substitution of the afternoon brought on Doug Tharme in place of Danny Harrison.
On 66 minutes, it was Penybont’s turn to test the woodwork as a Kane Owen free kick hit the bar before being collected by Byrne in a good chance for the visiting captain to get a brace.
As the final 20 minutes approached Nomads were enjoying the majority of possession but still looking for the vital goal, and made a double substitution bringing on Neil Danns and Danny Davies in place of Morris and Disney.
The likes of Kris Owens and Williams were regularly whipping threatening balls into the Penybont area, but with 15 minutes to go they were still looking for a way past Rhys Griffith’s side.
They were then dealt a game-sealing blow in the 80th, when a run from Kostas Georgievsky saw him cut into the Nomads area from the right wing and slot in at close range.
Despite staying in the game and controlling the possession well into four additional minutes of injury time, full time confirmed Nomads’ first home loss in the JD Cymru Premier since March 2019.
The Nomads will look to bounce back on Tuesday (Apr 13) when they travel to The Oval to take on Caernarfon Town.
Penybont will look to build on their win over the Nomads as they host third placed Bala Town.
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