Aberystwyth Town 1-3 Connah’s Quay Nomads: Match Report

​A brace from Mike Wilde in the final ten minutes condemned ten-man Aber to defeat in their first game at home in nearly two months.
 
The legendary marksman broke the Seasiders’ hearts, not for the first time in his career, with two well taken goals after Stephen Hewitt’s spot kick had cancelled out Danny Davies’ fine finish.
 
Gavin Allen’s men had to play over half an hour a man light after striker Owain Jones was given his marching orders just before the sixty-minute mark.
 
Five changes were made to the starting charges from Tuesday night’s defeat away at Haverfordwest County. Into the starting line-up came Jon Foligno, Rhys Davies, Jack Thorn, Jack Rimmer and Jonathan Evans in place of Louis Gerrard, Mathew Jones, Louis Bradford, Jamie Veale and Gwion Owen.
 
Prior to kick off, a minute silence was observed by both sides to honour former reserve team manager and first team player Robbie Jones.
 
The Nomads came into the game in great form having won the previous four in succession. On a cold and wet December evening on the Ceredigion coast, it was easy to see why as  they started brightly; dominating the opening exchanges. The imperious Wilde spurned two early chances for Andy Morrison’s men but both headers were comfortably stopped by Connor Roberts.
 
Meanwhile, at the other end, a short back pass from John Disney set up Marc Williams whose first time shot drilled narrowly wide of the far post whilst Stephen Hewitt was inches away from giving the Seasiders the lead with a curling freekick over the bar.
 
Aber were defending well and Roberts was in great form in goal; producing a fine one handed save from a powerful header.
 
Nomads took the lead half way through the first half in some style. A great through pass from Disney found Davies on the left flank. He flicked the ball over the head of Rimmer and drove the ball low into the bottom corner of the net.
 
To their credit, Gavin Allen’s men didn’t let the goal dampen their spirits as just minutes later, Hewitt’s freekick was again the source of Aber’s attacking endevour with this effort, from the other side of the goal, whistling narrowly over the bar.
 
Much like the first half, Nomads started the session well with Aeron Edwards side footing an effort wide of Roberts’ post early on.
 
However, as the hosts continued to keep their opponents at bay, they grew in confidence and with the clock showing 55 minutes, they were presented with a golden opportunity. The tireless Steff Davies chased down a long ball forward, dispossessed Callum Morris and as he released his cross, was felled inside the area by the aforementioned Morris who was shown a yellow card for his troubles. Hewitt stepped up and made no mistake from 12-yards, firing the ball into the left-hand corner of the goal.
 
Disaster struck just four minutes later when a seemingly innocuous challenge from Owain Jones on the advancing Nomads attacker on the edge of the area garnered the attention of the referee. Despite many in the ground feeling a yellow card would have sufficed, the match official, Dean John, adjudged Jones to have used foul and abusive language towards a match official and was subsequently sent from the field.
 
Aber faced the prospect of half an hour of defending and they sat deeper and deeper as the absorbed wave after wave of attacks from the team currently sitting in second. However, to their immense credit, they battled well and defended resolutely.
 
Substitute Brayden Shaw’s cross came within a whisker of getting a telling touch inside the Aber six yard box, Experienced defender George Horan’s header was stopped at the back post by Roberts and the latter had to be at his acrobatic best to stop a powerful drive from going into the back of the net.
 
But after relentless pressure, Nomads got their second go ahead goal of the evening. From a corner, the ball was spilled in the box and worked over to Wilde who had the easiest of tasks of tapping the ball in from a few feet out to give his side the lead.
 
Shortly afterwards, the points were secured. As Aber looked to be more adventurous, a well worked move down the right-hand side, orchestrated by Aron Williams was deftly finished off by Wilde to the delight of his teammates and management staff.
 
There was still time in the game for a chances apiece for both sides. Aber sub Mathew Jones’ freekick was well stopped by Oliver Byrne whilst at the other end, Louis Gerrard’s clearance off the line prevented Aber from going down to a 4-1 score line for the second time in a week.