By Paul Jones
There was drama right to the end at The Oval as Connah’s Quay Nomads came up with a 92nd minute winner to beat Caernarfon Town 2-1 in the JD Cymru Premier League.
In their first game back since the national firebreak in Wales, the Nomads were forced to come from behind to stay in touch with the league leaders. But that was only half the story.
After Callum Morris had converted the late spot kick, which was vociferously contested by the home side, there was a general free-for-all that ended up with referee Lee Evans brandishing four red cards. Yes, FOUR!
It had been Morris who had gone down in the home penalty area to earn the penalty and mayhem ensued after he had added to Michael Wilde’s headed equaliser in the 75th minute. Ex-Nomad Michael Walsh had given the home side the lead in the first half.
There were 10 minutes of added time a minute after the Nomads had taken the lead, they lost Sion Bradley for a second bookable offence. In the closing moments there was a general melee in which all 22 players got involved after a challenge by Paulo Mendes on Aeron Edwards.
Referee Evans showed Caernarfon’s Noah Edwards a second yellow, sent off his team mate Callum Roberts and also despatched Nomads keeper Lewis Brass, who had run from his goal to fling Edwards to the floor, for their part in the pitch battle.
Brass was obviously brassed off, so gave rival fans his version of the D-Generation X farewell, beloved of 90s WWF fans.
A very spicy finish to the end of the Caernarfon vs Nomads game with some WWE moves… 🌶️
A superman punch, a takedown, and a D-Generation-X taunt! Wow! 😮💪 https://t.co/8EREbnnk3A
— The 94th Minute 🏴 (@The94thMin) November 13, 2020
The New Saints maintained their five point lead at the top as they saw off Barry Town United 2-1 at home.
Although Barry had their chances, with Kyle McLaggon a handful up front, they lacked the clinical finishing of the home side for who Louis Robles and Greg Draper struck. Nat Jarvis grabbed a goal back in the 77th minute, but it wasn’t enough for the visitors.
A Robles shot was deflected onto the cross bar in the 20th minute, but it wasn’t until 20 minutes later that the first goal came. A Leo Smith corner to the far post was headed back across goal and Robles rose to head it home via the head of a Barry defender.
Robles then turned provided in the 77th minute as he pulled the ball back for Draper to hammer the ball past Mike Lewis to give the league leaders a two goal lead. Jarvis pulled one back as he turned home a great cross from the left by Chris Hugh.
Chris Venables took his goal tally for the season to 12 as he helped Bala Town complete the double over Penybont with a 4-1 win in the JD Cymru Premier league.
Venables had scored twice in the 5-1 won in Bridgend earlier in the season and returned to further torment the south Walians. Bala were 3-1 up by the break before Will Evans put the final nail into the Penybont coffin with a tap in the 74th minute after Ashley Morris and pushed away a shot.
A goal and an assist for Louis Robles, as The New Saints FC beat Barry Town United 2-1 yesterday.
Images courtesy of our official photographer, Brian Jones. pic.twitter.com/63k0W5kMG7— The New Saints FC (@tnsfc) November 15, 2020
The Bala goals in the first half, as they extended their unbeaten run at Maes Tegid this season, came from a Venables penalty and two own goals. Penybont took the lead with a goal from Ben Ahumn in the 22nd minute, but their challenge fell away after a promising start.
Marc Williams gave Aberystwyth Town the lead 10 minutes into the second half at Cardiff Met, but were only able to leave Cyncoed with a point after Ashton Gleed marked his debut with a 77th minute goal that made it 1-1.
Newtown welcomed Flint Town to Latham Park for a real basement battle and it was the home side, one place ahead of their visitors in 10th , who took the points with a 3-2 victory in which they twice had to come from behind.
JD Cymru Premier League Fixtures
Saturday, 14 November
Bala Town 4 – 1 Penybont
Newtown 3 – 2 Flint Town
The New Saints 2 – 1 Barry Town United
Friday, 13 November
Caernarfon Town 1 – 2 Connah’s Quay Nomads
Cardiff Met University 1 – 1 Aberystwyth Town
