Penybont 1-1 Connah’s Quay: Reigning Champions Held to Draw

Penybont earned their third successive draw in the league, after battling hard to a 1-1 draw with Connah’s Quay.

Andy Morrison’s side’s tactic of playing long balls to their frontline failed to work as intended, as a number of offside calls brought many of their attacking opportunities to a stop.

Aron Williams came closest to opening the scoring in the opening 20 minutes. An overhead cross by Horan found the unmarked Williams, who failed to find the target with his header.

However, it was Penybont who opened the scoring against the run of play. Kane Owen played a low ball into the box, which Lewis Harling was the first to react to, as he slotted it past Byrne.

Within 15 minutes of the opener, debutant Byron Harrison equalised for Nomads. A long ball by Kris Owens found Harrison in space, who fired in his first Cymru Premier goal.

George Horan nearly gave Nomads the lead five minutes into the second half. The captain controlled a cross with his first touch before firing a shot with this second, which fizzed narrowly past the post.

Substitute Aron Williams had another golden chance to give the away side the lead in the final 15 minutes. Owens’ ball into the box was headed to the unmarked Williams, but his volley was straight at Ashley Morris.

The home side faced an onslaught of pressure in the final minutes, and Harrison came close to doubling his tally from a corner but his header missednd the target. In the final play, Penybont broke free with a counter attack, but the resulting shot from Snaith was comfortably saved by Byrne.

Penybont will face a short trip down the M4 to face Cardiff Met on Tuesday, whilst Connah’s Quay will host Caernarfon.

Man of the match: Ashley Morris (Penybont)

This could have been awarded to any of Penybont’s defenders, with centre-backs Jefferies and Borge in particular impressing. However, the experienced goalkeeper was strong as a last line of defence for Penybont. Morris made no mistakes and was a calm and collected figure between the sticks.

Line-ups

Penybont: Ashley Morris, Kane Owen (C), Dan Jefferies, Mael Davies, Lewis Harling, James Waite , Sam Snaith, Jack Evans (Nathan Wood 64), Billy Borge, Keane Watts (Liam Walsh 64′), Ryan Reynolds

Unused substitutes: Teejay Vickery, Sam Goodwin, Rhys Griffiths

Yellow card: Billy Borge 78′

Connah’s Quay: Oliver Byrne, John Disney, Ryan Harrington, George Horan (C), Jamie Mullan, Callum Morris, Byron Harrison, Jordan Davies (Harrison Webster 88), Kris Owens, Craig Curran, Aeron Edwards (Aron Williams 17’)

Unused substitutes: Tom Moore, Tom Bibby, Kai Calderbank-Park

Yellow cards: Craig Curran 69, Kris Owens 81′

(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell/FAW)