LILYWHITES COMPLETE NOMADS DOUBLE

It was not so much Rhyl were any worse today than they were last Wednesday - it was the fact freefalling Nomads were so much better. On Boxing Day they crumbled, but today they battled.
The new signings in the Quay camp no doubt made a difference, especially the much-travelled Phil McDiarmid at wing-back and Mike Burns at centre half.
Visiting keeper Paul Pritchard, a flop at the Deeside Stadium six days earlier, also performed with distinction at Belle Vue.
Rhyl played some very neat football at times, their passing a joy to watch, but generally they often lacked the killer pass and were indecisive in shooting positions.
Nomads were fast out of the blocks and had a few early efforts which never troubled Lee Kendall.
Pritchard also comfortably dealt with two Andy Moran attempts, and it was not until the 23rd minute that the first serious threat on goal emerged, Lee Hunt's header from a Gareth Wilson corner hitting the outside of the post.
Craig Jones then slipped the ball to Mark Connolly whose shot was parried by Pritchard, and a sliding Hunt was only denied a goal by desperate defending.
Moran fizzed in a tantalising cross from the right on 26 minutes, but the marauding Hunt missed the ball by inches and the out-of-sorts Chris Sharp was unable to hit the target on arriving at the back post.
Finally, on 31 minutes the goal Rhyl deserved arrived.
Moran's fierce hit was kept out by a diving Pritchard, but right on cue the speedy Jones arrived to fire home the rebound from six yards.
To their credit, Nomads came out positively for the second half. Substitute Stewart White's shot from a corner deflected to Danny Forde whose attempt failed to overly exert Kendall.
Connolly's 35-yarder ricocheted wide off Hunt, then Moran's low drive from the byeline after more excellent passing was cleared for a corner.
(61 mins: Rhyl substitution - Michael White for Andy Moran)
A superb passing routine involving several players so nearly brought a home goal on 69 minutes.
Jones crossed left footed from the right and Pritchard pulled off a cracking double save from Connolly and Hunt.
With Rhyl frustrated at their inability to kill the opposition off, and Nomads determined to force a shock equaliser, the game then went through a niggly phase.
Connolly was yellow carded for his reaction to a tackle from the impressive Mark Cadwallader, who was also booked.
Soon after Wilson was cautioned for a late tackle on Craig Jones, then George Horan also made the referee's notebook for a poor challenge.
Forde became the fifth player to be booked in a 10-minute spell with 83 on the clock.
There were a few unsettling moments for Rhyl, although for all their bits of pressure, the Quay never forced a serious save from Kendall.
Cadwallader hit a 25-yard right-footer just wide and McDiarmid's well-struck free-kick made Kendall work.
At the other end, Wilson and Sharp combined to set up Hunt, whose shot was blocked, but there was still time for late drama.
(90th min +: two Rhyl substitutions - Cameron for Sharp; Garside for Connolly).
In the third minute of injury time a McDiarmid corner arrived at the feet of Jones six yards out but he sliced agonisingly wide.
Overall a deserved three points for the Lilywhites, but if Nomads keep performing like this, they may yet escape the relegation which many are predicting.
RHYL LINE-UP (with performance ratings)
Lee Kendall: Solid - 7.
Matthew Holt: Poor distribution - 5.
Paul O'Neill: Safe as houses - 7.
Mark Connolly: Tireless on return after injury - 8 (MOM)
George Horan: Much better when switched to central defence - 6.
Carl Ruffer: Composed - 6.
Craig Jones: Rhyl's biggest threat - 7.
Gareth Wilson: Industrious - 7.
Lee Hunt: Committed but indecisive at times - 6.
Andy Moran: Not on his game - 6.
Chris Sharp: Blunt - 5.
Subs:
Michael White: Ineffective - 5.
Dave Cameron/Craig Garside: Did not appear until injury time.

MATCH FACTS
GOALS - Rhyl 1 Nomads 0.
ATTEMPTS - Rhyl 11 Nomads 10.
ON TARGET - Rhyl 7 Nomads 5.
CORNERS - Rhyl 10 Nomads 4.
YELLOW CARDS - Rhyl 3 Nomads 2.
RED CARDS - Rhyl 0 Nomads 0.
ATTENDANCE - 561.
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Rhyl - Mark Connolly
Nomads - Phil McDiarmid.