Senior Cup second round

Neyland 1-0 Merlins Bridge

THE long wait to play their Senior Cup second round tie ultimately proved worthwhile for Neyland as Nick Koomen’s header saw them knock out Merlins Bridge at the Athletic Ground.

And Koomen’s 75th minute winner was no less than the Nomads deserved against a Bridge team that was always up against it after a first half red card to Jonny Sable.

A large crowd saw the home side threaten just two minutes in when Sean Hannon’s long free kick forward found striker Wayne Parry, who flicked his header wide.

At the other end, the Wizards also enjoyed early pressure when Jordan Raymond was taken down by Andrew Kemp, who was booked for his troubles, but Nathan Thomas’ subsequent free kick was cleared.

Bridge player manager Lee Hudgell had a free kick of his own deflected wide before Nomads keeper Patrick Hannon had to be quickly off his line to thwart a Raymond charge into the area.

But midway through the half the home side got in the ascendancy and Parry shot straight at Chris Thomas before Henry Durrant saw his direct free kick gathered by the Wizards keeper.

Durrant was in the thick of it again moments later when his low cross fell to Gary Power, but his scuffed effort was blocked by Bridge right back Andrew John at close range – before Aaron McQuillan put his follow up effort wide.

And then after 37 minutes, the visitors were dealt a blow when Sable lunged into a tackle on Koomen, and although he appeared to go for the ball, caught the Neyland man badly.

Indeed, there were few protestations when referee Sean O’Connor, who kept firm control of the contest throughout, issued a red card.

Power and Chandler also saw yellow for the Nomads as tempers rose before the break, before the home side missed another chance to go ahead when Parry fired over.

And in injury time, Durrant came closest of all in the opening 45 minutes when his powerful left foot shot from 20 yards cannoned back off the post.

Early in the second half, McQuillan saw his low drive pushed away by Thomas, before Wizards striker Scott Crawford dragged a shot wide from the edge of the area.

And Crawford then missed his side’s best chance of the night when a Hudgell corner was headed into his path, but he skied his volley over the bar.

The game was then held up for several minutes due to an accidental clash of heads between Bridge centre back Paul Thomas and opposite number Paul Hannon – with both later substituted after sustaining nasty cuts.

But moments after play resumed, came the game's decisive moment, when Koomen rose at the back post to head in a Chandler corner.

The Nomads then had a chance to make the game safe when sub Scott Jones pumped a long ball forward, and after Thomas raced from his line to punch the ball clear, Power’s long range effort at an empty net drifted just over.

Parry was also denied again by Thomas but to the credit of the Wizards, they rallied in the closing stages.

A Nathan Thomas corner just evaded Chris Ormond at the back post, and in the dying moments sub Nathan Greene turned well but could only pull his 15 yard shot wide.

But the Nomads held out and will now go through to face Haverfordwest Cricket Club in the last eight – with the game provisionally set for this Saturday.

Neyland: Patrick Hannon, Andrew Kemp, Paul Hannon (Ollie Marshall 71), Nick Koomen, Sean Hannon, Nathan Warlow, Gary Power, Henry Durrant, Mike Chandler (Phil Bevan 90), Wayne Parry, Aaron McQuillan (Scott Jones 60).

Merlins Bridge: Chris Thomas, Paul Thomas (Nathan Greene 78), Chris Ormond, Simon Thomas, Andrew John, Nathan Thomas, Peter Thomas, Jonny Sable, Jordan Raymond, Lee Hudgell, Scott Crawford. Subs not used: David Davies, Gethin Roberts.

Referee: Sean O’ Connor.