Record Ends in Table Topping Clash

gap Connah's Quay Nomads saw their 100% start to the Huws Gray Alliance season end in convincing fashion this evening, going down 5-1 at Cefn Druids who take top spot.

Nomads went into the game, against a Druids side just two points behind them in the table, on the back of seven successive wins and they took the lead through Mike Hayes midway through the first half.

But this tie was billed as their toughest test yet, the home side having dropped just five points on their way to five wins in their opening seven matches, and Mark McGregor's men were hit by a 40-minute goal glut either side of half time to succumb to a rare heavy defeat.

McGregor was forced into one change to the 16-man squad that was named for the 6-2 demolition of Caersws six days previously. Stuart Scheuber returned to the starting line-up in place of the unavailable Danny Forde. Meanwhile, Rob Jones dropped to the bench, exchanging places with Alan Hooley in midfield.

Cefn Druids cruised to a 4-1 win at Technogroup Welshpool last weekend and it was the home side who started the brightest, with leading scorer Marc Griffiths heading wide from Mark Harris' cross in the 11th minute.

The opening exchanges were tightly-contested and Nomads' only clear cut chance in the first 20 minutes came when Hooley flashed a volley from the edge of the box comfortably wide of Chris Mullock's goal.

In the 24th minute, though, the visitors took the lead. Mike Hayes found space just outside the area to latch onto a through ball before hitting a powerful low drive that crept inside Mullock's post for his eighth goal of the season in all competitions.

Nomads were looking good to extend their lead at the top to five points until they were hit by a stunning 40-yard strike by Harris that came out of the blue.

In truth, the home side had been threatening a goal and had earlier missed two gilt-edged chances to level the scores when first Griffiths' overhead kick was well held by McCormick, and then Andrew Swarbrick somehow cleared the bar from all of four yards.

But the manner of Harris' strike was the shock that Nomads were dealt with. The winger received a pass on the right flank and unleashed a thunderbolt from distance that dipped under the crossbar to leave Nomads 'keeper Terry McCormick well beaten.

Druids took advantage of a dishevelled Nomads outfit and took the lead six minutes later via a quick break counter-attack.

Home 'keeper Mullock did well to deny Hayes a second of the game, before starting a quick-fire attack that ended when Ashley Wilson played in Swarbrick, who stepped inside his marker to curl a strike around McCormick into the bottom corner.

Nomads were still in the game at half time, but within 35 seconds of the restart they were dealt the sucker punch that they could not come back from.

George Hughes was played through the Nomads defence and managed to hold off a challenge to square the ball into space where Griffiths was first to crack in an unstoppable shot.

With hot-shot Gary O'Toole well marshalled by the home defence throughout, Nomads struggled to recover and in the 57th minute it was well and truly game over.

Home defender Adam Hesp has been causing all sorts of worry for the Nomads defence with his testing long throw-ins, so it was no surprise when the fourth goal arrived via his assist.

Hesp's throw was only cleared as far as Tom Obasi on the edge of the area, who picked out Griffiths who, in turn, played in Ashley Wilson to score via a deflection off Ben Alston.

Nomads were left reeling and threw on Jamie Petrie and Rob Jones, in place of Baker and Hooley, to attempt to salvage something, but by the 70th minute it was five.

Yet another long throw-in from Hesp dropped to Swarbrick, who picked out strike partner Griffiths to drive in his deserved second of the game to clinch all three points.

Nomads will need to pick themselves up quickly for the visit of Llandundo to Deeside on Friday evening, but they can still consider themselves in the hunt for honours at this stage, despite a rare blip at the Rock.