Farquharson's strike sees Nomads defeat Druids

Connah's Quay Nomads defeated Cefn Druids by one goal to nil in the JD Cymru Premier on Tuesday evening, with Priestley Farquharson scoring the solitary goal in the 33rd minute.

The game saw Nomads return to JD Cymru Premier action after their 1-0 victory over Cove Rangers in the Tunnocks Caramel Wafer Cup third round, in which a Michael Bakare free kick earned them an away draw to the Scottish Championship's Partick Thistle.

Andy Morrison made three changes from the cup competition's starting eleven, with Ryan Wignall, Jamie Insall, and Danny Harrison introduced in place of Michael Bakare, John Disney and Nathan Woolfe.

His counterpart Huw Griffiths meanwhile started the likes of Naim Arsan, James Davies, and ex-Nomad Matty Owen.

The match started with Nomads on the front foot, as Priestley Farquharson blasted a half volley across the face of goal from just six yards out with 30 seconds played.

After a 2nd minute Danny Holmes cross saw George Horan shoot at close range but be blocked, he returned in the eighth to head a Callum Morris cross just over keeper Michael Jones' goal.

Although Cefn Druids had got into the Nomads' half, Andy Morrison's rigid defensive organisation had prevented them from causing problems as Nomads continued to look for an early opener.

Jamie Insall went close to this when he broke free on goal in the 12th, but was tackled whilst the ball went away from him as he entered the Druids area.

Druids' first chance of the game came in the 20th minute, when James Davies got sight of goal from around 20 yards out, sending a shot goalwards which was comfortably held by Nomads' number one Lewis Brass.

In the 25th, Priestley Farquharson showed his skill and strength, turning on the ball to lose his man and go on a surging run to the byline, winning a Nomads throw in which he took and sent long into the area.

The throw was met with a bicycle kick by Michael Wilde, but the acrobatic effort was blocked amid a packed Druids area as Nomads carried on with their search for the opener.

But in the 29th, Druids nearly broke the deadlock against the run of play when Ramirez Howarth fired a shot towards the roof of the Nomads' net from 12 yards out only to be denied by the hand of Brass.

Nomads came back from that warning from the visitors in the best way possible, with Priestley Farquharson sending them ahead in the 33rd minute.

After good build up play from Holmes and Wignall, Wignall's cross caused confusion in the Druids area, allowing Farquharson to open his Nomads account by smashing home a half volley at close range.

Buoyed by their deserved opener, the Nomads were playing some impressive flowing football in the Druids half as they looked to extend their lead before the break.

The Ancients looked to get level with a free kick in the 38th taken by Matty Owen, but it was hit against the wall as Nomads showed their composure at the back.

When half time came, Nomads' attacking display had given them a deserved 1-0 lead at the break, with Andy Morrison's side coming out eager to take control of the proceedings once again in the second half.

And they did just that, rushing into the Druids' half to create chances early on with Wignall and Morris passing well on the edge of the area.

But in the 49th, Lewis Brass again made a great stop to deny a deflected Druids shot from 25 yards out which was heading goalwards.

A mere minute later, Ryan Wignall and Jamie Insall both had shots in the Druids area from around eight yards out, but both were blocked as Nomads' campaign for a second went on.

Druids remained in the game, but were coming up against a solid Nomads' defence, seen in the 57th when the pacy Howarth ran close to the Connah's Quay area but was calmly dispossessed by captain George Horan.

On 59 minutes, Priestley Farquharson went agonisingly close to a brace, just missing out on a low cross across the face of goal from Callum Roberts after great work from the left back to reach the Druids byline.

With the hour mark surpassed, Nomads' again went close to a second, with a Wilde header from a great Wignall cross ruled out for offside, and Wignall then having a half volley cleared off the goal line during a bombardment of the Druids area.

After Nomads substituted Declan Poole in place of Jay Owen, Druids showed they were still in the game when Ruberto ran down the right wing and crossed into the area, where a melee of bodies saw the ball blocked from going in on 74 minutes in a close chance for Huw Griffith's men.

As the game approached the final 10 minutes, Michael Bakare came on in place of Jamie Insall, and got immediately involved, sending a header wide from a Wignall cross in the 79th minute.

In the 85th, Farquharson again went close to a brace, getting the ball off his laces to shoot from 10 yards out, but the effort was dealt with by keeper Jones.

As the 90th minute arrived, three additional minutes of injury time were indicated by the fourth official, but just as the victory looked to be wrapped up, Druids hit Nomads with a late scare when they attacked the Nomads' end and fired just wide in the 91st.

Full time confirmed Connah's Quay's win, which maintains their unbeaten record in the JD Cymru Premier with their third consecutive 1-0 win in all competitions.

They are next in action against Aberystwyth Town this Friday at Deeside Stadium for a 7:45pm kick off in the JD Cymru Premier.

Match Photos

Match Report by Will Catterall