Five star Nomads defeat Druids at The Rock

A second half hat trick from Callum Morris separated a brace from Michael Wilde in a dominant display from Andy Morrison's side.

• Nomads came into game as league leaders after three consecutive wins
• Wilde goal opened scoring in the 20th minute
• Callum Morris scores two inside five minutes before sealing hat trick with penalty
• Wilde secures late brace to keep Nomads top

The Nomads arrived in Cefn Mawr with confidence having won each of their past three games, with the most recent a 2-0 win over Aberystwyth on Tuesday evening.

Andy Morrison made only two changes to his line up from that game, with Wilde and Morris replacing Declan Poole and Priestley Farquharson, who both went on to feature from the bench.

Recently appointed Cefn Druids manager Bruno Lopes was meanwhile looking for his first win at the club, who sat bottom of the league with just 1 point on the board. His selection included keeper and captain Michael Jones, as well as ex-Bangor men Alex Darlington and Jamie Reed.

Connah's Quay started the game well and were soon moving up into the Druids' final third, seen in the fifth minute when Danny Davies found Sameron Dool upfront who went to shoot but was found offside.

Although Nomads were building up play nicely, they were dealt a blow after 10 minutes when summer signing Aeron Edwards was forced off with injury, leaving them with 10 men on the field until Declan Poole could replace him in the 15th.

Poole's introduction proved key in the breakthrough, as after just five minutes on the pitch he assisted Wilde's opener with a low cross converted at close range by the Nomads' number nine.

Buoyed by the goal, Nomads attacked the Druids' end at regular intervals, going close in the 24th when Dool got a shot away at the edge of a busy area to have his effort blocked.

Just before the half hour mark, Michael Wilde tried to double Nomads' lead in spectacular fashion with a high bicycle kick from around eight yards out, but the effort went wide.

Danny Davies then had a great chance to score in the 30th, seeing a low shot from 12 yards pushed out for a corner by the fingertips of keeper Jones who collected the resulting corner.

Michael Wilde threatened constantly in the first half, seeing two close opportunities go amiss before half time when he tried to convert a low Davies' cross in the 38th before firing just wide of the Druids goal after a Poole cross on 44 minutes.

As the first half ended, the Nomads were in control having dominated the possession, and came out for the second still in search of more goals.

Wilde again went close on 47 minutes, but keeper Jones continued his fine individual performance with a low save to deny the Nomads' striker.

But on 52 minutes, he was beaten by a great strike into the bottom left corner from 12 yards out by Callum Morris, who secured a brace within five minutes when he was able to edge the ball across the line in a goalmouth scramble in the 57th.

Trailing by three goals and in urgent need of a way back into the game, Cefn Druids did go on a rare break upfront in the 59th, only to see Reed shoot wide from eight yards.

It would prove to be the last chance for the hosts, as Nomads went on to again dominate the remaining half an hour of play. They made their second substitution on 67 minutes, introducing Farquharson in place of Dool to ensure the defence kept its discipline.

After 70 minutes, the third substitution was made seeing Craig Curran depart for Aron Williams, who had work to do yet as part of a still-attacking Nomads strike force.

In the 75th, they made it four and Callum Morris sealed his hat trick from the penalty spot after a handball was awarded by referee Dean John.

Michael Wilde then topped off an excellent afternoon for Nomads with their fifth, and his much sought after brace, in the 83rd slotting in from a Davies cross.

After two minutes of additional time, the Nomads' five-goal victory was confirmed which sees them remain at the top of the JD Cymru Premier by one point, having taken thirteen points from five games so far this season.

Andy Morrison's side will look to continue their unbeaten start to the season this coming Tuesday 6th October when they welcome Caernarfon Town to Deeside for a 7:45pm kick off streamed live by Sgorio.

Match Photos

Match Report by Will Catterall