Farquharson fires Nomads to victory over Cofi's

Connah's Quay Nomads defeated Caernarfon Town by three goals to one on Tuesday evening at Deeside in the JD Cymru Premier.

A 19th minute Cai Jones goal sent the visitors ahead, but a second half brace from Priestley Farquharson and Michael Wilde header saw Nomads make it five consecutive wins in their title defence campaign.

• Cofis take shock lead in 19th minute
• Farquharson equalised at the start of the second half
• Wilde made it two on 56 minutes with Farquharson sealing brace in 78th
• Nomads stay top of the league as they make it five wins on the bounce

The game brought the league leaders, Connah's Quay, and fourth-placed Caernarfon Town against each other for matchday seven of the JD Cymru Premier season.

Both teams came into the midweek fixture in good form, as Nomads had yet to lose in the league and were on a run of four consecutive wins, whilst Caernarfon had won three so far, with the latest a 3-0 victory over Cardiff Met on Saturday.

The Nomads meanwhile were off the back of a 5-0 win over Cefn Druids, with Callum Morris, who had scored a hat trick at The Rock, keeping his place in the starting lineup.

Michael Wilde also kept his place upfront, with Priestley Farquharson coming back into the defence and captaining the side as George Horan remained sidelined with injury. Callum Roberts was a late replacement for Danny Holmes who picked up an injury in the warm up.

Caernarfon Town started summer signing and keeper Josh Tibbetts as well as ex-Nomads Noah Edwards and recent loan signing from Airbus Jamie Crowther.

Connah's Quay started well, dominating the possession early on to quickly get in the final third of the Caernarfon half, which triggered a scramble in the 7th with two shots blocked inside a packed area.

In the ninth minute, Kris Owens was targeting the box with some swinging crosses, but they were dealt with by keeper Tibbetts as Nomads looked for a way through. But against the run of play, Cai Jones sent Caernarfon ahead in the 19th, going clear in front of goal and slotting past Lewis Brass from 10 yards out.

The rest of the half would frustrate Nomads who had conceded the only shot against them so far, with both teams having to deal with some terrible conditions as torrential rain hit Deeside.

Danny Davies made a vital tackle to stop Paulo Mendes running clear into the Nomads area on 28 minutes, whilst Farquharson was targeting the Caernarfon goalmouth with some long throw ins. Their best chance to equalise saw a cross go in from Poole which went to Jay Owen, whose header from a point-blanc range went up and over the bar to sum up a half in which Nomads had dominated without scoring.

But Priestley Farquharson put paid to that just a minute into the second half, sending a powerful volley in via Kris Owens from seven yards to make things level again at Deeside.

It only took Nomads five more minutes take the lead, when another delivery from Owens, this time a corner, was headed towards goal by Farquharson who so nearly sent it over the line, but needed Wilde to pounce with a tap in on the line to ensure the 2-1 lead in the 51st.

With an hour played the game remained in the balance, as Nomads were battling hard with the Cofis to keep the majority of possession as they looked for a third. Caernarfon also had their chances, with Jamie Crowther nearly getting a shot away at close range from a corner in the 66th, but he mistimed the effort allowing Brass to get there and collect for Nomads.

Despite a deluge of rain coming down at regular intervals, Nomads were putting together some slick passing moves on the left wing, as the likes of Curran and Davies sent the ball onto the awaiting Wilde in the Cofi's area.

Their persistence and stern defensive discipline paid off, as in the 78th Farquharson sealed his second by meeting a great cross from Disney at the left post to send the ball in and make it 3-1 to Connah's Quay.

Andy Morrison's side kept their composure well during the final 10 minutes of play, controlling the game to limit the tenacious Caernarfon's chances. Having replaced Jay Owen with Aron Williams at half time, he also substituted Craig Curran to bring on Danny Harrison.

After three minutes of injury time, referee John Jones signalled for full time confirming Nomads' fifth win in a row, keeping them top of the JD Cymru Premier by one point.

They now move onto a trip to Cardiff Metropolitan on Saturday, before again travelling to TNS on Tuesday evening in a Sgorio live stream, again kicking off at 7:45pm.

Match Photos

Match Report by Will Catterall