Six of the Best to start the Season

Gap Connah's Quay Nomads began their Huws Gray Alliance League campaign in style, romping to a 6-0 win over fellow relegated side Technogroup Welshpool at the Deeside Stadium.

Having fired no less than 42 goals in eight pre-season matches, Mark McGregor's side continued their fine scoring form into the competitive campaign with a double each from Gary O'Toole and Mike Hayes, plus further strikes courtesy of Ben Colins and Danny Forde.

Boss McGregor had to do without midfield dynamo Craig Jones and utility man Tom Baker - both on holiday - but handed competitive debuts to summer signings Collins and O'Toole, who partnered profilic pre-season hitman Chris Herbert in attack. Forde also returned for his first competitive outing of 2010.

The home side side started brightly and were rewarded with the opening goal inside four minutes when debutant left wing-back Collins powered down the flank, exchanging passes before rifling a low drive inside the near post from just inside the area.

Half an hour later it was 2-0 when O'Toole got on the end of a cross to net a debut goal for himself, and the youthful visitors - who had only six players on their books just three days before kick off - found themselves with a mountain to climb.

Welshpool did hold out, preventing wave after wave of Nomads attacks in the early stages of the second period, and they had their goalkeeper Garry Foster to thank for keeping their slim hopes of a point alive.

Foster made a number of excellent point blank blocks to deny the home frontline, which was switched midway through the half as Hayes and new signing Dean Thurston replaced Herbert and O'Toole - but not before the latter had added his second of the game with 20 minutes remaining.

It proved to be the pick of the goals from the former Wolves and Coventry youth teamer, who charged into the right side of the penalty area and, under heavy attention from two visiting defenders, almost conceded possession on the byline before smashing a strike inside the post from the narrowest of angles.

The goal gave relief to the majority of the 75 in attendance as Welshpool had threatened to claw themselves back into the game with a couple of long range efforts that flashed wide of Terry McCormick's post.

But Nomads reinforced their attacking prowess with the introduction of Hayes, Thurston and Sam McNutt.

Super-sub Hayes made his mark with a double salvo of well-taken close range finishes - either side of a Danny Forde effort that was headed into the roof of the net by a Lilywhites' defender on the goalline - as Nomads hit three goals in a 12-minute spell to complete the rout.

In truth, this young Welshpool side, hastily-assemnbled within hours of kick off, proved little opposition but a 6-0 victory is never the less a perfect start to the campaign.