CYMRU PREM

CONNAH’S Quay Nomads ended a good week with a late point against The New Saints to go top of the JD Cymru Premier and, in doing so, also set a new club record, writes Carl Field.

The 1-1 draw with TNS on Deeside secured a record 13th league match unbeaten for Andy Morrison’s men, in the same week they also booked themselves a place in the semi-finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup.

They also had to come from behind after Dean Ebbe put TNS in front just past the hour mark after good work from Ryan Brobbel.

There was then drama on 78 minutes when referee Mark Petch awarded TNS a penalty after the ball appeared the strike Danny Holmes on the arm but, after consulting with his linesman, reversed the decision.

Then, three minutes later, the Nomads were level when Mike Wilde tucked home the rebound against his former club after Jamie Insall’s initial shot was saved by Paul Harrison.

Connah’s Quay are now the only unbeaten side left and top on goal difference from Barry Town United, who lost their unbeaten record with a 4-1 thumping loss at Caernarfon Town.

Darren Thomas, Gruffydd John, a Nathan Craig penalty and Sion Bradley were the Cofis scorers. Kayne McLaggon replied for Barry from the spot.

There are just four points separating the top five teams, although Barry do have a game in hand in the other four.

TNS and Caernarfon are both within touching distance while Bala – inspired by a Louis Robles hat-trick – maintained their decent start with a 4-0 home win over Newtown.

Henry Jones grabbed the other goal.

Cardiff Met, who drew 1-1 at home with Penybont, make up the top six. The students though had to settle for a point after Kostya Georgievsky’s 90th minute leveller cancelled out Will Evans’ first half opener.

The wait goes on for bottom side Carmarthen Town who are still without a win following a 2-1 home defeat by Cefn Druids. Luke Bowen did have Carmarthen ahead.

But Druids hit back through Jamie Davies and a Lee Surman penalty.

Elsewhere Aberystwyth Town enjoyed a thumping 5-1 win at Airbus UK Broughton.

Paulo Mendes, twice, Adam Hughes, Ryan Edwards and a Stephen Tomassen own goal were their scorers.

Andy Owens had given Airbus an early lead.

SAM Surridge’s injury time header earned Swansea City a dramatic 2-1 win over Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.

Nathan Dyer netted his first away league goal for the Swans since May 2014 after just 12 minutes while also becoming the first opposition player to score against Wigan on their own patch in four matches.

But Wales international Kieffer Moore levelled from the penalty spot just nine minutes later.

Wigan created the better opportunities as the game wore on, although the spoils looked set to be shared until substitute Surridge headed home in the first minute of added time to send the travelling supporters into raptures and ensure his side remain unbeaten away from home in the league under Steve Cooper.

Having turned in their most complete performance of the campaign so far against Cardiff City, Cooper stuck with the same squad that sunk Neil Warnock’s men 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium last time out.

And the Latics were also unchanged from their 2-2 draw with

Bristol City, meaning former Bluebird David Marshall started in goal while Wales international Moore led the line. Moore - as he was against Slovakia and Croatia - was a colossus in the air for Paul Cook’s side, although it was Swansea who enjoyed the better of the opening stages.

And it was the visitors who went ahead after just 12 minutes as Wayne Routledge played Bersant Celina through on the left, with the Kosovan’s cutback being expertly turned home by Dyer who netted his first goal of the 2019/20 campaign.

It was just the start the Swans would have craved, particularly the 500 or so members of the Jack Army who made the long trip to the North

West of England, with each of those supporters being treated to a free pie and a pint before the game.

But after being the recipients of Swansea’s goodwill gesture prior to kick-off, they had their heads in their heads just nine minutes after Dyer’s opener as Mike van der Hoorn gifted the hosts the chance to equalise from the penalty spot after pulling Chey Dunkley’s shirt in the box.

Referee Peter Bankes had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Moore sent Freddie Woodman the wrong way to level proceedings with what was his first goal for the club.

It will no doubt have been hugely frustrating for Cooper and his coaching staff following his side’s impressive start to proceedings.

And the leveller gave Wigan a real lift .

Gavin Massey had a shot deflected over while Moore continued to cause heaps of problems. The Swans had the assistant referee’s flag to thank just after the half hour mark as the striker rattled the upright with a drilled effort, although he was in an offside position.

After such a composed display in the South Wales derby, Swansea looked a little shaky at the back, although despite looking dangerous, Wigan failed to capitalise on their decent spell of pressure.

And the Swans regained their composure towards the end of the opening half, with Celina seeing a deflected shot loop over the crossbar while Jake Bidwell also fluffed his lines with an effort from the edge of the box as the score remained level at the break.

After the glorious conditions went hand in hand with their victory against Cardiff, the weather in Wigan summed up what was proving to be something of a slog as the rain poured down in the early stages of the second half.

Both sides looked to play their way out from the back, although it was a quick thinking pass forward from Bidwell that presented Routledge with a half chance 10 minutes after the restart, but the experienced winger had plenty to do, with his shot going over.

Wigan came within a whisker of taking the lead just before the hour mark as Jamal Lowe left Ben Wilmot for dead, although his drilled effort crashed into the crossbar.

Swansea’s sloppiness allowed the Latics to remain threatening, with van der Hoorn challenging Moore in