JD CYMRU PREMIER

ANDY Morrison hailed his Connah’s Quay Nomads side after they beat The New Saints 1-0 to take control of the JD Cymru Premier title race.

Nomads skipper George Horan had a header cleared off the line by Danny Redmond while Jamie Insall also wasted a glorious chance before what proved to be only goal of the game in first-half stoppage time at a windswept Deeside Stadium.

Priestley Farquharson’s long throw was flicked on by Mike Wilde and Craig Curran produced an excellent finish to send the ball past Paul Harrison.

The visitors were unable to respond and it means it’s the Nomads, now four points clear with seven games remaining, who have struck the first big blow in the race to be champions.

TNS could find themselves seven points behind come kickoff in their next league match at home to Barry Town United on March 7 given that Connah’s Quay go to Bala Town the night before.

Delighted boss Morrison said: “We’re in a rich rein of form and there’s an incredible energy in the changing room.

“The boys are buoyant at the moment and long may that continue.”

Meanwhile, Bala Town, in third, moved to within three points of TNS thanks to a 2-1 victory at Newtown.

Two goals in as many firsthalf minutes from Louis Robles and Chris Venables secured all three points for the Lakesiders. Newtown hit back through Ian Sheridan.

The other Championship Conference fixture resulted in a 1-1 draw at Jenner Park between Barry Town United and Caernarfon Town.

Mo Touray put Barry ahead on 63 minutes but that was cancelled out almost immediately by Darren Thomas.

In the Play-Off Conference, Carmarthen Town and Penybont both recorded 1-0 wins over Cefn Druids and Aberystwyth Town respectively.

Elliot Scotcher’s 68th-minute free-kick was the difference for Carmarthen at Richmond Park, where only moments earlier Druids captain Neil Ashton had been sent off for bringing down Kalilo Djalo Embalo.

Meanwhile, Lewis Harling scored the only goal of the game at Park Avenue where Penybont ran out victors.

Those results mean thirdfrom-bottom Carmarthen remain out of the bottom two at Penybont’s expense on goal difference, although both have a game in hand on Aberystwyth, who are now only eight points above the drop zone.

Bottom club Airbus UK Broughton are now four points adrift but did earn a point from a 1-1 draw at Cardiff Met.

The Wingmakers led at halftime through Niall Watson but Met replied four minutes after the restart through Mael Davies.