Michael Wilde scored a landmark 200th league goal as Connah’s Quay pulled six-points clear at the top of the JD Cymru Premier following a 2-0 win over Haverfordwest County.
Wilde became only the fourth player in the history of Welsh domestic football to reach the top-flight milestone and joins Marc Lloyd-Williams (319 goals), Penybont manager Rhys Griffiths (271) and Lee Hunt (209) on the all-time list of scorers.
The 37-year-old peeled away at the back post to pounce on Craig Curran’s cut-back to claim his 12th of the season and extend Connah’s Quay’s unbeaten run to 13 games, clinching the landmark goal in the process.
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George Horan had put the Nomads ahead, converting on the stroke of half-time against in-form Haverfordwest.
In recent weeks, the veteran duo have established themselves as something of a driving force behind Connah’s Quay’s title defence, scoring six of the Nomads’ eight goals since the re-start.
The Nomads capitalised on the opportunity to extend their lead at the top with The New Saints not in action this weekend.
Boosted by the return of Jamie Insall and new signing Rio Glean making the bench for the first time since joining, the Nomads came closest to prising an opener when Matthew Turner was forced to save well to deny Danny Davies’ strike from the edge of the box.
And as it appeared that Haverfordwest were going to be able to contain the Nomads until the half-time break, Horan’s presence in the goalmouth again proved crucial for Andy Morrison’s side.
An out-swinging corner found its way through to the six-yard box, where Horan was on hand to turn the ball in from close range.
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Corey Shephard, who had played a key role, in Haverfordwest’s impressive win over The New Saints a week ago, threatened to equalise but his spectacular bicycle kick attempt sailed narrowly over.
County will take heart from another committed performance in their quest to secure a top-six finish, but the game was all but done in the 59th-minute when Wilde slotted the ball home to join the elusive ‘200-club’.
Connah’s Quay Nomads 2 George Horan 45’+1 Mike Wilde 59′
Haverfordwest County 0
Connah’s Quay Nomads 13 Oliver Byrne, 2 John Disney, 5 George Horan, 6 Daniel Harrison, 8 Callum Morris, 9 Michael Wilde, 11 Neil Danns, 15 Daniel Holmes, 19 Craig Curran (10 Jamie Insall 74′), 21 Aron Williams, 22 Daniel Davies (4 John Hunt 82′) Subs not used: 58 Cameron Darling (gk), 7 Rio Kamil Glean, 14 Thomas Moore, 18 Douglas Tharme, 55 Sam Rickett
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Disney 52′ Harrison 90′
Haverfordwest County 21 Matthew Turner (13 Wojciech Gajda (gk) 46′), 2 Daniel Summerfield (11 Cameron Keetch 46′), 4 Sean Pemberton, 6 Scott Tancock, 7 Ricky Watts, 8 Corey Shephard, 9 Ben Fawcett (3 Trystan Jones 69′), 14 Kurtis Rees (15 Elliot Scotcher 58′), 16 Kieran Lewis, 19 Daniel Williams, 22 Jazz Richards
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Watts 89′
Referee: Rob Jenkins
ROUND-UP
Newtown manager Chris Hughes admitted that key moments failed to fall his side’s way after Aberystwyth edged to a 1-0 win in the mid-Wales derby.
Newtown were reduced to 10-men when Tyrone Ofori picked up a second yellow on 54 minutes, they then spurned the chance to equalise when Connor Roberts denied Alex Fletcher from the penalty spot with a fine save.
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In a tight contest, it was Aberystwyth who finally made the breakthrough on 78 minutes. Harry Franklin broke the Robins’ defence and applied a deft finish over goalkeeper Dave Jones.
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“In football, sometimes you need things to go for you,” said Hughes. “We’re a little bit aggrieved with the sending off, a couple of decisions haven’t gone our way today and obviously then, missing a penalty – it probably wasn’t our day. The key moments went against us and that cost us the game,” he added.
Caernarfon Town struck twice in the second-half to come from behind and climb above Haverfordwest County into the top-six, with an impressive 2-1 win at Bala Town.
Lassana Mendes reacted quickest as the ball bounced around the goalmouth to put Caernarfon ahead after Michael Hayes fired in a stunning equaliser against his former club.
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Bala remain third despite the loss and led when Will Evans’ deflected shot found its way past Josh Tibbets.
Flint Town United turned the form book on its head coming away from their visit to high-flying Penybont with a 2-1 victory.
Flint made the journey to south Wales, yet to score since the re-start and on a run of three consecutive defeats. Penybont meanwhile had won three of their last four and were yet to concede during that time.
Sam Hart’s in-swinging corner deceived everyone as it sailed directly in to give Neil Gibson’s side a surprise lead and Alex Jones doubled the Silkmen’s lead minutes before half-time.
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Lewis Clutton grabbed a late consolation goal for the hosts.
Cardiff Met and Cefn Druids put their respective losing runs behind them with 0-0 draw at Cyncoed.
Following their draw against bottom of the table Druids, the Archers slide to 10th in the table although neither side are at risk of demotion following the decision to cancel the Cymru North & Cymru South season.
