Academy product Conor Harwood came off the bench to head Connah’s Quay back top of the JD Welsh Premier League last night as the Nomads edged past Bala Town.
With the game seemingly heading towards to a stalemate, substitute Harwood headed home his first senior goal in dramatic circumstances to snatch the Nomads a crucial win and restore their two-point lead over The New Saints.
Harwood, a player at the club from the age of 14, netted the winner on 89-minutes, converting Rob Hughes’ cross.
Up until that point there had been little between the two sides in an evenly contested affair at the Deeside Stadium and Bala will feel disappointed to have come away empty-handed.
The presence of skipper George Horan, making his 400th WPL appearance, emerged as an early attacking threat for Connah’s Quay with an early corner narrowly evading the head of the veteran defender before Callum Morris tested Bala goalkeeper Callum Morris with a volley from 12-yards.
Nomads stopper Jon Danby was called into action to push Henry Jones’ curling free-kick away to safety as the Lakesiders threatened to go in front, with Chris Venables going close on the stroke of half-time.
Former Nomad Sean Smith almost broke the deadlock for Bala Town in the second-half when the left-back thumped a long range effort against the bar.
But the sense the tide was beginning to turn in Connah’s Quay favour with chances falling to half-time substitute Rob Hughes and Michael Bakare.
The introduction on 75-minutes of Connor Harwood, making his first appearance of the season, would prove a masterstroke by Connah’s Quay boss Andy Morrison.
With the game heading into the final stages and neither side able to gain the ascendancy, the Nomads were able to snatch all three points when Adam Barton’s free-kick was flicked on by Jay Owen, allowing Rob Hughes to deliver a cross into the area for Harwood to head in past the goalkeeper.
Connah’s Quay Nomads 1 Connor Harwood 89′
Bala Town 0
Connah’s Quay Nomads
1. John Danby, 2. John Disney, 5. George Horan, 6. Danny Harrison, 8. Callum Morris, 9. Michael Wilde, 10. Andrew Owens (21. Rob Hughes 46′), 14. Adam Barton, 15. Danny Holmes, 19. Jake Phillips (16. James Owen 46′), 22. Michael Bakare (24. Connor Harwood 75′) Subs not used: 18. Priestley Farquharson, 28. Jon Rushton (gk), 25. Dominic Elsey-McHugh, 17.
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Wilde 62′ Horan 90’+1
Bala Town
1. Ashley Morris, 2. Andrew Burns, 3. Sean Smith, 19. Shaun Kelly, 6. Anthony Miley, 8. Nathan Burke, 21. Anthony Stephens, 25. Chris Venables, 11. Kieran Smith, 7. Steven Tames, 77. Henry Jones (12. Evan Horwood 84′) Subs not used: 10. Ian Sheridan, 5. Stuart J Jones, 9. Mike Hayes, 30. Keighan Jones (gk), 20. Joe Edwards, 22. Josh Jones
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Miley 40′ Tames 59′ Burns 61′
Attendance: 269 Referee: Huw Jones
| 1 | Connah’s Quay Nomads | 26 | 17 | 4 | 5 | 69 | 27 | 42 | 55 |
| 2 | The New Saints | 25 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 73 | 14 | 59 | 53 |
| 3 | Barry Town United FC | 25 | 15 | 4 | 6 | 43 | 36 | 7 | 49 |
| 4 | Newtown | 26 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 44 | 40 | 4 | 40 |
| 5 | Caernarfon Town | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 38 | 38 | 0 | 37 |
| 6 | Bala Town | 24 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 45 | 41 | 4 | 35 |
| 7 | Cardiff Metropolitan University | 26 | 11 | 3 | 12 | 41 | 34 | 7 | 36 |
| 8 | Aberystwyth Town | 26 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 34 | 49 | -15 | 34 |
| 9 | Cefn Druids | 26 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 30 | 44 | -14 | 28 |
| 10 | Carmarthen Town AFC | 26 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 35 | 46 | -11 | 27 |
| 11 | Llandudno FC | 26 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 25 | 52 | -27 | 18 |
| 12 | Llanelli Town AFC | 26 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 25 | 81 | -56 | 16 |