Connah’s Quay Nomads opened up a three-point gap at the top of the Cymru Premier with an impressive 4-0 win against ten-man Barry Town United at Jenner Park.
The game, as a contest, was all but over at half-time, after two goals from Michael Wilde and an eye-catching finish from Jamie Insall put Nomads in complete control after the hosts had lost Jon Hood to his second red card of the season.
Insall added a second after the break to increase the deficit to four, as the north Wales side began to turn on the style in front of a stunned home crowd.
The win sees Andy Morrison’s Nomads move three points clear at the top of the Cymru Premier, however the Dragons have a game in hand to try and make amends for this set-back.
The first chance fell to the visitors, as uncertainty inside the Barry penalty area gave last week’s goalscorer, Wilde, the chance to shoot on goal. His effort, a powerful one, was blocked on its path to the top right corner.
Having conceded a free-kick moments before, Wilde put the Nomads ahead as he got on the end of an inch-perfect Michael Bakare cross from the left side. The 36-year-old rose at the back post and headed the ball down into the bottom right corner past Mike Lewis.
The host’s chances were hindered on the half hour mark when Jon Hood was dismissed for the second time this season. Referee Dean John initially took a yellow card out to book the midfielder for dissent, but a further comment resulted in the 28-year-old being shown a straight red.
Barry’s troubles were compounded when Insall acrobatically volleyed home from a tight angle after the initial shot from Declan Poole was blocked by Curtis Watkins.
The game was all but put to bed in first-half stoppage time, as Sameron Dool broke into the box and saw his shot parried by Lewis into the path of the awaiting Wilde, who was on hand to tap into an empty net.
Gavin Chesterfield replaced Sion Spence with Drew Fahiya at the start of the second-half, as the Linnets searched for extra pace to trouble the Nomads.
Barry reminded the visitors of their threat within five minutes of the restart, when Luke Cummings went close with a fizzing right-footed shot which hit the side netting.
Morrison’s side scored their fourth of the afternoon when Priestley Farquharson used his strength to break free on the left side of the area, before finding an unmarked Insall, who headed in from five yards out for his second of the game.
Barry captain Luke Cooper headed over the bar as the Dragons tried to make the scoreline a respectable one, before Lewis saved well to deny Dool’s effort from inside the area.
Club captain Jordan Cotterill came off the bench to feature for the Linnets for the first time since he was banned after his actions in the season opener against Penybont.
Lewis was alert to deny substitute Nathan Woolfe’s effort from 18 yards out, before the Nomads had Declan Poole’s goal ruled out after a foul in the penalty area.
Barry will look to bounce back when they travel to The Rock to face Cefn Druids next Saturday, while the Nomads host Newtown on Friday night.
Barry Town United: Lewis, Hugh, Cooper (C), Watkins, McLaggon (Compton 65′) Cummings, Hood, Reffell, Spence (Fahiya 46′), Green (Cotterill 65′), Press.
Substitutes not used: Touray, Ratcliffe.
Connah’s Quay Nomads: Brass, Farquharson, Horan (C), Harrison, Bakare (Woolfe 58′), Morris, Wilde (Harwood 76′), Insall, Poole, Holmes, Dool (Williams 83′).
Substitutes not used: Manley, Owen.
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Featured Image: NCM Media
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