It has been a season to remember for Connah’s Quay with Andy Morrison’s side in a strong position to claim a first Cymru Premier title, but which of his players make it into Jordan Jones’ team of the season?
Jones has provided his 11 player picks for the 2019/20 Cymru Premier campaign so far, with the competition suspended due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Do you agree with his selection? Have a read of his reasoning and let us know in the comments section below.
Goalkeeper – Lewis Brass (Connah’s Quay Nomads)
It would come as no surprise if there were to be professional clubs were paying close attention to the young shot stopper.
He’s kept the highest amount of clean sheets in the league and has conceded the fewest.
Defenders – Luke Cummings (Barry Town United), Priestley Farquharson (Connah’s Quay Nomads), George Horan (Connah’s Quay Nomads), Kane Owen (Penybont)
Given the Nomads have conceded the last amount of goals and boast the highest recorded clean sheets, it was important to name at least two players in a four man defence.
The Nomads have continued to manage a mix of youth and experience through their recruitment and it’s shown in the centre-back partnership between George Horan and Priestley Farquharson.
Given his experience in football, Horan has been the ideal mentor for the youthful Farquharson who has learned well from his partner.
Both have been a threat in the air by scoring four goals between them too.
You could argue the cases for Callum Roberts and Danny Holmes to be included in the team.
However I’ve been impressed by the South Walian duo of Luke Cummings and Kane Owen.
Replacing Macauley Southam-Hales was always going to be a tough task for Barry but they’ve found a good fit in Luke Cummings. Cumming isn’t a new name to the league as he’s been at Carmarthen for a number of years. A move to Jenner Park this summer has given him a new lease of life and has certainly slotted in well.
Kane Owen is the other full-back and you could plead his case for his performances this season.
He had brief experience in the league with Aberystwyth before but he’s grown into a talented player following a move to Penybont.
Every time Owen has played he always tries to put a stamp on the game in his left-back position. He’s got four goals this season but has been important in orchestrating many of Penybont’s moves.
Midfielders: Leo Smith (Caernarfon Town), Darren Thomas (Caernarfon Town)
A permanent move to The Oval could definitely be Smith’s route back into the full-time/professional game.
Smith is a neat box-to-box midfielder who has been a revelation in the league this campaign. We knew what he was about during his time at Llandudno and then Caernarfon in the second part of the campaign last season.
Four goals this season in 20 starts, where he’s been subbed on just once highlights his importance to the team, given his minutes this season.
Joined by Smith in the middle is ‘The Cofi Messi’ Darren Thomas who is finally receiving recognition for his talents.
A deserved call-up to the Wales C squad came following his exploits this season. He has already matched his 18/19 tally of seven goals with five fewer games played.
Attacking Midfielders: Chris Venables (Bala Town), Henry Jones (Bala Town)
A controversial choice here given Venables has been playing in a more advanced role this season, but it has been done to accommodate two strikers who have their own strengths.
Venables is the top scorer for Bala this season with 22 goals registered to his name in this campaign. He’s just six goals off of his best feat of 28 goals in a 12-team league.
I’d happily give Venables the ‘Player of the Season’ award if the season was to end here. He’s had a tremendous season and
Alongside Venables is his Bala teammate Henry Jones. Henry Jones is one of the best players to watch in the league for individual talent. He’s a luxury player in which Bala can afford given Venables’ goal scoring exploits.
Jones was an exemption from the Wales C squad but his individual talent will always be recognised by those who regularly watch the league.
A total of ten goals this season for Henry Jones sees him named in the side.
Forwards: Greg Draper (The New Saints), Jamie Insall (Connah’s Quay Nomads)
More than half of his appearances in the league this season has been from the substitutes bench.
Draper has maintained his goalscoring exploits though by averaging a goal every 68 minutes. His goals per minutes ratio last season had him scoring more on average than greats like Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski.
He’s still as important to The New Saints as he’s ever been, the eight-time Cymru Premier winner has that winning mentality.
Joining Draper up front is Connah’s Quay Nomads forward Jamie Insall.
Following his arrival in March 2019, Insall has developed into an important player for the Nathaniel MG Cup winners.
It’s the performances of Insall and his goals return which has seen a change in tactics for the Nomads to accommodate both himself and Mike Wilde. Insall has fed off a fruitful partnership with Wilde in the traditional big man little man relationship. Mike Wilde is winning the flick-ons for Insall to score with nippy finishes.
Manager – Andy Morrison
Following his arrival in November 2015, Morrison has transformed the Nomads.
This season, he has had to work with a small squad following a huge push last season to secure the title. They fell short in all four competitions but made two final appearances.
Despite the reduced squad, Morrison has utilised the players at his disposal. No wholesale changes has been made but the likes of George Horan and Michael Wilde are as instrumental to him as they have ever been.
The Park Hall curse may still allude Morrison but he’s found a way to make his Nomads side hard to beat. They’ve got a tremendous home record and have ground results out away from home.
(Featured Image: NCM Media)
Leave a Reply