A magnificent display from Ryan Stratulis was enough to see Connah’s Quay Nomads defeat Caernarfon Town 2-0 away from home.
In a game where both sides were evenly matched throughout, a moment of brilliance from Stratulis in the 70th minute broke the deadlock, and then he set up Aeron Edwards to score the second in stoppage time to take all three points from The Oval.
The result sees Connah’s Quay up in third place in the Cymru Premier, while Caernarfon find themselves in fifth place.
The opening gambit was incredibly even. Both teams happy to keep possession, trying to drag defenders out of position, but both sides were resolute.
The first chance did fall to the home side. Danny Gosset picked up a loose clearance and drove into the box, but John Disney produced a fine block to deny him.
Caernarfon attempted to impose themselves on their opponents from there on. Former Nomad Rob Hughes beat three defenders before firing an effort with his left foot narrowly wide.
But the visitors sent a reminder of what they were capable of. A Paulo Mendes through ball found Michael Hayes. His effort was well saved by Josh Tibbetts, before the rebound landed to Mendes, but he couldn’t sort his feet out and get a clean effort on goal, and a big chance went begging.
Caernarfon then hit back with a chance of their own. A clever corner routine saw Alec Mudimu make a great run to the near post, but his volley was saved well by Andy Firth.
It was Caernarfon who came out the blocks quickest at the beginning of the second half.
A good through ball from Thomas Marsh-Hughes found Noah Edwards and he looked certain to put the ball past Firth. However, Ryan Stratulis came back superbly to get a foot on the ball and divert Edwards’ effort onto the post, before clearing it away from danger.
Stratulis then had an effort on goal which Tibbetts saved well, but it seemed whatever both sides were doing, defences were going to come out on top.
It was going to take something special to break the deadlock, and Stratulis produced it in the 70th minute.
A free kick was rewarded on the edge of the area, and up stepped the defender and unleashed a powerful effort into the top corner. The Cofis could’ve had two keepers in the goal and neither of them would’ve saved his strike, and the Nomads had a lead to protect.
Caernarfon kept pushing for that equaliser. Noah Edwards and Darren Thomas both went close, but nothing seemed to be going for the Cofis.
And their misery was compounded when the Nomads got their second in stoppage time.
A breakaway was led by Danny Holmes who played in Stratulis who worked hard to make his way into the area, before squaring it perfectly to Aeron Edwards, as he scored his first goal of the season and seal all three points for Connah’s Quay.
Caernarfon will next travel down south to take on Pontypridd United, while Connah’s Quay head west to take on Haverfordwest County.
Player of the Match: Ryan Stratulis
Perhaps the most complete performance I’ve seen from a player for a very long time. He showed his defensive awareness, his vision, and his ability to turn a game on its head when needed. Outstanding performance
Caernarfon Town
Josh Tibbetts (GK), Iwan Cartwright, Gruff John, Dion Donohue ©, Daniel Gosset (Darren Thomas, 81’), Rob Hughes (Josef Faux, 58’), Thomas Marsh-Hughes (Fidel O’Rourke, 66’), Noah Edwards, Aaron Simpson, Ben Wynne, Alec Mudimu
Unused Subs: Harold Essien, Osian Evans, Ryan Williams, Tomos Pritchard
Yellow Cards: Rob Hughes (57’)
Connah’s Quay Nomads
Andy Firth (GK), John Disney ©, Ryan Stratulis, Paulo Mendes (Ryan Harrington, 67’), Callum Morris, Michael Wilde, Michael Hayes, Danny Holmes, Ben Nash, Kris Owens (Aeron Edwards, 67’), Aaron Williams (Harry Franklin, 80’)
Unused Subs: Jonathan Rushton (GK), Joe Malkin, Josh Williams, Joshua Watkin
Goals: Ryan Stratulis (70’)
Yellow Cards: Ben Nash (33’), Harry Franklin (87’), Michael Wilde (89’)
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