Connah's Quay cruise past Cambrian and Clydach
GAP Connah's Quay saw off Cambrian and Clydach 3-0 at home in the Premier League's fifth round of regular-season fixtures on Friday evening. The hosts opened the scoring inside two minutes through C. West before I. Murray added a second before the break and sealed the result late on. Three goals from two players and a clean sheet put the leaders in comfortable position as the season progresses.
West's early strike set the tone immediately, and Murray's goal midway through the first half gave Connah's Quay control. A disallowed effort from J. Ferguson in the 65th minute might have extended the lead, but the offside call stood. By then the visitors had little to offer, and Murray's late goal removed any doubt about the outcome.
The statistics tell the story of a one-sided encounter. Connah's Quay enjoyed 60 per cent possession and registered nine shots on target against four for their opponents. They also dominated attacks with 75 compared to 53, though corners were sparse at just one for the hosts. The visitors managed three corners but could not convert possession into meaningful chances.
Substitutions came thick and fast in the second half, with both managers making changes around the 70th minute. Connah's Quay brought on F. Deane, A. Hughes, R. Watson and M. Stone, while the visitors responded with F. Thomas, K. Jones and J. Allen. The home side also introduced A. Evans and A. Bonthron early in the half, and West was replaced in the closing stages.
Five wins from six games leaves Connah's Quay third on 15 points, while Cambrian and Clydach sit 10th with eight points after two victories, two draws and two defeats. The hosts have won their last three league matches, including a 2-0 victory over Ammanford on their previous outing. The visitors ended a run of two straight defeats with a 3-0 win at Haverfordwest County on Saturday.
Four yellow cards were shown in total, with L. Eason, C. Strinati, A. Hughes and D. Cowan cautioned for the home side, and A. John and J. Karadogan booked late on. Connah's Quay kept their defensive record intact without conceding, and the result moves them further clear at the top of the table.