Was Connah’s Quay’s 4-1 caning of TNS the true defining moment in their title success?

When asked what was the defining moment in Connah’s Quay Nomads‘ title-winning season, manager Andy Morrison gave an instant and decisive reply.

“The 4-1 massacre at Park Hall was the difference,” the Nomads chief told Sgorio, referring to his team’s thumping victory at arch rivals The New Saints on April 24.

That result put the Quay three points clear of Saints with five matches apiece left to play.

However, Nomads lost 2-1 at Bala Town three days later and TNS could have returned to the summit on goal difference had they beaten Caernarfon Town at Park Hall the night after.

But despite finishing up with nine men, the Canaries held the Saints 0-0 thanks to an heroic defensive display.

That left Nomads two points ahead of Anthony Limbrick’s men with three games each remaining.

Both sides won their final three fixtures, meaning Connah’s Quay made it back-to-back titles.

There is no doubt that Morrison’s assessment of where the title was decided is pretty close to the mark.

However, the Deesiders then went on to lose their next game, leaving the door open again only for sixth-place Caernarfon to upset the odds massively at Park Hall the following evening.

So was that shock 0-0 outcome between TNS and the Cofis the REAL key result of the title run-in?

Surely the Saints would capitalise at what is usually a fortress against a Caernarfon side they had generally always beaten comfortably?

This was their chance to bounce back from the horror of the Nomads whipping and restore matters to their own hands.

Caernarfon had lost six on the bounce, two of those defeats coming at the hands of TNS, and Huw Griffiths’ side had conceded 20 goals in that barren run.

Yet Town battled their hearts out and were more than worthy of a point.

It’s pretty certain the result would have been greeted with joy inside the Nomads camp.

Morrison’s heroes, after holding Saints 0-0 at Deeside Stadium seven days on from the 4-1 away caning, still had to win their last three matches to make sure of the title.

Nothing was handed to them, but they went out and did the business in some style, including travelling to South Wales twice and picking up priceless victories.

Despite having lost so many players to injury over the season, the Nomads dug deep and definitely that 4-1 triumph at Park Hall was their performance of the campaign.

But the never-say-die Cofis also played their part in securing a North Wales success.