ANDY MORRISON saluted a “great week” as Connah’s Quay Nomads snatched a late winner at Cardiff Met to climb to the top of the table.

Nomads were tasked with trying to end Cardiff Met’s unbeaten start to the campaign - and extend their own to 11 games - on the back of a gruelling seven days.

Morrison’s men followed up a Scottish Challenge Cup defeat at Partick Thistle with a crucial 4-2 home victory over Caernarfon, before securing another three points in the Welsh capital.

An own goal from Bradley Woolridge in the third minute of time added on won it 1-0 for Nomads, and helped exceed boss Morrison’s expectations.

“It’s been a great week against two top-six teams,” said Morrison. “If you’d have given me four points before the two games I’d have been happy with them, and it looked like we were going to get that for a large portion.

“Saying that, I still think we were the most productive team, I still think we had the best chances and their keeper has pulled off two or three great saves.

“On the balance of play, if it had finished 0-0 neither myself or Christian could have moaned, but I still would have felt we were the better team on the day.”

Nomads got their reward for not shutting up shop against Christian Edwards’ Archers in the dying stages - a goal Morrison felt was a result of his side’s pressure.

“It’s a fabulous end to the game,” he continued. “It really is a product of how many balls we put into the box and the chaos we caused.

“It’s harsh on them, of course it is, so late in the game, but take nothing away from the team because we felt if we matched up in three key areas we’d win.”

Morrison also felt that the playing surface had a major role in a low-scoring encounter, bemoaning: “The pitch is very, very difficult to play any fast football on because it suffocates the game.

“I’m not having a dig at 3G pitches and I’m not having a dig at Cardiff Met, but I feel it’s counter-productive to the way they play.

“You can’t move the ball quickly, you can’t get shots off and if you have a header in the box and it hits the ground first it just stops dead, it doesn’t skid off the surface.”

Nomads climbed to the summit after Barry Town United were held to a 1-1 draw at Bala Town.

Keyon Reffell cancelled out Henry Jones’ opener for Bala as Gavin Chesterfield’s men headed south with a hard-fought point.

That result came a day after Barry captain Jordan Cotterill was found not guilty of assault and charged with the lesser offence of technical assault for his conduct towards the referee against Penybont on Friday, August 16.

Cotterill was set to be sidelined until February 21, 2020, but his charge has been reduced to 10 matches from the end of his suspension for his sending-off against Penybont.

The New Saints are third, three points adrift of new leaders Nomads, after grinding out a 3-2 win at Penybont.

Rhys Griffiths’ hosts looked to be heading for a point as Dan Griffiths and a Kane Owen penalty had cancelled out efforts from Greg Draper and Dean Ebbe.

But substitute Kurtis Byrne popped up three minutes from time to secure a vital victory for Scott Ruscoe’s Saints.

“I’m happy with that win,” said Ruscoe, who was frustrated by referee Kevin Parry and his fellow officials’ decision making.

“I went in and said ‘your spirit isn’t in any doubt’.

“I thought we dominated the game. The only time we were in a game was when they were given a penalty and the first one was offside.”