CEFN DRUIDS boss Huw Griffiths is “excited” by the challenge of trying to bring an end to Connah’s Quay Nomads’ unbeaten start to the season.

Nomads have established themselves amongst the title challengers once again this term by piecing together a club record 16-game unbeaten run.

Andy Morrison’s men have also secured a League Cup final appearance against STM Sports and reached the fourth round of the Welsh Cup, which proves they are force to be reckoned with.

But Griffiths’ Ancients are in a rich vein of form, winning seven of their last eight matches in all competitions to make Welsh Cup progress and give themselves a chance of securing a top-six finish.

And sporting director Griffiths is relishing tonight’s meeting at The Rock, saying: “We are looking forward to facing the mighty Connah’s Quay as we are on a good run.

“They are also on a good run. People have said that they’ve dropped off recently, but that’s a ludicrous comment as they are the only unbeaten team in the league.

“It’s an unbelievable achievement to go this many games without losing and I don’t think they’ve been given enough credit for what they’ve done.

“They might have drawn more games than they would have liked, but their mentality is not to lose football matches and that’s something I admire and something I feel the same about.

“All of the players at Connah’s Quay are better for having worked with Andy.”

Griffiths and Morrison are friends off the pitch, but the former is eager to bring an end to the latter’s fantastic start to the season.

“We are on a good run and we want to beat them,” continued Griffiths. “I love little challenges and Andy knows that.

“I’m excited about trying to be the first team to beat Connah’s Quay this season.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity because when you play the likes of TNS and Connah’s Quay it’s a free-hit to have a go and try something different.

“If we have any ambitions of reaching the top-six it’s a game that we should be relishing.”

Morrison’s Nomads certainly won’t be treating Druids with anything less than the respect they deserve.

Pointing to Druids current form under Griffiths’ stewardship, Morrison said: “They are on a great run.

“They are the form team and we are going to be struggling a little bit with a couple of suspension.

“We will have to look at things and come up with a way of asking questions of the in-form Druids.”

Morrison and Griffiths are to battle it out with Bala boss Colin Caton for the November manager of the month award.

The former Manchester City captain has been nominated for the last three months, saying:”It’s great. For me personally to be nominated three months on the spin must mean we are doing something right, which we are.

“As I’ve said before, and I will say again, it is team of the month for me, because there are so many things that go into that nomination.”

Experienced duo George Horan and Michael Wilde are suspended for the trip to Druids.

Griffiths and Druids, meanwhile, will be without suspended duo Mike Pritchard and Ryan Kershaw, while Tyrone Ofori is set to miss out through injury and midfielder Alec Mudimu has agreed a deal to join Moldovan outfit Sheriff Tiraspol.

Scott Ruscoe wants The New Saints to keep the doubters quiet by maintaining their place at the top of the table.

Ruscoe’s Saints have reeled off six wins in their last seven league matches to open up a one-point advantage at the summit.

A trip to Gavin Chesterfield’s Barry, who have won just three of eight matches since winning 1-0 at Park Hall, is next up for Saints this evening.

And Saints boss Ruscoe said: “Barry have not been on a great run. As soon as they got their 1-0 win at our place there was talk about Barry Town winning the league and stuff like that.

I remember Gavin’s reaction to people saying ‘can Barry win the league’ and he wasn’t getting carried away. Within a month everything can change.

“We were third for a while, lost two games in a row and everyone was again saying ‘what’s happening at TNS?’

“At the moment we are in a nice position. To be top of the league is very nice.”

Saints have scored 22 goals in their last three matches in all competitions without reply, including a 12-0 thumping of lowly Airbus and a 9-0 Welsh Cup triumph over Mold Alex.

“There were a few negative comments from outside of the football club, but you can only play what’s in-front of you and you can only earn three points from any one game,” added former Chester City midfielder Ruscoe with reference to that mauling of the Wingmakers.