THE Crows made it four successive Welsh Premier wins, although it took a fortuitous 10th-minute goal to settle this wind-spoilt affair at Cwmbran Stadium.

Goalkeeper Gareth Wesson's long punt was headed on by striker Andrew Mainwaring, with the ball bouncing over out-of-position goalkeeper Craig Bryan.

It was a schoolboy mistake by the teenage custodian, although it wasn't the last time he was to be caught coming too far off his line.

On three other occasions Bryan was beaten to the ball outside his penalty area with Cwmbran unable to take advantage.

Midfielder Simon Heal crashed a thunderous drive against a post, although the Nomads could also have scored on several occasions, no more so than when striker Tommy Mutton's chip was headed spectacularly off the line by left back Kristian James.

Because skipper Jason Perry was completing a three-game suspension, Cwmbran moved midfielder Kris Thomas into the centre of the defence.

That allowed Mainwaring to relinquish the substitute's role he occupied at Bangor the previous Saturday, with Kristian Hanbury returning among the replacements.

There was no spot for Kaid Mohamed on the bench where Cwmbran named youngster Darryl Tippins for the first time in a league game.

Nomads lost midfielder Ryan Crawford with an ankle injury after just two minutes, and it was clear the visitors were aggrieved that the tackle by midfielder Michael Fowler went unpunished.

Because of that the rest of the first half was a niggly affair and it was no surprise when defender Andy Griffiths was sent off for elbowing Mainwaring.

The problems spilled into the interval when, as the teams headed for the dressing-rooms, several players from both sides became involved in a heated, verbal debate.

Matters calmed down somewhat after the break, and it's to Cwmbran's credit that they didn't have a single player booked.

After what proved to be the match-winner from Mainwaring, Nomads midfielder Gareth Owen got forward to glance a header narrowly wide from a Griffiths free kick.

Heal nearly put Cwmbran 2-0 up when his well-hit long-range effort was superbly saved one-handed by Bryan.

The visiting number one soon saved from Jason Welsh, but as the tackles continued to fly in Griffiths saw red for his silly challenge on the game's goal-scorer.

The Nomads should have levelled when defender George Horan headed over at a corner before Mainwaring headed past an upright from a Heal cross.

Cwmbran took off Mainwaring and replaced him with winger Richard Hurlin, a decision the striker appeared not to agree with as he sat down to watch the rest of the game from the bench.

The Crows are now eighth, and are next in action on Saturday when they visit the team immediately above them, Newtown.

Cwmbran Town:G Wesson, T Green, K James, P Cochlin, K Thomas, M Fowler (c), J Edwards, K Dimond, J Welsh, A Mainwaring (R Hurlin 65), S Heal. Subs not used: K Hanbury, D Tippins. Goal: Mainwaring (10) Connah's Quay Nomads: C Bryan, P Mazzerella, A Griffiths, C Hutchinson, G Horan, D Jellicoe, S Rain (S Cooke 86), T Mutton, D Williams, R Crawford (B Heath 5, A Hughes 90), G Owen (c). Booked: Owen (26), Heath (44), Mutton (85). Sent off: Griffiths (27). Referee: R Ellingham (Cardiff).