CAERNARFON Town manager Sean Eardley masterminded another superb result for his side to continue their phenomenal start to life in the JD Welsh Premier League.

The Canaries ended the unbeaten home record of Connah’s Quay Nomads and showed all their fighting qualities to secure a 1-0 victory on their travels, and the result sees them move into fifth spot in the standings with five games gone.

Eardley has encouraged his side to show no fear and they have certainly got everyone sitting up and taking notice, which is even more remarkable when you consider this is his first full year in a managerial role.

Granted, he took over a side in-form and top of the Huws Gray Alliance when succeeding Iwan Williams, but the rookie boss has quickly emerged as one of the most talented young managers anywhere in the country thanks to his ability to lead, inspire and organise a talented squad of players.

Eardley is adored by the Cofi Army and is very approachable, but there is also a burning desire underneath the surface that is clearly motivating his side to great things during their initial stages in the top flight.

We all knew about the quality they have going forward, but what has been most evident so far this term has been their work rate without the ball and the discipline being shown by their resolute rearguard against some of the most elite finishers in the WPL.

Nobody is going to relish a trip to The Oval over the winter months, and although Eardley’s standards have been incredibly high for his team it is a challenge everyone seems to be relishing after so long outside the top of the Welsh pyramid.

With victories at Cardiff Met and the Nomads already secured, Eardley has become a shock early contender for the WPL’s Manager of the Year, and if they could continue their current form throughout the season then he would no doubt be the frontrunner given the resounrces at his disposal compared to other fancied and more experienced sides operating within the division.

New signings Sion Bradley and Cai Jones have really hit the ground running and shown just how shrewd Eardley is in acquiring the right sort of player to fit his playing style and overall culture at the squad, with the likes of Ben Maher and Noah Edwards showing enough to suggest they are going to have a significant part to play as the season progresses.

There is a real belief within the squad that they are on the verge of something special, and Eardley remains at the heartbeat of this and will do for the foreseeable future as the Cofis aim to continue to waves and become a force to be reckoned with within the division.