CPD Tref Caernarfon V Cardiff Met University
Dydd Sadwrn 27 Awst, 14:30
Town Impress in Victory
Caernarfon 5 – 1 Cardiff Met
Cardiff Met arrived at the Oval today with a spring in their step as they sat top of the fledgling Cymru Premier League after winning their opening two matches, and in some style too, scoring six goals without conceding any.
Caernarfon, who were without four of their regular starters, were buoyed by a comfortable two nil victory over Pontypridd last week, and they carried on where they left off, with an impressive team ethic and an efficiency in front of goal that ultimately saw them run out comprehensive winners on the day.
The Archers, who are now under the stewardship of new manager Ryan Jenkins, set their stall out immediately and began passing the ball around, trying to work through their midfield, where they tried to use Tom Price as a focal point. It seemed as if the Cofis were content to let the visitors boss possession, as they kept a solid, and compact shape, and looked to break quickly, with front men Ben Wynne and Darren Thomas looking socially sharp.
An early breakthrough for Caernarfon gave them the confidence that they were on to a good thing, when Laurie Bell’s clearance from defence was only half cleared by Kyle McCarthy, and the pacey Wynne latched onto the ball before squeezing it past the diving Alex Land and into the bottom far right corner of his net. It was the perfect start for Huw Griffiths’ men.
The hosts went close to doubling their lead in the fifth minute after a Sion Bradley shot was blocked and from the ensuing corner, Iwan Cartwright leaped to meet the ball at the far post but headed inches wide with the goal at his mercy.
Met rallied with two efforts at Caernarfon’s goal in quick succession. The first was a wayward effort by Lewis Rees and the second was an Eliot Evans shot that headed directly into the hands of Tyler French.
Caernarfon continued to keep to their game plan of patience and hard work and, despite not seeing too much of the ball, they looked dangerous whenever their playmakers received the ball in Met’s half of the field.
Joe Faux went on a lengthy run from his own half into the opponents’ penalty area on the twenty seven minutes and whilst Lang got his foot to his goalbound shot, the ball eventually found its way to Wynne, who turned smartly and struck an effort that a Cardiff defender could only help on its way into the net.
Ryan Jenkins’ men struck back almost immediately and it was Eliot Evans who halved the Cofis lead, with a fine effort from the edge of the penalty area that left French flat footed and on his line.
There followed a nervy period for the Cofi faithful as the visitors tried to pin Caernarfon back in their own half but it must be said that they failed to create any opportunities to level, as the hosts’ defence proved more than up to the task.
With half time approaching, the mercurial Darren Thomas added to his list of memorable goals at the Oval when he made the most of a mistake at the centre of the Met defence, and he lopped the advancing Lang from the edge of the penalty area to restore Town’s two goal lead.
The second half began with an excellent last ditch block from Ryan Williams to thwart Sam Jones and the match soon settled into the same pattern as before the break. However, Caernarfon’s third goal seemed to have an almost palpable effect on the Archers as they looked devoid of creativity I the final third and whilst they continued to enjoy plenty of possession, it was rare to see Town keeper Tyler French involved in any kind of action.
With seventy minutes on the clock, Wynne and Osian Evans linked well before Met defender Emyr Lewis hooked a clearance to Darren Thomas, who hit a first time effort that cannoned off the upright and against the diving Lang and back into his net. The records will show it as an own goal for the unlucky keeper but Thomas’ strike was worthy of a score and he finally did get his brace before the end of the match.
Before that, the impressive sixteen year old striker Osian Evans very nearly found the net after winning a lost cause as he chased down a clearance but his strike from a narrow angle ended inches wide of the far post.
With the action nearing its end, Thomas struck again after a rare foray upfield by Iwan Cartwright ended with the midfielder threading the ball to the Town number ten, who turned his man before firing a left foot curler past the diving Land to finish off an impressive afternoon for the Cofi Messi and his team.
Huw Griffiths will be more than happy with his side’s application against a very good outfit, and he will be pleased that he could introduce n less than four of the club’s under 19’s side into the action before the final whistle.
Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the Match: Been Wynne.
Team: Tyler French, Gruff John, Ryan Williams, Laurie Bell, Iwan Cartwright, Noah Edwards, Rob Hughes, Sion Bradley, Darren Thomas, Ben Wynne, Joe Faux
Subs (used): Osian Evans, Fabrizio Murtas, Gruff Jones, Caio Evans. Not used: Guto Grifith, Tomos Pritchard.
