Airbus UK Broughton V Caernarfon Town FC
Friday 17 February, 19:45
Cofis Remain Seventh After Victory.
Airbus UK Broughton 0 – 2 Caernarfon Town.
Caernarfon travelled to Broughton for the second time in a month last night to face Airbus UK and, having defeated Haverfordwest with their best performance of the season last week, manager Huw Griffiths would have been keen to see his side consolidate that victory with three points at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium.
Leading up to the match, Griffiths dealt with the news that goalkeeper Josh Tibbetts, Danny Gosset and Dion Donoghue were unavailable for selection, which meant a debut for recent signing Ryan Woods in goal, and a return to the starting eleven for Joe Faux after a one match suspension.
Former Town favourite Jamie Crowther lined up for the hosts whilst legendary former Town stalwart Gareth Edwards missed out due to injury.
The action began slowly as both sides attempted to gain superiority of possession, with the hosts probably enjoying the edge in the opening skirmishes, without ever troubling debutant stopper Woods in the Cofis goal.
Town’s first opening of the match arrived in the fifteenth minute after good work by Sion Bradley on the right flank ended with him setting up Joe Faux in the box, but his powerful low effort was blocked by Sean Wilson.
Lloyd Marsh-Hughes will feel he should have done better two minutes later when Laurie Bell headed on a Ben Wynne throw into the area and the striker was first to the ball but headed straight into the hands of Lewis Dutton from six yards.
The Cofis thought they had gone ahead in the twenty fifth minute after a Darren Thomas effort was deflected off Stephen Tomassen into the path of Bradley, who fired in from ten yards. However, the linesman waved his flag for offside and thus cutting short the Cofi Army’s celebrations.
Two further efforts in as many minutes from Thomas failed to trouble Dutton, whilst at the other end, a Michael Burke free kick ended high and wide.
Airbus began the second period well, and Burke fancied his chances from long range but saw his effort sail over the woodwork.
Town captain Noah Edwards was unlucky not to open the scoring in the fifty first minute when the ball dropped to him from a half-cleared corner, and his first time volley bounced off the top of the bar, with Dutton stranded on his line.
Dutton pulled off the save of the match on the hour mark when he tipped over a Bradley free-kick that had initially seemed destined for the top right corner of his net. The visitors seemed to be turning the screw on their opponents as the match entered its’ final third and they were given an excellent opportunity to go ahead in the sixty seventh minute after Wilson brought Bradley down in the box, and Rob Hughes made no mistake as he sent Dutton the wrong way with his penalty kick.
With confidence high, and Town well on top, they doubled the lead five minutes later, a sweeping move from their own half that involved Bradley and Cartwright ended with Faux finding the top left hand corner of Dutton’s net with an unstoppable effort from just inside the box. A fantastic strike from the flying Australian winger that sees him on six goals for the season.
To their credit, Airbus refused to give up and Jake Phillips saw a long range effort sail a foot wide of the upright whilst Lloyd Dean forced Woods into a smart low save in the final stages of the match.
Caernarfon comfortably saw out the remainder of the match and the victory was their third in the last four fixtures, which sees them presently sitting top of the Play Off Conference with eight matches remaining.
Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the Match; Joe Faux.
Team: Ryan Woods, Cai Powell Roberts, Gruff John, Laurie Bell, Iwan Cartwright, Noah Edwards, Ben Wynne, Sion Bradley, Lloyd Marsh-Hughes, Darren Thomas, Joe Faux.
Subs (used): Rhys Alun Williams, Rob Hughes. Not used; Tom Pritchard, Aaron Simpson, Jonathan Anderson-Ogbomo, Caio Inch.
