Caernarfon Town FC V Aberystwyth Town
Friday 21 October, 19:45
Town Continue Encouraging Home Form
Caernarfon Town 2 – 1 Aberystwyth Town
Caernarfon enjoyed another fine evening at the Oval last night as they continued their fine run of home form, clinching their sixth victory in their opening seven matches as hosts this season.
Huw Griffiths was again without the services of the suspended Darren Thomas and Rob Hughes, and he named an almost identical side to the one that began last week’s victory over Flint, with the solitary change being Ben Wynne joining the starting line up in place of Lloyd Marsh-Hughes.
Aberystwyth began the match well and enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the opening ten minutes, without really looking threatening. However, they did enough to frustrate the hosts, who found it difficult to create any sort of momentum going forward.
Caernarfon eventually began to put a few passes together and in the fourteenth minute Aaron Simpson found Dion Donohue with an impressive pass from the back that put the Cofis captain in space on the left flank. Donohue cut inside and beat his marker comfortably before heading into the box but his right foot effort was just wide of the upright.
The hosts were ahead six minutes later and it was Donohue that began the move with an exquisite pass to Ben Wynne on the right flank, whose cross caused trouble in the Aber box, and Fidel O’Rourke found the net with an outrageous overhead kick that gave the diving Lewis Webb no chance in goal.
Caernarfon should have doubled their lead eight minutes later when the visitors failed to deal with a Wynne throw into the box and the ball fell to the midfielder, who screwed his low shot wide of the left hand upright from eight yards.
The hosts were on top at this stage and an excellent move between Noah Edwards, Wynne and Joe Faux saw the latter cross to an unmarked O’Rourke at the far post, but the loan signing from Liverpool could not find the net when in an excellent position.
Aber came back into the match as the half ended but, apart from a Niall Flint effort that flew high and wide of the target, they did not cause much worry for Josh Tibbetts and his defence.
Danny Gosset was inches away from doubling Town’s lead just three minutes after the restart, as he collected a pass on the edge of the penalty area and curled the ball narrowly wide of the left post.
Match referee Cheryl Foster was forced out of the action in the fifty second minute due to injury and fourth official Aaron Wyn Jones stepped onto the pitch to replace her.
There was another escape for Aberystwyth on the hour mark after Wynne headed down Gosset’s corner, and O’Rourke was first to the ball, only to see his effort cleared off the line.
The visitors forced Town’s number one, Tibbetts, into action in the seventieth minute, the stopper pulling off an excellent save to deny Harry Arnison.
Having only just entered the field of play substitute Lloyd Marsh-Hughes put the Cofis two goals ahead when he chased a short back pass, took the ball past Webb and found the Marcus Street End net from an almost impossible angle. It was the striker second goal for the club, and his first in the league, and Caernarfon will be hoping to see more from him in the near future.
O’Rourke and Edwards both threatened to increase the Cofis’ lead late on but the hosts were made to work for their victory as Aber pulled a goal back through Sam Litchfield from a corner with nine minutes to go.
Huw Griffiths’ men held on for the three points and ended the evening in fourth position, with all teams having played ten matches. The manager will know that if his charges can start replicating their home form when travelling, they will be in the mix for a European slot again this season.
Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the Match: Josh Tibbetts.
Team; Josh Tibbetts, Gruff John, Laurie Bell, Aaron Simpson, Dion Donohue, Iwan Cartwright, Danny Gosset, Noah Edwards, Fidel O’Rourke, Ben Wynne, Joe Faux.
Subs (used): Sion Bradley, Lloyd Marsh-Hughes, Alec Mudimu. Not used: Tom Pritchard, Harold Essien, Ryan Williams, Cai Griffiths.
