Caernarfon Town FC V Airbus UK Broughton FC
Friday 02 September, 19:45
Town Up To Second
Caernarfon 3 – 1 Airbus UK
Caernarfon continued their fine run of home results last night after they fought back from a goal down to clinch a 3-1 victory over Airbus UK.
Huw Griffiths named three of his four transfer day signings in the squad, and they all played their part in the exciting comeback victory.
The visitors, who had former Town favourites Gareth Edwards and Jamie Crowther in their line-up, have not had the best of starts this season and arrived at the Oval on the back of defeats in all four of their opening four league matches.
Town started well and put plenty of passes together in the opening quarter to suggest that they had got over their narrow midweek defeat at Newtown and they dominated possession, without ever really threatening to score. The one real threat they created at this stage was a low Ben Wynne delivery across the six-yard area that new striker Lloyd Marsh-Hughes was just inches away from reaching as he slid in at the back post.
Having looked compact and competitive, Airbus then began to enjoy more possession and in the thirty ninth minute Crowther should have done better after being teed up by Edwards in the box, but he could not get his shot on target from a promising position.
The visitors were in front just before the break, after Dan Roberts got on the end of a free kick to the far post, and knocked the ball down to Tomassen, who struck from six yards.
The first half had been a peculiar affair, with Caernarfon dominating the first twenty-five minutes but seeming to go a bit flat, and Airbus taking full advantage by getting into the game and going ahead.
Whatever was said in the home dressing room at half time must have worked as the Cofis blasted out of the blocks after the restart and camped themselves in the Airbus half. Mike Jones pulled off two excellent saves to deny long range efforts from Noah Edwards and Joe Faux, whilst Edwards also saw another shot sail inches over the woodwork.
The equaliser arrived in the fiftieth minute, when Darren Thomas whipped a cross in from the right and Sion Bradley rose at the far post to head past the advancing Jones. The goal spurred the Cofis on and they went looking for the lead immediately, Ben Wynne and DarrenThomas both going close to hitting the net in quick succession.
The introduction of Rob Hughes on the hour mark provided the extra impetus the hosts needed to press home their dominance and the winger made his mark sixteen minutes after his introduction, putting his side ahead as he slid the ball past Jones having been put through by Thomas. Airbus continued to fight as they tried to get back into the game but Caernarfon had the final say when Jones brought down Bradley in the box, and the Caernarfon favourite picked himself up to score after Jones had initially saved his penalty kick.
So, another impressive performance from Caernarfon that saw them sit in second position in the Cymru Premier League overnight and whilst it is still early days, Huw Griffiths will be quietly pleased with what he has seen so far from his players.
Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the Match: Noah Edwards.
Team; Josh Tibbetts, Iwan Cartwright, Gruff Jones, Ryan Williams, Laurie Bell, Noah Edwards, Sion Bradley, Lloyd Marsh-Hughes, Ben Wynne, Darren Thomas, Joe Faux. Subs (used): Rob Hughes, Harold Essien, Alec Mudimu, Osian Evans. Not used; Tyler French, Fabrizio Murtas, Aaron Simpson.
