Caernarfon Town FC V Pontypridd United
Saturday 20 August, 14:30
Cofis off the mark with fine win.
Caernarfon 2 – 0 Pontypridd.
Caernarfon won their first league points of the new campaign today and manager Huw Griffiths was delighted of the way his players had bounced back from last weeks’ opening day defeat: “I’m proud of the way the players responded to last week and I think we played well” said Huw and with good reason too.
Whilst the match may not have reached the heights of excitement, the Cofis looked confident and assured throughout and successfully navigated what had promised to be a very tricky fixture.
Both sides play a similar style, playing from the back whenever possible and with a high press when out of possession, but it was hosts who seemed to have a little extra, and they dominated the ball for large parts of the game.
Town’s first opportunity went to Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the Match Sion Bradley after he linked up well for a short corner with Ben Wynne but his effort from seven yards was blocked by a defender.
The visitors first sight at Josh Tibbetts’ goal came in the twenty fourth minute but Twamley’s effort was blocked by Ryan Williams.
Joe Faux hit a long range effort three minutes later that Morris did well to keep out. The impressive Town midfield Noah Edwards and Danny Gosset were working hard to get on top of their opposition numbers and push Caernarfon forward and the latter found Rob Hughes in the box on the half hour mark but the playmaker’s first time effort was tipped over the woodwork by Dragons keeper Morris.
Opportunities were at a premium in the first period but both sides managed to create one apiece before the break. The first fell to Joe Faux, after Gosset, Bradley and Darren Thomas linked well before the latter found Faux at the far post, but the onrushing wingman could not quite manage to find the target with a diving header.
The visitors managed a rare shot at goal in the thirty eighth minute but Jones’ shot was blocked by his own team mate, Evans.
Caernarfon started the second half brightly and when a Rob Hughes corner was half cleared the ball fell to Thomas, whose first time attempt was blocked for another corner. This time it was Bradley who put the ball in the danger zone, and Gruff Jones rose above everyone, but headed wide of the target from eight yards.
Bradley put in an identical corner seven minutes later and this time it was Thomas who narrowly failed to find the net from around six yards with his head.
Ben Wynne was inches away from putting the hosts ahead just before the hour mark after Darren Thomas had pulled the ball across the six yard area but the ball evaded the young striker.
The breakthrough final arrived in the sixty first minute and it was Sion Bradley who put the Cofi ahead, after Pontypridd failed to deal with a Thomas cross and the ball fell to the winger, who turned well before planting the ball past Morris and into his far left corner. It was an excellent finish by the Cofi favourite and just reward for his excellent performance.
The hosts doubled their lead three minutes later when Ben Wynne crossed from the right and Joe Faux slotted the ball past Morris and a defender on the goal line from an angle to secure the points.
Gosset, Wynne and Hayes all threatened to add a third before the final whistle but Caernarfon had to settle for a 2-0 victory, and in all fairness they will be pleased with their performance. Huw Griffiths’ men will be back in action next Saturday when they welcome Cardiff Met to the Oval.
Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the Match: Sion Bradley.
Team: Josh Tibbetts, Gruff John, Ryan Williams, Iwan Cartwright, Noah Edwards, Danny Gosset, Rob Hughes, Darren Thomas, Sion Bradley, Joe Faux, Ben Wynne.
Subs (used): Fabrizio Murtas, Mike Hayes. Not used: Tyler French, Gruffydd Jones, Guto Griffith, Caio Evans, Gruffydd Ellis.
