Caernarfon Town FC V Pontypridd United
Saturday 15 April, 14:30
Another disappointing afternoon for Caernarfon Town supporters
Caernarfon 1 – 2 Pontypridd.
It was another disappointing afternoon for Caernarfon Town supporters on Saturday as they saw their team lose what is generally known as a six pointer, against Pontypridd at the Oval.
It was also the latest match in a long line where the squad was depleted due to suspensions, and this time manager Richard Davies was without the services of Rob Hughes, Darren Thomas and Laurie Bell.
Despite this, the Cofi faithful would have attended the match in the hope that the side could get the victory that would secure their place in the Cymru Premier League next season.
With so much at stake for both sides, the match started predictably slowly and it took most of the first half for things to start warming up. Josh Tibbetts pulled off an excellent save early on to deny Karadogan whilst a glancing header from Gruff John in the twentieth minute was Caernarfon’s first real effort at goal. Most of the action took place in midfield with very little goalmouth action although Gruff John was forced into a superb goal-line clearance from Karadogan, the defender somehow getting his foot to the ball and deflecting it onto the bar before the hosts cleared their lines.
Cai Powell-Roberts went closest to opening the scoring in the first half for the Cofis when he got on the end of a Sion Bradley free-kick, but the impressive recent signing from Llangefni was off balance and headed the ball over the target from eight yards.
The visitors went ahead seven minutes after the break when an innocuous delivery into the Caernarfon area caused confusion between Tibbetts and Aaron Simpson and the ball bounced off the latter and into his own net. It was a poor goal to concede but it galvanised the Cofis into more attacking mode and the introduction of Danny Gosset on the hour mark provided some much needed impetus in midfield. Noah Edwards forced Ratcliffe into a smart save after Gosset and Joe Faux had linked well to set him up in the box.
With sixty three minutes on the watch, Edwards played a square ball to Ben Wynne thirty yards from goal and forward struck it sweetly first time, giving Ratcliffe no chance as the ball hit the roof of his net. Wynne nearly added a second three minutes later but this time the visiting keeper pulled off a good save to deny him. From the resulting corner, it seemed that Gruff John had been pushed in the back when on his way to reaching the ball, but referee Aaron Jones waved play on.
Pontypridd struck the winning goal in the seventy second minute through Luke Cummings, who finished well past Tibbetts from an acute angle.
Caernarfon approach the final two matches of the season knowing that a victory in either one will see them retain their top tier status. The first of these fixtures will be at Flint this Wednesday in a re-arranged match.
Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the Match: Ben Wynne.
Team: Josh Tibbetts, Gruff John, Iwan Cartwright, Aaron Simpson, Dion Donohue, Cai Powell-Roberts, Ben Wynne, Noah Edwards, Joe Faux, Sion Bradley, Lloyd Marsh-Hughes.
Subs (used): Danny Gosset, Osian Evans, Rhys Alun Williams. Not used: Ryan Woods, Cai Griffith, Caio Evans, Harry Hughes.
