The New Saints V Caernarfon Town FC
Tuesday 25 October, 19:45
Town’s Run Ends on Tough Evening at Park Hall.
The New Saints 3 - 0 Caernarfon.
All photos by Andrew Donnison - with thanks.
It was an evening to forget for Caernarfon on Tuesday as they came up against an inspired TNS side at Park Hall.
The Cofis had been victorious in their last three matches in all competitions whilst the reigning Cymru Premier League champions were on a run of nine consecutive league victories before the fixture, so a tough challenge was expected by Huw Griffiths and his men.
Caernarfon started well enough and fashioned the first goal opportunity of the evening, arriving in the tenth minute, when TNS defender Astles could only head a Ben Wynne throw into the box towards Fidel O’Rourke, and the striker’s header flew inches wide of the target from ten yards.
There was another half-chance for the visitors two minutes later after O’Rourke’s cross was cleared to Noah Edwards, who chanced his luck from twenty-five yards, but saw his effort clear over the woodwork.
From this moment on, the hosts took a grip of the match and put Caernarfon under pressure for most of the evening, creating plenty of opportunities, and despite finding the net three times, they were thwarted on numerous occasions by Town keeper Josh Tibbetts, who continued his recent tremendous form with another top tier display.
The opener for TNS arrived in the sixteenth minute when Redmond slid the ball through Caernarfon’s defence to Ryan Brobbel, and he gave the advancing Tibbetts no chance from close range. Tibbetts denied Leo Smith ten minutes later as the former Caernarfon favourite hit a goalbound effort that the Cofi number one superbly reached to to pull off a one-handed save.
Huw Griffiths’ men seemed to have weathered the opening storm and, whilst it was very much a back against the walls evening, they defended resolutely to keep out the hosts until just before the break, when Astles found Redmond with a slide rule pass between Town’s centre halves, and his cross was prodded in from a yard out by Wilson.
The second period was a continuation of the patterns of the first, with Caernarfon working hard to deny the hosts, and Tibbetts was soon called into action as he tipped over a Cieslewicz effort. Joshua Daniels was an inch away from adding a third for the hosts in the sixty third minute but his attempt struck the bar, whilst Tibbetts denied Wilson a few minutes later.
Town’s rearguard action had successfully seen out a goalless second half until the third minute of injury time, when former Cofis player Gwion Dafydd got on the end of a cross and headed past Tibbetts from close range. The third goal was harsh on the Cofis who, whilst not really creating much of note going forward, certainly showed enough character and determination throughout a tough evening to give their manager confidence moving forward. Caernarfon currently stand fifth in the Cymru Premier League and travel to the capita on Saturday to play Cardiff Met, who are currently in sixth, and have the same number of points as the Cofis, eighteen.
Tyn Lon Volvo Man of the Match: Josh Tibbetts.
Team: Josh Tibbetts, Gruff John, Aaron Simpson, Dion Donohue, Iwan Cartwright, Danny Gosset, Noah Edwards, Fidel O’Rourke, Ben Wynne, Ryan Williams, Lloyd Marsh-Hughes.
Subs (used): Sion Bradley, Laurie Bell, Harold Essien. Not used: Joe Faux.
