Caernarfon V Connahs Quay Nomads
Friday 15 March, 19:45
Town Too Strong for Nomads.
Caernarfon 2 – 1 Connahs Quay Nomads.
Connahs Quay Nomads were the visitors to the Oval on Friday evening and, on recent results between the clubs, Neil Gibson’s side will have felt confident of facing the Cofis.
Caernarfon had not defeated the Deesiders in their last fourteen matches and, as the Nomads’ social media team reminded everyone in the lead up to the match, Nomads had an excellent record against Richard Davies’ side this season, having won three of the four previous matches this campaign convincingly. Having said that, Caernarfon had done well in their last fixture against them a few weeks ago and probably should have won a match that ended at one goal apiece.
The match began with a bang, as Nomads were awarded a penalty fifteen seconds into the match, when Franklin was brought down by Danny Gosset in the box. Fortunately for the hosts, goalkeeper Lewis Webb was on form and he saved Jordan Davies’ spot kick, diving low to his left to keep the ball out.
Caernarfon could have gone ahead just a minute later when Sion Bradley’s free kick was met by Gruff John at the far post and the defender’s volley saw the ball cannon off the woodwork.
Caernarfon seemed confident, and brave in possession, and were playing through their opposition regularly. A good move through the middle of the park eventually saw the ball at Darren Thomas’ feet and the little wizard’s cross was met at the far post by Adam Davies, who rose above Ben Nash and headed goalwards. Unfortunately, there is no goal line technology in the Cymru Premier League but the ball was exceptionally close to have crossed the line before keeper Andy Firth pawed it out. Referee James Walker was not convinced by the Cofis’ claims that the ball was in, and play resumed with the sides still goalless.
Sion Bradley was tormenting the Nomads backline with his trademark runs on the left flank and he found Thomas with a fine ball into the box in the twenty fourth minute but the Caernarfon captain’s effort was deflected wide. Thomas was again denied in the fortieth minute when he saw his goalbound effort blocked by a desperate late block, and, just a minute from half time, Louis Lloyd was denied the opened when he was put through by Bradley and took the ball around the advancing Firth but saw the ball cleared off the line by Kai Edwards.
Town manager Richard Davies will have been frustrated that his side could not end a half they had dominated ahead but the second period began in the same manner as the first had finished: with Caernarfon in almost total control.
The hosts were finally rewarded for their domination nine minutes after the restart. There seemed little danger for the Nomads when the impressive Dion Donohue took receipt of the ball on the half way line but he threaded an excellent pass to Gruff John on the left side of the penalty area, he found Louis Lloyd on the edge of the area, ad the young winder made no mistake, cutting across the ball to fire it low in the left hand corer of Firth’s goal. It was Lloyd’s seventh goal of a progressively impressive season and Caernarfon soon went about doubling their lead. They didn’t have to wait long.
With fifty eight minutes on the clock, more good work between Bradley and Donohue on the left flank ended with the latter crossing into the box, where Marc Williams arrived on time to bullet the ball past Firth with his head. A back to basis goal that was the least the hosts deserved and, in all honesty, it never looked likely that Nomads would get back into the game.
They huffed, and puffed, and were certainly not short of effort, but Caernarfon were tenacious, first to the ball, and were creating plenty of opportunities to extend their lead. The impressive Morgan Owen, who was playing in Tier Two three months ago, epitomised his side’s efforts with a number of attacking runs on the right flank from his full back position, and his never say attitude and tenacity in the tackle was a highlight of the evening.
Twice he was brought down on the edge of the visitors’ penalty area late on, and Bradley and Donohue went close to adding a third with their free kicks. Lloyd also threatened to score a second as he seemed to have the beating of his marker, whilst Lewis Webb pulled off a stunning save five minutes from time, getting his hand to the ball, after Harrington’s effort had taken a wicked deflection.
The visitors were awarded a second penalty of the evening six minutes into injury time when Joe Faux brought Francklin down in the area, and this time Davies sent Webb the wrong way. It was too little, too late for the Nomads and Caernarfon were finally able to end that poor record of results against the team that will surely end the season as runners-up in the Cymru Premier League.
Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the Match: Morgan Owen and Sion Bradley (joint).
Team: Lewis Webb, Morgan Owen, Gruff John, Dion Donohue, Iwan Cartwright, Danny Gosset, Sion Bradley, Marc Williams, Adam Davies, Darren Thomas, Louis Lloyd. Subs (used): Joe Faux, Zack Clarke, Ben Maher, Gwion Dafydd. Not used: Hari Thomas, Phil Mooney, Osian Evans.