Caernarfon Town FC V Newtown A.F.C
Friday 18 August, 19:45
Cofis Battle Past Robins.
Caernarfon 2 – 1 Newtown.
Caernarfon’s recent return to prominence in Welsh football has been based on their ‘Un Clwb’ motto. Supporters, staff and board working together in the community to make the town proud.
Last night was a reflection of how, when it all comes together, there is nowhere quite like the Oval on a Friday evening under the floodlights.
The official crowd was 575 paying customers, but when you take into count that everyone under the age of sixteen gets into the ground for free, you can add at least another hundred and fifty to that.
Over the last three years Newtown have become Caernarfon’s bogey team, defeating the Cofis in their last eight encounters, and so they would have approached last night’s fixture with plenty of confidence.
The visitors started strongly, and they were the better side during a cagey opening twenty minutes, when they could well have found themselves a goal up. There were seven minutes on the clock when Oswell’s effort from seven yards beat debutante Lewis Webb, but Ryan Austin was in the right place at the right time to head the ball off the goal line.
The hosts started to enjoy parity of possession after this opening period and a Danny Gosset free kick that flew wide of the right hand upright was their first real effort on goal.
On the half hour mark Sion Bradely set up Darren Thomas after a trademark jinking run on the left flank, but the Cofi Messi’s first time effort from eighteen yards flew inches over the bar.
Marc Williams was becoming an ever increasing influence on the game and his tenacity resulted in the opening goal of the evening. The ball seemed to be going out for a goal-kick until Williams retrieved it with an excellent challenge on George Hughes and he found Phil Mooney, who slotted into the net from six yards.
Zack Clarke went close to adding a second for the Cofis early in the second period but his effort ended wide of its target whilst Newtown should have equalised on the hour mark, when an Ismael free kick into the Caernarfon area was half cleared and Sears ballooned the ball over the woodwork from eight yards.
There was very little between the sides with both enjoying half chances in front of goal but Caernarfon were dealt a blow in the eightieth minute as Adam Davies was given his marching orders for time wasting.
The Cofi Army, at the Marcus Street End, continued to galvanise the team as the players battled to secure their points. The visitors dominated possession for long period in the dying minutes of the match, but Caernarfon refused to stand down, and looked for a second goal on the break.
And in the ninetieth minute they got their rewards, after Ben Wynne put Marc Williams through, his effort beat the advancing Wycherley and was cleared off the line to substitute Louis Lloyd, who found the roof of the net from eight yards.
The visitors pulled a goal back through Aaron Williams in the tenth minute of injury time but it was too little, too late and the Cofi Army were left to celebrate with the players at the final whistle. The relief at the end was palpable as Caernarfon ended their jinx against the Robins and the victory and feeling of occasion at the ground was reason enough to believe the Un Clwb ethos is alive and well at the Oval.
Tyn Lon Volo Garage Man of the Match: Marc Williams.
Team; Lewis Webb, Iwan Cartwright, Phil Mooney, Dion Donoghue, Ryan Austin, Danny Gosset, Marc Williams, Sion Bradley, Aadam Davies, Darren Thomas, Zack Clarke. Subs (used): Ben Wynne, Louis Lloyd, Cai Powell Roberts. Not used: Ryan Woods, Rob Hughes, Owain Ellis, Harry Hughes.