Newtown AFC V Caernarfon Town
Sunday 04 August, 14:30
Cofis Through After Spot-Kick Drama.
Newtown 2 – 2 Caernarfon (Caernarfon won 3-1 on penalties).
Newtown’s Latham Park has not been a happy hunting ground for Caernarfon in recent years and so when the draw for the first round of the Nathaniel MG Cup was made, it’s fair to assume that the Cofis would have hoped for a kinder draw than a trip to face the Robins.
That being said, Richard Davies’ team has won a fair few new supporters in recent weeks due to their exploits in European competition and his players will have been in confident mood travelling to Powys.
The Caernarfon manager made a number of changes to his starting line-up and the strength in his squad was obvious to see during an opening half that the Cofis dominated.
Last season’s top scorer, Adam Davies, was first to threaten the hosts’ goal in the ninth minute after his strike partner Osian Evans had forced panic in the home defence and when goalkeeper Alex Swindell scuffed his clearance the ball felt o Davies, who did well to control it before firing wide from twelve yards.
Newtown could have gone ahead ess than a minute later after the broke on Caernarfon’s right flank and a cross to the far post was met by Town’s Joe Faux, who managed to put the ball behind for a corner. From the ensuing set-piece, the ball landed with Jolyon Harries, who pummelled the ball high and wide of the target from twelve yards.
Town’ summer signing from Newtown, Ryan Sears, had an effort that failed to trouble the goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty area in the eighteenth minute before the Cofis went ahead in the twenty ninth minute.
A corner was half cleared by the home defence and the ball fell to Paulo Mendes who finished well at the far post to score his second goal of the season. Caernarfon were dominating possession and they doubled their lead two minutes from the break.
A cross into the box saw the ball land at the feet of Gruff John who was unlucky to see his effort cannon off the bar and his second effort from the same attack forced a superb save from Swindell. However, the Town defender was not to be denied and when offered a third opportunity from the ensuing corner he made no mistake from close range to give his side a two-goal cushion.
The hosts began the second half on top and an excellent run from Joshua Lock ended when he struck the ball low and hard and Town keeper Stephen McMullen pulled of an excellent full-stretch save to thwart the playmaker.
The stopper could do nothing two minutes later to deny the hosts a goal, when Lock crossed the ball into the six yard area and Jason Oswell finished from close range to put Newtown back in contention.
With Newtown looking to equalise they were dealt a blow when Callum Roberts was shown the red card for a swing on Osian Evans. However, the hosts rallied despite being down to ten men and they equalised in the seventy first minute as Aaton Williams made the most of some space in the Cofis box to put away the ball from an Oswell cross.
Caernarfon took control of the final twenty minutes of the match but they couldn’t make the most of promising positions in the Newtown penalty area, Ryan Sears twice going close to a winner but the first attempt was smartly saved by Swindell and his second, a header, sailed over the target.
With the score remaining 2-2 at the final whistle, the winners of the tie would be decided by penalties and it was Caernarfon who coped with the pressure of the shootout best. The first three of their penalty takers were successful (Danny Gosset, Morgan Owen and Louis Lloyd) whilst McMullen saved two of the Robins’ penalties whilst another hit the woodwork to give Richard Davies’ side a 4-1 victory on penalties.
Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the Match: Paulo Mendes.
Team: Stephen McMullen, Gruff John, Ryan Sears, Margan Owen, Joe Faux, Marc Williams, Paulo Mendes, Matthew Hill, Adam Davies, Sam Downey, Osian Evans.
Subs (used): Zack Clarke, Daniel Gosset, Louis Lloyd, Darren Thomas. Not used: Hari Thomas, Caron Williams, Charlie Griffith.