Caernarfon Town FC V Newtown AFC
Saturday 12 October, 14:30
Town Downed After Sluggish Start.
Caernarfon 1 – 2 Newtown.
Caernarfon were back at the Carling Oval on Saturday and, having defeated champions The New Saints on Wednesday evening at their own ground, there was an air of expectancy as Richard Davies’ team looked to continue their impressive recent run of results.
After the Lord Mayor’s Show is an oft used saying in football and whilst it would be lazy to use it to explain the Cofis’ first half performance against Newtown, it must be said that they were far from their usual selves during an opening forty five minutes.
The Robins, to their credit, and as stated by their manager after the match, knew that it may be a good opportunity to play the hosts after their midweek heroics and they certainly made the most of their chances.
The visitors were awarded a penalty in the twelfth minute after Hari Thomas was adjudged to have brought Jason Oswell down in the box but the young stopper immediately made amends with an excellent save to deny Zeli Ismael’s spot kick attempt.
Unfortunately for Thomas, an attempted clearance from him less than a minute later landed at the feet of Josh Lock who placed the ball into an empty net to give Newtown the lead.
Caernarfon looked a little leggy for most of the first half, slow to move the ball around and giving the visitors planet of time to set into a defensive shape that served them well all afternoon.
Ryan Sears was first to threaten for the hosts but he saw his long ranger fly over the target, whilst a slick move between Mendes, Thomas and Jones saw the latter cross into the six yard area where a combination of Sutton and Hughes for the visitors saw them clear the ball from danger.
Town’s only other decent effort at goal was from Zack Clarke on the half hour mark but he could not keep his effort on target from a decent position in the visitors’ box.
The Cofis looked a much more energetic outfit after the break and they started to pin the Robins inside their own half from early on in the second half.
A Joe Faux corner five minutes after the restart looked to be going directly into Newtown’s goal until Evans cleared the ball of the line. There were two more corners in the next three minutes and the visitors were able to block a goalbound effort from each, Lloyd and John being denied an equaliser.
Then, with an hour on the clock, Newtown managed to double their lead. A hopeful cross from Roberts somehow deceived Town keeper Thomas, who was under pressure from Aaron Williams, and the ball landed in his net.
Town hit back almost immediately although there was also controversy when they were awarded a penalty. The controversy occurred when referee John Jones awarded a penalty but gave Oswell just a yellow card for deliberately keeping the ball out of the Newtown goal with both hands, which is contrary to the game’s rules. Lloyd scored from the resulting spot kick and it was very much ‘game on’ for Caernarfon as they had thirty minutes to get at least an equaliser.
Two minutes after Lloyd’s goal Matty Hill seemed to be pulled down inside the box by Newtown keeper Swindell but the referee was having none of it and in fact showed Hill a yellow card for simulation.
Swindell worked overtime for the remainder of the match and he thwarted Clarke and Evans in quick succession before Morgan Owen saw his effort flash wide of an upright. Lloyd failed to find the target after the ball fell invitingly to him from a Jones corner and Mooney’s header at the far post fell wide.
In the last seconds of the match Darren Thomas jinked his way into the box before beating the advancing Swindell with his effort but the ball somehow cannoned off the post and directly into the keepers’ hands on his own line. It was probably a good indication of how Caernarfon’s day had been and whilst they remain third in the Cymru Premier League they will know that they need to bounce back against Aberystwyth at the Carling Oval on Tuesday evening.
Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the match: Paulo Mendes.
Team: Hari Thomas, Gruff John, Matty Jones, Phil Mooney, Ryan Sears, Paulo Mendes, Louis Lloyd, Joe Faux, Matty Hill, Darren Thomas, Zack Clarke.
Subs (used): Osian Evans, Morgan Owen, Stef Edwards, Not used: Morgan Davies, Caron Williams, Osian Ellis, Charlie Griffith.