Connahs Quay Nomads V Cofis
Friday 06 February, 19:45
Town Clinch Late Point.
Connahs Quay Nomads 1 – 1 Caernarfon.
Caernarfon travelled up the A55 to Fint on Friday evening to take on Connahs Quay Nomads. The hosts are second in the Cymru Premier League on the back of an impressive fifteen match unbeaten run in the competition.
The Cofis were in high spirits themselves after their victory over Colwyn Bay the previous week and the deadline day signing of Adrian Cieslewicz had further strengthened their squad.
Cieslewicz was given a spot in the starting eleven as manager Richard Davies opted for an attacking formation that saw the former TNS winger line up with Brad Young and Sion Bradley in an exciting forward line.
The conditions were difficult as the rain lashed down for most of the match but both sides did their best to stick to their usual styles, of playing the ball on the ground, and they served up an intriguing ninety minutes that proved a credit to the top flight.
Nomads keeper Kit Margetson was forced into action early doors, firstly to punch out a Sion Bradley cross and then to keep out a Iwan Ellis rocket from twenty yards. Just a minute later Declan Poole went close to putting the hosts ahead when put through by West but Kyle Harrisson did well to slide block the low shot, with Town stopper Connor Roberts also advancing off his line.
Harrisson also got in the way of a Poole effort in the thirteenth minute whilst Roberts pulled off a fingertip save to thwart Hughes on twenty minutes.
The hosts were certainly shading possession but Caernarfon looked dangerous when attacking, Brad Young seeing his effort blocked by James Jones having ran on to a Paulo Mendes pass. A Cieslewicz volley at the far post that flew over the target following a half cleared Bradley corner was as close as the Cofis came to opening the scoring before Nomads went ahead.
With a minute to go until the break Lewis brought down West in the box, and Hughes sent Roberts the wrong way from the spot to give Nomads a half time lead.
The second period began well for the Cofis, who set about their opponents from the restart and forced Margetson into a excellent save five minutes in, after Bradley had cut in from the left flank and struck a bullet that the keeper saves with his legs. A subsequent follow up from Danny Gosset was blocked before Phil Monney got on the end of a Ciezlewics cross but his header lacked the power to trouble Margetson.
Margetson pulled off a super full stretch save to deny Iwan Lewis five minutes after the midfielder’s low shot had seemed destined for the onion bag.
The visitors were increasingly dominant as the half proceeded and Cofis manager Richard Davies, sensing the hosts increasingly dropping back into their own half, sent on strikers Zack Clarke, Rio Owen and Adam Davies in an effort to clinch at least a point.
Caernarfon finally got their reward for the pressure they had exerted in the second half when Davies was manhandled in the area. Sion Bradley stepped up and slotted it past Margetson to secure the point they deserved.
Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the Match: Adrian Cieslewicz.
Team: Connor Roberts, Morgan Owen, Phil Mooney, Dominic Smith, Kyle Harrison, Paulo Mendes, Danny Gosset, Iwan Lewis, Sion Bradley, Brad Young, Adrain Cieslewicz.
Subs (used): Zack Clarke, Rio Owen, Matty Jones, Adam Davies. Not used: Hari Thomas, Darren Thomas, Osian Ellis.