Newtown AFC V Caernarfon Town
Friday 23 August, 19:45
Cofis Dominant in Victory.
Newtown 0 – 4 Caernarfon.
Latham Park has not been a happy hunting ground for Caernarfon in recent years and last season the Cofis lost heavily there twice in the league.
However, Richard Davies’ men managed a rare triumph over the Robins at the venue at the beginning of this month, winning on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the Nathaniel MG Cup.
The Robins had started their league campaign well, gaining four points in their opening two matches whilst the Cofis lost in injury time in their opening fixture last week.
Town manager Richard made a number of changes to his starting eleven and brought in Marc Williams, Sam Downey and Joe Faux, with recent signing Stefan Edwards getting a place on the bench.
Caernarfon got off to an excellent start as they surged ahead in the fifth minute. Joe Faux’ corner was headed back to him by Shane Sutton and the winger’s low cross into the box was met by Phil Mooney, who slide footed the ball past the diving Swindell.
Mooney was inches away from adding a second four minutes later when he struck from twenty five yards but the ball flew inches over the woodwork. The Cofis were enjoying plenty of possession in the early stages and summer signing Sam Downey was making an impression in the engine room, where he, Paulo Mendes and Marc Williams were dominant.
Williams created an opportunity for Faux in the fourteenth minute as he won the ball in midfield and found Faux, whose goalbound effort was deflected for a corner. Mendes was next to as he met a Matty Jones corner in the twentieth minute but his headed effort from fifteen yards flew wide. Home stopper Swindell came to his side’s rescue on twenty eight minutes after Darren Thomas had crossed for Faux who connected well from eight yards but found the advancing keeper in his way.
Caernarfon’s number one, Stepehen McMullen pulled off an excellent point-blank double save to deny the hosts a leveller and, in all honesty, this was the closest Newtown got to the Cofis goal in an impressive first half from the visitors, and Swindell was forced into another excellent save three minutes from the break to deny Ryan Sears.
The Cofis’ one goal advantage was probably not a fair reflection of their dominance in the first half and with an expected improvement in the hosts’ performance after the break, Caernarfon would need to prove the defensive capabilities in the second period.
Predictably, Newtown did indeed up their game and they were on the front foot for the first fifteen minutes after the restart. McMullen proved his worth again for Caernarfon four minutes after the restart when he flung himself to his left to parry away a Jason Owell header that was destined for the net. The keeper was in action again seven minutes later when he got to a Josh Lock effort and pushed the ball the right side of the upright.
Marc Williams was unfortunate not to claim Town’s second goal just past the hour mark when a left wing cross from Jones landed at his feet and Williams’ effort beat Swindell but cannoned off the bar and to safety.
Caernarfon’s dominance was finally rewarded when a well worked throw in between Jones and Faux ended with the latter crossing the ball into the box where Adam Davies met it to head into the far top corner of the net.
The Robins never really recovered from the goal and their only threat going forward as they tried to get back into the match was a twenty five yarder from Lock that was dealt with by the outstanding McMullen.
Zack Clarke thought he had scored a thir for the visitors three minutes form time but his goalbound effot was blocked by Calvin Smith. The big striker was not to be denied however as he found the net from close range just two minutes later as the hosts failed to deal with a Matty Hill corner. Hill himself was the instigator of a fourth Caernarfon goal three minutes into injury time when the hosts again failed to deal with a ball into the box and Hill’s attempt from twenty two yards took a wicked deflection off Sutton into his own goal.
The Newtown manager bemoaned the scoreline in his post match interview but, in all honesty, he will know that Caernarfon were dominant throughout and the points were well-deserved by Richard Davies’ side.
Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the match: Stepehen McMullen.
Team: Stephen McMullen, Ryan Sears, Morgan Owen, Matty Jones, Joe Faux, Phil Mooney, Marc Williams, Paulo Mendes, , Adam Davies, Darren Thomas, Sam Downey, .
Subs (used): Gruff John, Matty Hill, Zack Clarke, Louis Lloyd. Not used: Hari Thomas, Osian Evans, Stefan Edwards.