TNS V Cofis
Friday 20 February, 19:45
Battling Cofis Lose Out.
The New Saints 2 – 1 Caernarfon.
Following last week’s disappointing defeat to Barry Town Utd when manager Richard Davies had made his disappointment clear, his players responded to the criticism with an excellent display away to the champions.
No trip to Park Hall is easy and although Caernarfon were unable to field three TNS loanees in their line-up Davies was able to prove the strength of his squad by fielding a strong starting eleven and bench.
The action nearly got off to a perfect start for the Cofis when, after less than sixty seconds, Rio Owen slid in to meet Darren Thomas’ low delivery to finish off a superb pitch length move but the goal was ruled out for offside.
The hosts went ahead in the tenth minute after Brad Young’s headed clearance from a corner fell to the feet of Danny Redmond and he finished well with a low effort into the bottom corner of Connor Roberts’ net.
Caernarfon were playing with confidence and were seeing plenty of the ball as they knocked the ball around the pitch. Sears was unlucky in the seventeenth minute to see his curling goalbound effort blocked by McGahey. The Cofis had a strong penalty claim from the resulting corner when Sears’ shot was blocked by the arms of Redmond but referee Mark Petch waved away their appeals.
Darren Thomas was an inch away from meeting a Caron Williams cross in the thirty ninth minute just inside the six yard area and at the other end Connor Roberts pulled off an excellent save to thwart Jordan Williams.
Caernarfon got the goal their play had deserved on the stroke of half time when Sears fired an teasing cross into the six yard area and Brad Young was first to reach it at the far post, finishing with aplomb past Edwards to register his first goal for the Cofis.
The hosts were back in front on the hour mark when Redmond crossed from the byline, and Wilson was free at the back post to head in.
Caernarfon refused to back down, however, and continued to press forward when they had the ball. Danny Gossett was unfortunate not to equalise for the visitors when he left Edwards stranded with a strike from the ‘D’ but the ball cannoned off the crossbar and out of play.
Rio Owen forced a saved from Edwards late on after smart link-up play with Young whilst the latter was inches away from reaching a Morgan Owen cross six yards out in injury time.
It had been a brave performance from Caernarfon that deserved more than defeat but one thing is certain, the manager would have been much happier after this match than he was last week.
Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the Match: Brad Young.
Team: Connor Roberts, Morgan Owen, Phil Mooney, Matty Jones, Kyle Harrison, Paulo Mendes, Danny Gosset, Ryan Sears, Brad Young, Darren Thomas, Rio Owen.
Subs (used): Caro Williams, Iwan Lewis. Not used: Hari Thomas, Adam Davies, Charlie Griffith, Harri Wyn.