Tough test for Canaries in bid to retain title
AFTER progressing to the Huws Gray Cup semi-finals last weekend Caernarfon Town refocus on the battle for league points when they visit Gresford Athletic this Saturday (2pm).
Although the Canaries whipped the Colliers 5-1 at The Oval back in September, the return tussle should be a little more testing for Iwan Williams’ side.
Gresford are unbeaten in their last five league outings – including four wins – and have risen to fourth in the Huws Gray Alliance.
Caernarfon are second, nine points behind leaders Prestatyn Town, and cannot afford many more slip-ups if they are to remain on course to retain their title.
The Cofis, current holders of the league cup, advanced to the semis last Saturday with a comfortable 4-1 home beating of Denbigh Town.
Andrew Swarbrick went close to giving the match an unexpected start in the first minute when he pulled the trigger from 20 yards, but the Denbigh striker saw his low effort whistle inches wide.
The Cofis took time to settle and were given another scare on eight minutes when keeper Alex Ramsay had to be alert to get his hands to an Alan Bull header from a corner,
This seemed to ignite Caernarfon and they soon began to dominate possession.
Kevin Lloyd was first to threaten for the hosts and he was unfortunate to see his header from a Jamie Roberts corner cleared off the goalline by Andrew Stockton.
Caernarfon were awarded a penalty midway through the half as Gareth Edwards was manhandled whilst attacking a floated corner into the penalty area.
John Hodgin got his hand to Nathan Craig’s spot kick, but the Town captain was quick to regain control of the ball and dinked it into the six-yard area where Jamie Roberts arrived to head into the net.
The Canaries doubled their lead four minutes later when Lloyd ran onto an impressive through ball from Craig, and the striker slotted the ball confidently past Hodgin. Denbigh were rattled and were thankful for last ditch blocks by their defenders to thwart Jamie Breese and Jamie Roberts and Hodgin pulled off an acrobatic save to keep out a Clive Williams piledriver.
Despite all the home side’s pressure, Denbigh continued to work hard and got back into the match before the break via Swarbrick.
Jay Gibbs was unlucky not to find the target early in the second period when his free-kick cannoned off the upright and to safety with Hodgin well beaten.
Despite these opportunities, the Cofis looked sluggish at the beginning of the second period and twice could have found themselves back Picture: Richard Birch on level terms, Swarbrick and Andy Thomas missing good chances.
Home manager Iwan Williams sent Danny Brookwell on with 70 minutes on the clock and the flying winger gave Town a boost with his pace.
With 10 minutes remaining, Darren Thomas made it 3-1 with a 12-yard finish.
Darren Thomas turned goal provider two minutes into injury time when he danced around two defenders on the way to the byline before pulling the ball back for 16-year-old Aaron Davies Thomas to find the net.