Brookwell breaches defence for winner

WHAT a difference a day makes!

After a glorious, sunny Saturday on the Foryd, the following day was a bit of a washout for the annual Caernarfon 10k Road Race, organised by Clwb Rhedwyr Eryri Harriers.

Still, 149 competitors completed the popular annual event, which incorporates the North Wales Championships, on a very wet Sunday morning.

The race went in a clockwise direction this year to make good use of the following wind along the Foryd (Aberforeshore).

After torrential rain in the early hours and early morning, by the 11am race start time, the downpour had eased to a bit of a drizzle.

Though there were quite a few large puddles along the race route, it was quite warm and decent running weather.

Tom Roberts (Meirionydd) made his intentions clear from the start as he led from the off and was a clear winner and North Wales 10k champion in a time of 32:41.

He finished ahead of Dean Longley (Prestatyn) 33:47 and Owen Roberts (unattached) 35:01.

The female North Wales title went to Annie Bagnall (Prestatyn), who finished 24th overall in 39:35.

For the first time ever in the event, the first Eryri Harrier to finish was a female runner in Gemma Morgans, who was 29th overall and second female in 40:48, ahead of 31st placed Gary Young 41:12, 32nd Steffan Evans 41:22, 36th and third female finisher Elliw Haf 41:56, 37th John Davies 42:03, 61st Maldwyn Evans 46:00, 69th Chris Hoult 47:17, 85th James Harwood 49:22, 134th Roy Jardine 63:17 and 142nd Iorwerth Roberts 64:30.

CAERNARFON Town return to league action on a high this weekend when they travel to Rhyl for a much-awaited Huws Gray Alliance tussle, writes Paul Evans.

The Cofis’ last action was certainly memorable as they won 1-0 at Welsh Premier League side Llandudno in the Nathaniel MG Cup.

That secured the Canaries a visit to fellow HGA outfit Holyhead Hotspur in the second round next month.

Caernarfon lie second in the HGA with three wins in four starts.

But they know they face a stiff task on Saturday against a still-unbeaten Rhyl team which can be devastating on its day.

However, Iwan Williams’ men can take great inspiration from their cup win at the expense of a Llandudno side top of the WPL with a 100 per cent record.

Despite being forced into early substitutions due to injury, both sides settled well and started playing the football that the 4G pitch allows.

The ball was zipping around the park at pace, and with plenty of technically gifted players on view, the standard of play was excellent.

Town flyer Danny Brookwell was first to threaten the scoreboard when he ran on to a Darren Thomas delivery and beat Danny Taylor on the outside before blasting his effort over the woodwork.

Gareth Edwards had to be at his sharpest in the 10th minute to snuff out a promising move that saw Sam Ilesanmi in a promising position 10 yards out from goal.

Thomas was busy in the number 10 position for the Cofis and he did well halfway through the first period to control the ball on his chest and chance his luck from 20 yards, but his attempt was deflected wide by Tom Dix.

The Caernarfon playmaker worked the resulting corner well with Nathan Craig before delivering a low cross into the box that was met by Clive Williams, but the defender’s effort from close range struck the upright before being hacked to safety by a grateful Danny Shaw.

Town were shading possession at this stage and Thomas went close with a low shot after cutting into the box from the right flank on the half hour mark.

With less than a minute remaining in the first period, Gareth Evans latched onto a risky pass across the home penalty area by keeper Dave Roberts, but could not keep upright as Taylor challenged him from behind.

The Cofis began the second half brightly although it was Dix who was handed the first decent opportunity at goal when Llandudno were given a free-kick on the edge of the Caernarfon area, but the midfielder could not manage to keep his effort on target as it flew over the woodwork.

Llandudno’s first corner after the break arrived in the 50th minute and Shaw very nearly got on the end of it but could not manage to reach the ball at the far post when well positioned.

The play seemed to open up around the hour mark and this suited Caernarfon, who seemed to have the edge for the remainder of the encounter, their quick forward line of Thomas and Brookwell regularly stretching the hosts back-line with their clever runs.

Roberts had to dive smartly to reach a Craig piledriver midway through the half before Clive Williams did well to get on the end of a Craig cross but headed directly at the keeper.

Livewire striker Ilesanmi’s final act of the match for the Seasiders was an excellent run and shot that flew past the upright and, despite bringing on young striker Shaun Cavanagh late on, the hosts failed to make any headway for the remainder of the tie as Caernarfon took control.

Having pressed for a long period, the goal finally arrived in the 73rd minute when Brookwell powered his way through the hosts central defensive pairing before slotting the ball post Roberts, much to the delight of the Cofi following standing behind the goal.

Jamie Breese went close to doubling the visitors’ lead just a minute later when he lobbed the ball over Roberts but saw his effort cleared off the line by Sam Hart.

Despite taking a more direct approach in their attempts to get back on level terms Llandudno made no headway against Town’s solid defensive unit and the Cofis celebrated a hard-earned victory at the final whistle.