Cofi stars at top of the title tree
Next up Porthmadog in a Boxing Day derby cracker
CHRISTMAS Day will see Caernarfon Town top of the tree after the Canaries cemented peak position in the Huws Gray Alliance with a 5-0 stuffing of Penrhyncoch at The Oval last Saturday, reports Paul Evans.
Next on the agenda for Sean Eardley’s side is a home Boxing Day clash with a Porthmadog outfit they have beaten nine times in a row in the current league both clubs occupy.
The Cofis were mightily impressive against their Ceredigion visitors last weekend.
From the moment Jamie Breese forced Leigh Jenkins into a smart save within the opening 60 seconds the pattern of play was pretty much set and the Roosters goalkeeper also managed to thwart Jay Gibbs twice early on.
The visitors’ game plan of sitting deep and getting numbers behind the ball seemed to play into Caernarfon’s hands and it came as no surprise when Clive Williams put them ahead, the home favourite sprinting onto a pass into the box and beating Jenkins from 12 yards.
Williams could have added a second soon after when he rose to meet a Nathan Craig cross but his headed effort whistled wide of the upright.
The Roosters were working overtime to compete with the title chasers and stuck to their task commendably, although a rush of blood from their full back Sion James saw them down to 10 men as he headed for an early shower following a poor challenge on Danny Brookwell.
Town keeper Alex Ramsay was called into action just once in the opening half when he comfortably saved a low Liam Doherty effort, but otherwise it was very much a case of total domination from Caernarfon. Despite their numerical advantage the Cofis initially found it hard to extend their lead and Rhys Roberts, Gareth Evans and Breese were all denied by the impressive Jenkins, although he kept his best save for Craig, somehow getting his hands to the Town captain’s ferocious free kick to tip the ball over the woodwork.
Gibbs unsuccessfully chanced his luck with two far-range efforts early after the restart, while Jenkins held on to a Gareth Edwards header on the goal-line. C Craig’s firstti time volley beat th the stopper but f flew an inch over the bar on the hour mark.
Caernarfon f finally doubled t their lead in the 67th minute after Sion Meredith kept out a goalbound Breese effort with his hand on the line and Craig comfortably netted from the spot with a low effort that sent Jenkins the wrong way.
Meredith’s indiscretion saw a second red card for Gari Lewis’ side and Caernarfon took full advantage as Breese added a third before Gareth Evans finished with a delightful dink over Jenkins having controlled a ball into the penalty area.
Ryan Williams rounded off a super afternoon for the Cofis when he curled the ball inside Jenkins’ left hand post three minutes from time, his excellent strike boosting the Cofis’ already impressive goals record.
The victory sees Caernarfon open a three-point lead at the top of the league and they will be back in action Boxing Day, when they welcome Porthmadog to The Oval for a much anticipated local derby.
Craig Papyrnik’s side will certainly give Eardley’s charges another tough challenge in front of what is expected to be a bumper crowd next Tuesday.