Cup battlers are back on title trail
WHILE the Welsh Cup offers a touch of glamour it is the league that really matters to Caernarfon Town this season, reports Paul Evans.
And this Saturday the Canaries will return to their quest to land the Huws Gray Alliance League title when they travel to Ruthin Town (2pm).
Sean Eardley’s men know they are in for a tricky test against Chris Williams’ side, who gave Welsh Premier hosts Llandudno such a battle in the Welsh Cup fourth round last Saturday before losing 4-3. The Cofis put up a pretty good show of their own in the cup against The New Saints, eventually going down 3-1 to the Welsh Premier champions at The Oval.
Caernarfon have a four-point lead at the HGA summit and are undefeated in 17 league games, so there is a big incentive to do the business at Ruthin.
Last Friday’s cup tussle with TNS at The Oval attracted a fantastic crowd of almost 1,500 and they witnessed the underdogs give the full-timers plenty of trouble. The visitors were quick out of the blocks and many spectators were still waiting to get inside the ground when former Shamrock Rovers striker Dean Ebbe put them ahead, finishing from close range. This early setback was a blow to the Cofis’ gameplan but they refused to panic and slowly, but surely, they gained parity around the pitch before beginning to impose themselves and pushing the full-timers back into their own half for long periods.
Town fashioned their best opportunity of the half in the 43rd minute when a Nathan Craig corner found the returning Darren Thomas at the far post and his downward header forced Paul Harrison into a smart save. Thomas tried his luck again early in the second period when the ball fell invitingly to him on the edge of the penalty box but his first-time effort flew over the woodwork.
Seconds later, a punt upfield from Aeron Edwards beat Gareth Edwards and Ebbe took full advantage as he raced forward and dinked the ball over keeper Pictures: RICHARD BIRCH Alex Ramsay to double the visitors’ lead.
The Cofis responded well, Danny Brookwell, Jamie Breese and Edwards threatening to pull a goal back.
Thomas finally gave the Cofi Army renewed hope in the 77th minute when he finished from close range after excellent work by Brookwell and Breese.
Three minutes later Rhys Roberts rose well to meet a Craig cross but his header was inches wide.
Gareth Edwards was pushed upfield as Caernarfon threw everything at the visitors in the dying minutes but they dealt well with the pressure and an injurytime goal from Aeron Edwards finally put paid to the Cofis’ efforts, and ended their 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions.