Back to back wins targeted
THEY are not even midway through their comeback season in the Welsh Premier League, but Caernarfon Town have already overcome some massive challenges.
Superb away wins at leaders Connah’s Quay Nomads, ultratough Cardiff Metropolitan and last weekend came their finest result yet – a 1-0 victory at champions The New Saints.
Never one to rest on his laurels, Canaries manager Sean Eardley has now set his team another target – win two games in a row.
Town have yet to achieve backto-back victories this term, but that will be the aim this Saturday when they entertain Cardiff Met at The Oval (kick-off 5.15pm, live on S4C).
“We’ve got a big task and a massive game on our hands this weekend against Cardiff Met,” said Eardley. “The result last week will be insignificant if we can’t back it up with a performance and, hopefully, a positive result.
“There aren’t many monkeys on our back at the minute, but I think one of them is about winning the two games in a row, so that’s got to be our aim, that’s got to be our target, but Cardiff Met pose a massive threat.”
Caernarfon triumphed 1-0 at Cyncoed back in August thanks to a Nathan Craig penalty, and it was the same outcome last Friday as the former Everton and Wales Under-21 midfielder converted an 86th minute spot-kick to ensure Town ended TNS’ unbeaten home record this season.
Quite a way to bounce back from their worst defensive performance of the campaign six days earlier in a 4-3 reverse at Carmarthen Town.
Eardley said after the TNS game: “That one was for the supporters. It was also a fantastic way to mark my one-year anniversary as manager.
“TNS, the way they knock the ball about, is sublime. They look to draw people out, they look suck you in, but to a man we were terrific, we stuck to our guns and lim- ited them to few opportunities. I’ve got to commend every player out there - they were unbelievable.
“It will go down as a famous victory without a shadow of a doubt.”
Caernarfon discovered on Monday they will visit old rivals Prestatyn Town in the third round of the Welsh Cup on the weekend of December 7-9.
The Seasiders won the Huws Gray Alliance in 2016/17 and were promoted to the Welsh Premier, but lasted only one season and are now near the bottom of the tier-two league.
Caernarfon lifted the HGA title last term and aim to succeed where Prestatyn failed by maintaining their top-flight status.
Eardley said he is looking forward to next month’s tie at Bastion Gardens, where Neil Gibson recently returned as manager after a short spell as coach at Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Before his departure, Gibson had led Prestatyn to Welsh Cup success in 2012/13, a victory in Europe and seven consecutive seasons in the club’s first spell in the WPL.
“It’s a great draw, I’ve already been in contact with Gibbo,” said Eardley. “They’re going to be a really tough test around December time; they’re very workmanlike and probably shouldn’t be in the position they they are.
“The work and the analysis that is to be done on them will start now - we won’t be taking them lightly by any stretch of the imagination.”