Cofis return to action with Met victory
CAERNARFON Town were back in action after a three-week break and they gained a hard-fought 2-1 win over Cardiff Met, writes PAUL EVANS.
Rather predictably, the hosts looked rusty after their enforced break and were made to work hard early on as Met looked sharp from the off.
It should be noted, however, that the visitors did not really seem to offer much going forward during the early stages and, once the Cofis got into their stride, they certainly looked the more dangerous outfit.
The first real opportunity of the match arrived in the 24th minute after Darren Thomas threaded a ball to Cai Jones, who stepped ‘round keeper William Fuller but found the angle too acute as he hit the ball across the face of goal.
Fuller was forced into more action less than a minute later when he dived full length to his left to keep out Bradley’s drive from 20 yards.
Caernarfon went ahead on the half hour mark when Thomas intercepted a pass in midfield and the ball ran into the path of Cai Jones, who expertly slotted home from 12 yards.
Town’s number one, Alex Ramsay, pulled off a fine save four minutes later when he rushed out to smartly thwart Will Evans and his opposite number rescued the visitors with a decent save to keep out Thomas’ piledriver after a superb move from Caernarfon that involved Jones, Brookwell and Smith.
The second period started well for Caernarfon as they sprang out of the traps and their early pressure was very nearly rewarded four minutes after the restart when Thomas expertly peeled off his marker to meet a Leo Smith corner, but was frustrated to see his powerful header sail inches wide of the near post.
Clark was becoming increasingly influential for the hosts as he worked hard in midfield to nullify the visitors when they broke and, in the absence of vice-captain Jamie Crowther, he provided excellent cover in front of Town’s back four.
The visitors looked a more dangerous outfit after the break and a goalbound effort from Baker in the 55th minute could have threatened Town’s goal had Ryan Williams not stepped in to block its path.
Met were back on level terms in the 61st minute after the dangerous Elliot Evans broke into the Town box and forced an excellent low save from Ramsay, but the ball fell kindly to the onrushing Lam, who passed the ball into an empty net.
The introduction of Jamie Breese gave Caernarfon added pace up front and certainly the hard working striker gave the Cardiff backline something new to think about.
He was close to finding the net in the 74th minute after Met had failed to clear a corner and Edwards found Breese hovering near the far post, but his powerful effort from eight yards was tipped over the woodwork by Fuller.
With action finely poised the key moment of the match arrived in the 75th minute when Clark’s long delivery into the Met area was half cleared by Lewis and, as Danny Brookwell gathered the ball just inside the box, Fuller brought him down, which immediately saw the referee point to the penalty spot.
The keeper saved Nathan Craig’s penalty but the Town favourite slotted the ball away on the rebound.