Cofis must stay focused to reap maximum gain
CAERNARFON Town manager Iwan Williams will stress to his players this week that concentration is paramount until the final whistle.
After 90 minutes of last weekend’s crunch Huws Gray Alliance clash at Denbigh Town, Caernarfon were 4-2 up and seemingly home and dry.
However, the hosts refused to give in and netted twice in added time to force a thrilling 4-4 draw.
It was most certainly a case of two points dropped for the Canaries, who know they cannot afford any slip-ups when they entertain early pace-setters Prestatyn Town at the Roberts Oval this Saturday (2.30pm).
Last weekend saw the Cofis denied an 18th consecutive victory in all competitions by a stunning comeback from Denbigh at Central Park.
The large travelling support did not have to wait long to see their team take the lead when Denbigh’s Kyle Scarisbrick lobbed the ball over his own keeper while attempting to clear a Jamie Breese cross into the area.
Gareth Edwards, Breese, Cory Williams and Darren Thomas all had decent efforts saved by home glovesman Elliot Power, but despite the keeper being in fine form, he could do nothing to thwart Clive Williams three minutes from the break, as he finished off from close range following excellent work by Thomas.
Caernarfon continued to control the game after the restart and Thomas warmed the hands of Power with a decent effort from 20 yards.
The Cofis finally added a third goal in the 73rd minute when Breese received a pass just outside the penalty area and he picked his spot well, placing the ball past Power and into the bottom lefthand corner of his net.
Far from becoming downhearted by this latest setback, Denbigh seemed to throw caution to the wind and began pressing forward with real intent.
The visitors were made to pay for failing to deal effectively with a cross into their box when Abe Dobson found the top corner of Mike Jones’ net with a sweetly struck half volley from 20 yards.
An excellent goal for the youngster, and he was given the opportunity to add a second minutes later after Alan Bull was brought down in the box, but Town glovesman Jones pulled off an excellent save to keep out the spot-kick.
The hosts certainly felt they could get something from the match, and they pressed Caernarfon back into their own half, Jones being forced into a sharp save keep out a Phil Molyneux attempt.
Bull took advantage of some hesitancy in the Cofis defence when he scored from two yards following a scramble in the box but Caernarfon regained their two-goal lead almost immediately, when a slip-up in the home defence allowed Thomas to thread the ball through to Breese, and the marksman coolly found the target to complete his brace.
In the second minute of injury time Denbigh reduced the deficit to a solitary goal when Ant Williams finished from 12 yards.
Then, with 96 minutes showing on the clock, Gareth Thomas’ battlers secured a point when Matty Hughes found the target following a scramble in the box to round off an amazing match.