Cofis target cup run
CAERNARFON Town hope this Friday brings the start of a good Welsh Cup run when they visit fellow Huws Gray Alliance club Conwy Borough for a first round tie (7.30pm).
The teams last met in the competition in 2012/13 at The Oval, where it was Conwy who emerged triumphant on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
The Canaries travel to Y Morfa lying second in the HGA while Boro, who appointed new manager Will Ryder on Monday, are down in 12th.
Caernarfon’s push towards back-toback titles suffered a slight hiccup last Saturday when they were held 1-1 by Caersws at the Roberts Oval.
Town failed to make early pressure count, Darren Thomas firing inches wide before the striker was denied by Bluebirds keeper Luke Evans, who dived bravely at his feet to gather the ball.
The visitors did well to weather the storm and, when they were given a free kick on the edge of Town’s penalty area in the 11th minute, Sean Evans’ low strike found its way past Town keeper Keighan Jones, who seemed to have dived too early as the ball skipped over him and into the net.
The Cofis responded well and could have equalised 60 seconds after the opener.
Jamie Breese fired goalwards, Evans got his hand to the ball and it fell at the feet of Kevin Lloyd at the far post and just two yards out, but the striker could not manage to set himself cor- rectly and his scuffed effort was kicked off the line by Paul Grant.
Things got harder for ‘Sws in the 23rd minute when Jolyon Harries was shown the red card for ungentlemanly conduct.
Despite their resulting numerical advantage however, Caernarfon were left frustrated at their attempts to equalise before the break, their best efforts coming from Tom Quinn and Danny Brookwell, who both lashed over the woodwork.
After the break the home side showed patience in possession, but at times their play seemed laborious and Caersws refused to give their hosts space to prosper.
Caernarfon’s frustrations got the better of Rob Jones in the 71st minute when he brought down a Caersws player, the referee giving the midfielder his marching orders.
Despite this, the Cofis continued to push forward and they were finally rewarded in the 77th minute when Breese got on the end of a Thomas cross and gave Evans no chance with a merciless finish into the bottom corner of his net.
Caersws dug in and managed to keep Caernarfon out, although Thomas was given a golden opportunity to snatch the victory when Sam Ashworth delivered into the box.
The ball fell to Thomas three yards from goal, but the playmaker could not manage a clean contact and, as the opportunity passed, the referee blew the whistle on a hard-fought, if rather flat encounter which ended one-apiece.