Cofis on red alert:
CAERNARFON Town face a potential banana skin when they travel to Huws Gray Alliance strugglers Prestatyn Town for a Welsh Cup third round tie this Friday.
The teams will renew rivalries last experienced in 2016/17 when both were in the HGA and Prestatyn ended up champions to secure a return to the Welsh Premier.
The Seasiders lasted just a single campaign in their second visit to the top flight and have returned to tier-two his term, while Caernarfon have moved in the opposite direction, being crowned HGA champions last season to book a WPL berth for the first time since 2008/09.
While Prestatyn are currently next-to-bottom of the HGA, their form is much improved since the recent return of manager Neil Gibson, under whom they experienced many of their former glories.
Town thrashed Llanrhaeadr YM 5-2 last weekend with striker Ian Griffiths grabbing a hat-trick.
Caernarfon know they are in for a tricky assignment, but the Canaries are doing well in the WPL with terrific away wins at champions The New Saints, present leaders Connah’s Quay Nomads and the always hard-to-beat Cardiff Met already under their belts.
The Cofis showed evidence of their fighting spirit last weekend when they overcame the handicap of being reduced to 10 men by notching a late leveller in a 2-2 draw at Llanelli.
Home danger man James Loveridge almost put his team ahead in the fourth minute when he rattled the post.
After a shaky start, the Cofis began to settle and dominated the majority of the first half.
Nathan Craig and Jamie Breese gave Ryan Williams an opportunity, the former Wrexham player thwarted by a smart save from Oliver Davies.
The hosts struggled to clear the ball and it eventually fell to Cai Jones, whose header from close range struck the underside of the bar before being hooked to safety.
Rhys Roberts jumped to meet a Craig delivery at the far post but the ball flicked the upright.
Repeating the pattern of the first half, Llanelli started the second strongly, Jordan Follows forcing Alex Ramsay into a superb save.
The stopper had to rescue his side again two minutes later as he saved with his feet after Loveridge intercepted a Joe Williams back-pass.
Unfortunately, however, Ramsay forced to leave the action in the 57th minute after he mistimed his tackle on Follows 25 yards from goal, and the referee brandished a red card.
This handed reserve keeper Nic Bould his debut in the Welsh Premier, as Town manager Sean Eardley sacrificed target man Cai Jones to make way for him.
Llanelli’s confidence rose as they sensed an opportunity against Caernarfon’s 10 men, but the Cofis responded well, and captain Craig put his side ahead in the 75th minute from a trademark curling free kick.
The lead did not last long, however, as Kurtis March’s effort took a deflection off a Town defender that saw the ball loop over the unfortunate Bould straight into the net.
Things got worse for the Cofis in the 84th minute when Chris Jones put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot.
Caernarfon refused to give in, however, and late substitute Danny Brookwell’s low cross set up Breese for the leveller.
Llanelli had Scott Tancock dismissed in the closing stages.