Canaries one win from European football as Hayes brace downs Barry
MIKE HAYES was the toast of Caernarfon Town after his brace of goals at Jenner Park carried the Cofis into the European play-off final in a 3-1 win over Barry Town United.
The 33-year-old striker, who joined from Bala Town last summer, came good when it mattered most as he scored five minutes before the break and then two minutes into the second half.
Jacob Bickerstaff then sealed things with a breakaway goal in the second minute of added time.
Now Huw Griffiths’ men will face Newtown – who won the second semi-final 1-0 against Penybont – in a bid to bag the fourth and final place in Europe from the JD Cymru Premier League.
Barry enjoyed all the early pressure, with former Welsh international David Cotterill standing head and shoulders above everyone else with his silky skills.
Yet for all the possession and territory they enjoyed in the opening quarter, they didn’t really threaten the Caernarfon goal.
It was from a free-kick by Cotterill from the left after 32 minutes that almost unlocked the visitors’ defence.
Kyle Patten rose to meet the cross and his header back across goal went inches wide.
The game then sprang to life in the final five minutes off the first half with Caernarfon grabbing the lead.
Darren Thomas’ leftfooted strike was saved by home goalkeeper Mike Lewis, but the rebound went straight to the predatory Hayes, who hammered it home to put his side into the lead.
No sooner had their celebrations died down than the visitors found themselves back on level terms.
A Cotterill corner was headed goalwards by Evan Press before being deflected off the head of Cofis’ skipper Gareth Edwards into the goal.
It wasn’t how Edwards would have wanted to celebrate his 200th game for the club.
There was an explosive start to the second half as Hayes fired Caernarfon back in front in the 47th minute.
He beat the offside trap as he latched onto a chip over the home defence, controlled the ball on the edge of the area and then lobbed Lewis to make it 2-1.
Barry’s best chances to take the tie into extra-time came 10 minutes from time when Josh Graham fired wide and then Press headed over from a corner.
But then Bickerstaff scored on the break to seal the visitors’ victory and start the celebrations.