Last-gasp Bell Canaries hero in playoff triumph

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FORMER Manchester City youth midfielder Laurie Bell picked the perfect time to score his first goal for Caernarfon Town as he headed them to a 2-1 victory in the JD Cymru Premier Play-Off final with the last play of the game.

The Cofis had been contained by visiting Flint Town United at The Oval over 90 minutes and were still hanging on for penalties as the game entered the first minute of added time at the end of extra time.

It looked as though the game was heading for a shootout to decide which club will play alongside The New Saints in the Scottish Premier Football League Trust Trophy next season, but 29-year-old Bell had other ideas.

With the scores tied at 1-1, he settled the issue with a towering header that saw the ball fly into the top corner.

It was a stunning way to end a tense game that brought down the curtain on a season that began on August 8.

Bell had played only 317 minutes over six games prior to his start in the final, but he certainly made up for lost time.

Before signing for the Cofis last month, he had being playing for Orebro Syrianska in the third tier of Swedish football.

He also played at Stockport County and Rochdale before spending time in the United States.

His header made up for the Play-Off final heartache the Cofis experienced last season when they conceded three goals in the final 10 minutes to Newtown to lose 5-3 and miss out on a place in Europe.

“This win is huge for the club, the first time we have won a trophy in the Cymru Premier league,” said Caernarfon manager Huw Griffiths.

“It’s good to give something back to the fans, especially after last year when we were on the receiving end.

“This is vitally important for the club and the goals we scored were excellent.

“A few people questioned us in the build-up to this game, but we stood our ground and stuck together.

“Our fans will be vitally important when we play in the Scottish competition.

“We could hear them throughout the game and they really gave us a lift.”

Michael Wilde almost gave Flint a dream start when he latched onto a sloppy back pass in the opening minute, but his attempt was saved by the Cofis’ Polish goalkeeper Jakub Ojrzynski.

Caernarfon made a strong appeal for a penalty 10 minutes later when Noah Edwards saw his shot from the edge of the area strike the arm of his brother, Flint defender Kai Edwards.

Referee Mark Petch waved play on.

Wilde then headed against the post before the game went to extra time.

Caernarfon struck first as nerves began to jangle as Iwan Cartwright fed Danny Gossett, who fired right-footed into the corner of the net.

Ben Nash equalised with a left-footed volley, but Bell’s intervention gave Caernarfon victory.