Town Through in Welsh Cup. Caernarfon Town 1 - 0 Guilsfield. Caernarfon Town are through to the third round of the Welsh Cup after a narrow, but well-deserved victory over a tough Guilsfield outfit. The Canaries had already defeated the Guils twice this season at their own Community Centre Ground but both victories had been hard earned and therefore Lee Dixon’s men will not have been underestimating their visitors. The afternoon began with an impeccably observed minute’s silence to commemorate those who fell in the Great War. When the match got underway, it was Caernarfon who looked to push forward, although they did this without managing to fashion any meaningful opportunities in the opening quarter. Despite a number of dangerous looking forays into the Guils penalty area by McDaid and Darren Thomas, the visitors were resolute and managed to keep the Cofis out. The pressure began to mount on the visitors and striker Carl Owen went close to opening the scoring when he met Darren Thomas’ cross only to see his header fly inches over the bar. This attempt signalled a concerted effort by the Canaries to break the deadlock but two fine efforts by Lee McArdle were deflected wide of the target. Nathan Craig also went close with a rasping drive that flew wide of the keepers’ left post and, with the first period coming to a close, Danny Murphy met a Craig corner well but saw his goalbound header acrobatically saved by Guils keeper Dave Littleford. The second half found Guilsfield in a more positive mood as they looked to play quickly on the counter attack, with former Town striker Ddanny Barton and his strike partner Adam Jenkins working hard to chase after lost causes up front. The Cofis finally went ahead in the sixty sixth minute after Darren Thomas was fouled whilst running at the visitors’ defence. Lee McArdle needed little persuasion to take on the resulting free kick and the full-back hit a trademark thunderbolt into the top right hand side of Littleford’s goal. It was the latest in a long line of spectacular goals by the former ex-Everton youngster and it had needed something special to put the ball past the Guils’ glovesman, who was in inspired form throughout. (see video of goal below). The visitors should have got back on level terms a minute later when Barton did well to set up Aaron Edwards in the box, but the striker pulled his effort wide of the target when he would probably have expected to have done better. Littleford again came to his side’s rescue to deny Nathan Craig, whose effort from all of thirty five yards seemed destined for the top of the net until the stopper tipped the ball over the bar. The final effort of the match came from the impressive McDaid but Littleford was again on hand to keep his team in the match until the final whistle. The Cofis deserved their victory in an entertaining match in difficult conditions and Lee Dixon’s side is now in the draw for the third round of the Welsh Cup, to be made on Monday. Supporters’ Man of the match: Lee McArdle & Carl Owen (joined). Team: Paul Pritchard, Nathan Craig, Daniel Murphy, Lee McArdle, Kevin Roberts, Steve Kehoe, Darren Thomas, Jamie McDaid, Ywain Gwynedd, Carl Owen. Subs (used): Jay Gibbs, Moses Barnett, James Bell.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Nov 2014 23:45:52 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015