Dragons’ unbeaten start ended at the hands of impressive Cofis
(Image: Rhys Skinner)
Caernarfon Town ended Barry Town United’s unbeaten start to the Cymru Premier season with a resounding victory at The Oval.
The Canaries were full value for their victory as they put Barry to the sword with a fine attacking display.
Gruffydd John, Sion Bradley and Nathan Craig all scored in the second-half after Kayne McLaggon cancelled out Darren Thomas’ eighth minute opener.
Gavin Chesterfield’s arm was twisted in his team selection with Clayton Green, George Ratcliffe and Sion Spence absent from the trip to North Wales after defeating Airbus last week.
Caernarfon showed their attacking intentions early on as they passed the ball about nicely as they put some early pressure on Barry.
Darren Thomas – dubbed the Cofi Messi for his exploit – opened the scoring as his trickling shot went under stand-in goalkeeper Mike Lewis, following a flowing move.
Barry in search of an equaliser were angered not to win a penalty as Kayne McLaggon went down under the challenge of Ryan Williams.
They were given a penalty eventually as Momodou Touray was tripped. McLaggon scoring his eighth goal of the season sent Ramsay the wrong way.
McLaggon’s leveller derailed Caernarfon’s early start as the hosts began to lose their control of the game.
Caernarfon retook the lead from a set piece. A corner-kick from Craig was poorly punched by Lewis, allowing Gruffydd John to head home.
The Gwynedd club then had a penalty as Chris Hugh slid in on Darren Thomas. Spot-kick specialist Nathan Craig sent Lewis in the wrong direction as his calmly taken penalty beat the goalkeeper.
Having nullified most opposition attackers for the first 11 games, Barry’s defence was being unscrewed as Caernarfon took an assailable lead through Sion Bradley.
Bradley’s heavily-deflected shot rocketed into the net with Lewis in the Barry goal powerless to stop it going in.
Danny Brookwell and Jamie Breese both went close to a fifth but Lewis kept the scoreline down with some reactive saves.
A positive from what was a miserable afternoon for Barry was the introduction of academy product Jack Pascoe who made his first Cymru Premier appearance.
The win sees Caernarfon close the gap on Barry to three points, extending their home unbeaten run, whilst bringing to an end Barry’s unbeaten league run, inflicting Barry’s heaviest league defeat since April.
Caernarfon Town: Alex Ramsay, Nathan Craig, Gareth Edwards (C), Jamie Breese, Darren Thomas, Danny Brookwell (Sam Jones 86), Gruffydd John (Joe Williams 80), Ryan Williams, Sion Bradley, Cai Jones, Leo Smith
Barry Town United: Mike Lewis, Chris Hugh, Luke Cooper (C), (Jack Pascoe 83), Curtis Watkins, Kayne McLaggon (Eli Phipps 73), Drew Fahiya (Jack Compton 67), Luke Cummings, Jon Hood, Keyon Reffell, Momodou Touray, Evan Press
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(Featured Image: Rhys Skinner)
