Cefn Druids 1-2 Caernarfon Town: Cofis recover from heavy defeat to beat Ancients
Caernarfon Town bounced back from a heavy defeat to defeat the Cefn Druids 2-1 at The Rock.
First-half goals from Cai Jones and Mike Hayes saw Huw Griffiths claim a victory over his former employers.
A goal from Aaron Simpson late on provided a bit of a scare for the Canaries but ultimately the Druids were futile in their efforts for an equaliser.
Bruno Lopes’ remains without a home win at The Rock, meanwhile Caernarfon bounce back from a 6-0 defeat to Penybont on the weekend.
Caernarfon started the game the brighter, looking like a team with something to prove. Early chances for the Cofis fell to Paulo Mendes and Darren Thomas who were able to break from midfield with regularity. Yet both defences stood firm.
The first real chance of the match fell to Caernarfon’s Mike Hayes after Noah Edwards’ deflected shot had ricocheted to him in the penalty area. But his instinctive header was well saved by Druids keeper Mike Jones to keep the score level.
The breakthrough came on the half hour mark as Caernarfon took a deserved lead. Sion Bradley’s pressing allowed him to dispossess Phil Mooney and charge into the Druids box, before squaring the ball to Cai Jones to tap in the opener.
Cefn Druids almost managed an immediate response when left back Naim Arsan found himself with a sight at goal. But two smart saves from Josh Tibbetts, the second from an acrobatic Arsan effort, kept the Druids’ at bay.
The Cofis lead was then doubled when Darren Thomas, now imposing himself on the game, played a delicate through ball to Hayes who managed to prod the ball into the empty Druids net after his initial shot was saved by Jones.
It was Cefn Druids who had the better of the game after the break. Iwan Cartwright was able to find space out on the right, and his inviting cross was volleyed just past the post by Cody Ruberto.
But Caernarfon were still proving to be a danger and came close to wrapping up the points just past the hour mark. A wonderful run by Hayes down the left hand byline saw him beat three Druids defenders before rolling the ball to the unmarked Sion Bradley at the back post, whose effort crashed off the bar.
Niall Flint’s running proved to be the spark that allowed Druids back into the game. His running down the right was a thorn in Caernarfon’s side and yielded a freekick with 20 minutes to go. Aaron Simpson’s powerful header at the back post from Charley Edge’s set piece gave life to the home side and a way back into the tie.
The momentum was now firmly with the Ancients. Aziamale and Mooney both spurned chances before Simpson was denied a second headed goal when his header bounced off the woodwork and over.
Druids however were not able to turn any of their impetus into an equaliser as they became increasingly more frustrated in the last ten minutes. The last of the chances would fall to Caernarfon when the impressive Telor Williams, surging forward from left back, clipped the ball onto the bar with little over five minutes left.
The win keeps Caernarfon in eighth but eases any concerns about a further slide down the division. Druids meanwhile remain in 12th position and are now without a win in five.
Cefn Druids: Mike Jones, Naim Arsan, Josh Green, Phil Mooney, Aaron Simpson, Jamie Reed (Cody Ruberto 55’) , Alex Darlington, Iwan Cartwight, Joe Faux (Christoph Aziamale 18’), Jacob Wise (Niall Flint 49’), Charley Edge
Goal: Aaron Simpson 71’
Yellow Cards: Charley Edge 20’, Phil Mooney 45’, Cody Ruberto 74’, Niall Flint 80’, Iwan Cartwright 90’
Caernarfon Town: Josh Tibbetts, Joe Williams, Sion Bradley, Paulo Mendes (Jamie Crowther 80’), Mike Hayes, Darren Thomas, Noah Edwards, Ryan Williams, Telor Williams, Cai Jones (Jack Kenny 88’), Mike Parker
Goals: Cai Jones 32’, Mike Hayes 40’
Yellow Cards: Ryan Williams 14’, Cai Jones 52’, Joe Williams 74’
Recap with our live blog below:
