Barry Town United 1-3 Caernarfon Town: Mike Hayes brace sends Canaries into play-off final

Caernarfon Town booked their place in the Europa Conference League Play-Off Final with a 3-1 victory over Barry Town at Jenner Park.

A brace from striker Mike Hayes, either side of Gareth Edwards’ own goal gave the Canaries the advantage.

Despite the Linnets’ search for an equaliser, Caernarfon added a third in injury time through Jake Bickerstaff to seal their place in the final.

Huw Griffiths’ side will now face either Penybont or Newtown, who compete in tomorrow’s semi-final.

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Both sides started positively and looked to get in behind, as an intricate move saw Luke Cummings have space to deliver towards striker Nat Jarvis, but Tyler French gathered well.

Caernarfon Town striker Jack Kenny got the wrong side of Linnets defender Kyle Patten to fire a low cross into the box, which just evaded Sion Bradley at the back post.

After a lively start, an opportunity fell for the Cofis, as Hayes crossed well from the right, with Kenny’s header at goal well saved by Mike Lewis.

The visitors had a positive spell of pressure and forced the best chance of the early proceedings, as Bradley was found in space in the box, but fired narrowly wide.

Industrious midfielder Paulo Mendes tried his luck from the edge of the area but failed to trouble Lewis in the Linnets goal.

Chesterfield’s side responded well however and went close to an opening goal, with defender Kyle Patten heading agonisingly wide from David Cotterill’s corner.

In a competitive opening period, the contest sparked into life shortly before half-time, as Caernarfon Town took the lead in the 40^th minute.

After Darren Thomas’ initial effort was well saved by Lewis, Hayes was rewarded for his tireless work, with the rebound falling to the striker who he fired emphatically home for the opening goal.

The Linnets responded excellently however, as they were behind for just four minutes.

Cotterill’s dangerous corner delivery was met by Evan Press, whose header at goal was deflected into the net from Edwards for a swift equaliser.

After a frantic end to the first-half, both sides went into the break with the scores level.

Caernarfon Town started the second-half on the front foot and were rewarded for doing so, as they regained the lead in the 49^th minute.

Hayes beat the offside trap and raced through, before lifting the ball over Lewis for his second goal of the evening.

In a positive spell for the visitors, Griffiths’ side could have gone further ahead, as midfielder Noah Edwards fired a terrific effort from distance, which Lewis tipped onto the woodwork.

The Linnets grew into the second period and went close to an equaliser, with Cotterill crossing for Rhys Kavanagh, who headed wide of the post.

Griffiths’ men continued to pose a danger on the counter however, as Thomas forced a smart save out of Lewis.

As Barry committed bodies forward, space was left in behind for the Canaries to exploit, as Hayes raced through for a glorious chance to complete his hat-trick, only to fire over.

In search of an equaliser, Chesterfield turned to his bench and his substitutions almost paid dividends, as Josh Graham found space in the box, but fired wide of the post.

In the dying minutes, substitute Bickerstaff beat the offside trap and raced through to add a third and seal the Canaries’ victory.

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Barry Town: Mike Lewis, Chris Hugh, Luke Cooper, Nat Jarvis (Josh Graham 65’), David Cotterill, Luke Cummings (Callum Sainty 65’), Theo Wharton (Kayne McLaggon 75’), Rhys Kavanagh, Kyle Patten, Clayton Green © (Robbie Patten 65’), Evan Press

Goals: Gareth Edwards 44′

Yellow Cards: Clayton Green 15’, Rhys Kavanagh 62’

Caernarfon Town: Tyler French, Joseph Williams, Gareth Edwards, Malandjou Kondjo, Sion Bradley, Paulo Mendes, Mike Hayes (Cai Jones 89’), Darren Thomas, Noah Edwards, Jack Kenny (Jake Bickerstaff 85’), Max Cleworth

Goals: Mike Hayes 41’, 49’, Jake Bickerstaff 90’

Yellow Cards: Noah Edwards 40’

Re-live the action from Jenner Park with our blog:

(Featured Image: Mike James)