Aberystwyth Town 0-1 Caernarfon Town: Daren Thomas returns to Park Avenue to net winner

Darren Thomas returned to Park Avenue to score the only goal as Caernarfon Town defeated Aberystwyth Town 1-0 in the Cymru Premier

The Caernarfon captain smashed a first-half strike past Gregor Zabret against the run of play after good work from stand out Cofi’s man Rob Hughes.

Aberystwyth dominated much of the game’s possession to little avail and found themselves profligate in the final third. Caernarfon defended resolutely and did not look under pressure for much of the match.

Huw Griffiths’ side remain in fourth place in the Cymru Premier, and sit only one point behind third placed Flint Town whom they host on Tuesday. Aberystwyth slide into the relegation zone after their sixth loss of the season.

The home side started the game on the front foot and breached the Cofi’s defence in only three minutes. Harry Franklin outmuscled Aaron Simpson to go one on one with Tyler French but a lack of composure caused him to miss the target under pressure.

Caernarfon would break the deadlock after being under constant Aber pressure with half an hour gone. Rob Hughes stole the ball in midfield and surged towards the box. Darren Thomas made a terrific run to find space out on the right and when found by Hughes lashed the ball into the back of the net.

Aberystwyth applied the pressure to try and find the equaliser with Jamie Veale’s 25-yard drive dipping just wide of the post the closest of the half. Alex Darlington would see his 30-yard strike tipped over by French but Aber could not force any meaningful opportunity until just before halftime.

The golden chance would fall to Louis Bradford who came within inches of drawing his life level. A spell of head tennis from a long throw found Bradford in the middle of the box who controlled the ball on the bounce and placed a shot past the stranded French onto the bar and then back off the line.

In the second half, Caernarfon began to break with more regularity and a free-flowing move should have made it two. Noah Edwards chipped a cross towards Darren Thomas who was free in the box. His header was straight at Zabret and the visitors should really have doubled their lead.

Midway through the half Aberystwyth almost gifted Caernarfon a second goal. A mix-up in defence between Rimmer and Davies allows Hayes to tackle and race through on goal. The attacker tried to slide the ball under the on-rushing Zabret but was thwarted by the Slovenian.

Aberystwyth would continue to threaten with a series of long-range shots but Caernarfon would not be under pressure for the remainder of the match. Aaron Simpson was impressed with a couple of strong challenges and the introduction of Steve Evans saw the former Welsh international dominate the box in the last few minutes.

The final whistle blew and added more pressure onto struggling Aber boss Antonio Corbisiero. The Seasiders slump into the bottom two and already look to be in for a fight for survival.

Despite dominating the vast majority of the game they could not find a way through the Cofi’s defence and a series of bad decisions in the final third contributed to their profligatation.

Raul Correia was booked for persistent diving in the first half and led the way for a poor afternoon from the attackers in green.

Aberystwyth Town: Gregor Zabret (GK), Jack Rimmer, Louis Bradford, Lee Jenkins, Jack Thorn (C), Matthew Jones, Jamie Veale, Harry Franklin, Sam Phillips (David Evans 66’), Raul Correia, Alex Darlington (Rhys Davies 66’)

Yellow cards: Jack Rimmer 6’, Raul Correia 39’, Jack Thorn 63’

Caernarfon Town: Tyler French (GK), Iwan Cartwright, Josh Bailey, Gruffydd Williams, Mike Hayes (Gwion Dafydd 90+2’), Darren Thomas, Rob Hughes (Steve Evans 90’), Noah Edwards, Aaron Simpson, Cai Jones, Bobby Beaumont

Goal: Darren Thomas 15’

Yellow cards: Tyler French 18’, Iwan Cartwright 31’, Rob Hughes 32’

(Pic By John Smith/FAW)