A late Billy Borge own goal secured all three points for Caernarfon at The Oval. Huw Griffiths’ side deserved their victory however had to rely on a Penybont mistake to break the deadlock.
The home side had missed numerous chances during the game to open the scoring however a last minute own goal meant a frustrating afternoon turned into a very good one.
Penybont had a blow before kick-off as Rhys Griffiths pulled up injured and to be replaced by Ben Ahmun. Caernarfon started the game on the front foot. The home side dominated possession and looked bright. However their spell of possession wasn’t matched with clear cut chances. Sion Bradley and Darren Thomas not making the most of half chances. Penybont had a clear gameplan which was to counter attack. 17 year old Tom Tweedy was very impressive in his first away start in the JD Cymru Premier.
It was the away side who should have opened the scoring. Tweedy found himself in space on the left hand side and put in a beautiful cross, on the end of the cross should have been Kostya Georgievsky however he missed his shot with the goal at his mercy. In the 18th minute, Penybont had a penalty.
Kai Whitmore who worked brilliantly all game was brought down in the area and the ref awarded a penalty. Sam Snaith took the spot kick and was denied by a brilliant Jakub Orzynski save. The young Polish keeper doing well to get down to his left and tip the ball onto the post.
Snaith once again hit the post in the first half as he headed against the woodwork from a corner. Penybont gradually grew into the game during the first half. Caernarfon had chances but nothing to trouble Ashley Morris in the visiting goal and we went into the half deadlocked at 0-0.
The second half started much like the first. Caernarfon dominating possession however not creating anything of note with it. It took until the 55th minute for something meaningful from the home side. Faux using his pace down the wing and finding Noah Edwards unmarked in the box, but his shot was cleared off the line.
Minutes later, Caernarfon should have been ahead. A wonderful ball from Aaron Simpson found Joe Faux in acres of space. Faux drove into the box and his pull-back found Darren Thomas on the edge. Thomas’ strike nicked the post as it went wide with the Caernarfon man opting to go for the top corner. In the 68th minute Caernarfon had another glorious chance.
A missplaced Sam Snaith back pass put substitute Mike Hayes through on goal. Hayes only had Ashley Morris to beat however his strike was straight at the veteran keeper. Hayes had another opportunity on the rebound and inexplicably fired wide of the goal. A five minute spell where the home side should have scored twice but Penybont were still in it.
Huw Griffiths gave young Fabrizio Murtas his debut as Caernarfon tried to nick it at the death. It took until the last minute of normal time for the breakthrough. Caernarfon huffed and puffed all game and it took an own goal to finally break the deadlock.
A corner swung in from the left caused chaos in the box and it was the unfortunate Kostya Georgievsky who was on the end of it and headed it into his own net. Caernarfon held out for what was a deserved three points. Huw Griffiths’ side were better in possession all game and looked the better side going forward.
Rhys Griffiths would have been disappointed with the manner of the defeat. However the Penybont manager would have been proud of his players today for their workrate throughout the ninety minutes. Next up for Caernarfon is another home game on Easter Monday against second placed Bala Town while Penybont welcome Flint to the SDM Glass Stadium as they look to turn around their atrocious phase 2 form.
That victory pushes Caernarfon up to fourth place while Penybont stay fifth before Easter Monday’s fixtures as the season nears its end.
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