Aberystwyth Town ensured they saw out a crucial victory at the bottom of the Cymru Premier, as the Seasiders overcame a relatively poor Caernarfon Town at Park Avenue.
Anthony Williams made just one change to his starting eleven against the Canaries, with TNS loanee Billy Kirkman coming into the side for Niall Flint. The full-back was suspended after picking up two yellow cards in his first game for the Seasiders against Flint Town United two weeks ago.
Caernarfon boss Huw Griffiths also made just the one change to his side from their victory over Airbus UK Broughton, with John Williams coming in for Cai Griffith, as the Canaries looked to make it two on the bounce away from home.
Another blow for Griffiths was Liverpool’s decision to recall Fidel O’Rourke, who had scored seven goals in ten games for the Canaries before heading back across the border.
It was the visitors who were on top for the first 5 minutes. Much of the play was out wide as Caernarfon looked to get crosses in Aberystwyth’s box, but were ultimately unsuccessful.
However, it would be Aber Town who would take the lead. Harry Arnison tapped home into the bottom corner, to give the Seasiders the advantage against the run of play.
Caernarfon were shocked. It took the visitors a while to start responding to going a goal down, with Aberystwyth attempting to make the most of their momentum.
It would get worse for the Canaries at Park Avenue. With just 15 minutes on the clock, midfielder Dan Gosset had to be substituted after picking up an injury which forced him out of the game. Sion Bradley took his place from the bench.
Griffiths’s side would eventually calm the game down in Mid Wales, keeping the ball well in their half whilst continuing their play down the wing. Joe Faux was causing Aber Town problems down the left, with Liam Walsh struggling to cope with the winger.
Caernarfon had a great chance with 20 minutes on the clock. A cross from the right found skipper Noah Edwards, whose shot towards the bottom corner was well saved by Aber goalkeeper Matt Turner at his near post.
Turner signed for the Seasiders at the start of the January transfer window on a loan deal from English Football League side Cardiff City.
The visitors continued to pile on the pressure in the final third, with the Canaries winning several free-kicks and corners. However, they struggled to find an end product.
Harry Arnison did well throughout the game. The 20-year-old was composed in midfield and did the basics perfectly when Aber were on the attack at Park Avenue.
Aber Town also focused their play down the wing, primarily on the right side where Jonny Evans found acres of space at times. He put in several crosses, yet was let down by his teammates who could not get on the end of his deliveries.
A small brawl led to the first bookings of the game, with Robert Hughes and Harry Arnison getting themselves in the book, with both sides earning a yellow card.
Jonny Evans joined teammate Arnison in the book, after being punished for dissent at the assistant referee.
The yellow cards kept coming in a very stop-and-start game in Aberystwyth. John Williams would be the next in the book for Caernarfon, followed by another yellow for the Canaries, with Joe Faux also receiving a booking for a push which stopped an Aber Town counter-attack.
That would be the end of the action in the first half, with Caernarfon starting on top in the second period once again.
However, after ten minutes of the second 45, it would be Aberystwyth Town with all the chances. Jack Thorn hit a perfectly hit volley from outside the box to be matched with an excellent save from goalkeeper Josh Tibbetts.
From the resulting corner, Billy Kirkman’s delivery nearly found the back of the net straight from the set-piece, with Caernarfon looking shaky at the back.
Evans would have several chances, with the Aber winger doing everything but hitting the back of the net.
The game opened up with 20 minutes to go, with Caernarfon committing bodies forward in chase of an equaliser.
However, it would get even worse for the Canaries. Joe Faux, who troubled the Seasiders all game, was sent off for a second bookable offence after a handball on the edge of the area, with Caernarfon having to play the remainder of the game with ten men.
Just when it looked as though the visitors hit rock bottom, it got even worse from the resulting free-kick. Substitute Niall Flint fired the free-kick into the bottom right corner, to give Aberystwyth Town a 2-0 advantage with just 15 minutes left to play.
The home side looked to be seeing out the game. However, it would be a nervy end to the game, as Caernarfon found a way back into the game late on. Rhys Williams rounded Aber goalkeeper Matt Turner and managed to volley into an open net from a very difficult angle, to get one back for the visitors.
However, it would be too little too late for the visitors. Aberystwyth Town did well to manage the game late on. Bringing on Mark Cadwallader turned out to be brilliant game management by Williams, with the Seasiders seeing out the win for their first three points since the end of November.
The victory takes Aberystwyth Town up to 10th, with Caernarfon Town remaining in 7th ahead of Phase Two in the Cymru Premier.
Aberystwyth Town XI: Turner, Bradford, Litchfield, Thorn, Evans (Flint 70), Lewis, Owen (Cadwallader 78), Arnison, Walsh, Canavan (Darlington 88), Kirkman
Unused subs: Edge, Horwood
Goalscorers: Arnison 8, Flint 10
Yellow Cards: Arnison 32, Evans 33
Caernarfon Town XI: Tibbetts, Cartwright, Williams, Gosset (Bradley 16, Wynne 62), Thomas, Hughes (Williams 53), Edwards, Simpson, Williams, Roberts, Faux
Unused subs: Pritchard, Bell, Marsh-Hughes, Murtas
Goalscorer: Williams 89
Yellow Cards: Hughes 32, Williams 34, Faux 38,
Red Card: Faux 76
Attendance: 344
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