Both teams came into the game on the back of weekend defeats and were gunning for the three points, Caernarfon had come into the game on the back of two defeats while Flint narrowly lost out to Barry Town last time out. The game also marked the return of Nathan Craig, a hero for many years for the ‘Cofi Army’ and he made his return to The Oval for the first time since his summer departure to The Silkmen. New signing Les Davies was not available for Flint as he wasn’t registered in time for the game.
The home side started the contest brightly with Paulo Mendes making himself known to the Flint backline, the first effort of the game came from Mendes himself but his effort was easily blocked by Ben Nash. Caernarfon did find the net early in the game however Cai Jones’ effort was denied as linesman’s flag was raised for offside. In the early goings, Caernarfon dominated possession and were always testing the Silkmen’s backline, however the visitors always looked dangerous on the counter, Conor Harwood and Rob Hughes were always involved in any visiting attack but whenever they did get forward, Josh Tibbets was untested. The first quarter of the game belonged to the home side, Sion Bradley making a nuisance of himself anytime he got the ball and was giving Nathan Craig a testing time on his return to The Oval. The first big chance of the game came just before the 20th minute mark as good work from Bradley saw the ball find it’s way to Cai Jones, his shot was blocked but the ball found it’s way to Paulo Mendes and his effort from close range produced a wonderful save from John Danby. The Flint defense were struggling to contain the forward play of Mendes and Bradley and a few minutes later, Danby was on hand again to deny Bradley after a wonderful run from the winger saw him one on one with the keeper. The resulting corner found it’s way to Noah Edwards, however his effort was way off the radar and sailed over.
Just before the thirty minute mark, the Cofis should’ve taken the lead as Mendes again troubled the Flint defence with a run to the byline, his ball across the face of goal found it’s way to Mike Hayes who looked certain to score, but the striker got his feet all tangled up with the goal at his mercy and his mis-controlled shot was cleared away by the visitors. Flint were trying to assert themselves in the game and were given a chance as Conor Harwood was fouled in a dangerous position and Wes Baynes was given an opportunity to trouble the home side’s backline but the free-kick was easily cleared. As the first half came to it’s conclusion, the home-side were sloppy in possession at the back and Joe Williams was dispossessed by Nathan Brown, who found Darren Thornton who unleashed a ferocious strike but Josh Tibbets was on hand to produce a fine save. Five minutes before the half-time whistle, the away side should’ve seen themselves reduced to 10 men, after a long ball from Ryan Williams was on it’s way to Mike Hayes who was only denied a one-on-one with Danby by a blatant handball by Ben Nash, the referee deemed it to be only a yellow, but the home side felt hard done by the fact they weren’t playing against 10. Shortly after a defensive yellow, Flint’s attacking options saw themselves earn a yellow after a Conor Harwood dive after he tried to win a penalty off of Josh Tibbets. Half-time came with the scoreline 0-0, with the away side happier to come off the pitch all level as Caernarfon had dominated possession without really troubling Danby enough in goal.
Caernarfon made a half-time change as Asa Hamilton came on to replace Mike Hayes who looked to be suffering with his hamstring during the first half. Flint came out much brighter for the second half and two minutes in, they should’ve led, Rob Hughes’ pass found Conor Harwood, he found himself one on one with Josh Tibbets but dragged his shot wide with Nathan Brown free in the middle for a certain tap-in but Harwood elected to go alone which in hindsight probably wasn’t the right choice. Nathan Craig wasn’t as effective as he’d hoped in the game but did get a shot in, but he was easy pickings for Tibbets who gathered easily. As both sides were trying to break the deadlock, the game opened up, Flint who were much improved from the first half enjoyed success down the left as Callum Bratley was constantly testing and threatening Sam Jones and Noah Edwards down that side of the pitch. Edwards himself was also getting more involved in the attacking side of the home side’s game as the game continued. The combination of Rob Hughes and Callum Bratley proved dividence for the visitors as both carved out chances for themselves with the latter getting closest, with a curling effort that was just off the mark. As the game reached the 70th minute mark, the game opened up, Noah Edwards seeing an effort saved while Flint mixed things up with Mark Cadwallader being brought on in place of Nathan Brown.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 74th minute, Sion Bradley with great work down the right hand side, continuing to test former Cofis left-back Nathan Craig and often getting the better of him. Bradley’s cross found Edwards who’s shot from 25 yards was more of a pass than a shot, found it’s way to Paulo Mendes who found space in the area and he made no mistake as he slotted it past Danby to make 1-0 to the Cofis. They say goals change games, but two in quick succession will certainly do that. Caernarfon again making in-roads through the Flint midfield and a delightful ball from Mendes cut through the Silkmen’s defence and found Cai Jones and he made no mistake, finishing cooly past Danby and all of a sudden Caernarfon found themselves in a comfortable 2-0 lead with less than 15 minutes to go. The home side struggled to open up the Flint defence for most of the game but found the key to unlock it through Sion Bradley who was a constant threat, Noah Edwards nearly made it three after good work from the winger but his effort was fired narrowly wide. Flint nearly found themselves back in the game five minutes from time as Ben Nash found himself furtherst forward but his header wasn’t enough to substanially trouble Tibbets. Just before we hit the 90th minute mark, Flint found themselves with a glimmer of hope as a cross was half cleared by the home side’s defence and Richie Foulkes was on hand to rifle the ball into the net, his strike from the edge of the area going in off the post and suddenly Flint had a chance.
The home side worked the clock down and Flint were’t able to carve out any more opportunites and Caernarfon won 2-1, a much needed three points for the home side after two consecutive defeats and they’ll be going down to Cardiff MET at the weekend with confidence. Flint gave it their all in the efforts to win a point but weren’t successful and face another tough test at the weekend as the face The New Saints. Caernarfon fully deserving the three points with Sion Bradley and Paulo Mendes particularly impressive.
See how Caernarfon Town defeated Flint Town United at The Oval here:
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