Prestatyn, Departures and Photos.

There can be only one place to start the new year, this being the team’s impressive 2-1 victory over Prestatyn in the first match of 2016.

It’s been a few days the encounter with our fellow title hopefuls but I’m still as excited now as I was at the final whistle on saturday! If I had to choose three words to describe the match they would be pulsating, squeaky and bum.

I had been looking forward to my first visit to the Motion Finance Stadium for some time, although I can now say it had not been without a little trepidation. When the teams had met at the Oval back in August I think it’s fair to say that Prestatyn all but played Caernarfon off the park. We had shown glimpses of real class in possession but had been bettered by a team that looked stronger and faster than us on the day. Much has happened since then, of course, but I have no doubt that Prestatyn are the best team we have faced this season. With this in mind, and despite the fact that the Canaries have been in imperious form for most of the past four months, the pessimist (or should that be Caernarfon Town fan?) in me feared a repeat of that early setback could be on the cards.

Iwan took advantage of a break in play
to change to a diamond formation.

It goes without saying that I have every confidence in Iwan and his players but, twenty minutes into  Saturday’s match I wondered if we were in for another bad day at the hands of the Seasiders as the home side started superbly and had gone ahead with an early goal. They seemed to be on top of Caernarfon in midfield, with Michael Parker very impressive in pushing his team on.  Thankfully, there was a break in play half way through the half and this gave Iwan an opportunity to gather his midfield players together and slightly change their roles. In his post-match comments, the manager mentioned changing the formation to a diamond in order to get tighter to their opponents and whilst I think I know what he means (!) whatever he told the players seemed to do the trick as the game changed for the better for everyone of a Caernarfon persuasion.

Nathan being congratulated by his team mates. 

Nathan Craig’s leveller, from a corner, was one of those goals where you see the ball hitting the back of the net, but it takes a split second for it to register! Only Nathan himself will know if he meant to score but what I do know is that if he told me he did, I would believe him! He really is that good, and I agree with Iwan’s comments this week that he is one of the best players in Wales.

After his obscene drag back for the winner, Prestatyn
put three players on Ellis Healing!

The winner from Ellis Healing was a very different type of goal, but equally as good, where Caernarfon showed their quality as a team. Some slick passing between Jamie Breese, Nathan and Rob Jones saw the ball on the edge of the penalty area and at the feet of Darren Thomas. The little magician’s pass into the six yard area to Ellis Healing was as delightful as the goal itself. Ellis played the old ‘drag-back’ trick on his marker before tucking the ball into the onion bag and the way he beat his marker reminded me of how kids play in the schoolyard before some overbearing ‘little Fergie’ try and coach their natural talents out of them. I have mentioned in the past that Ellis could pass as an Adam Lallana lookalike but, due to the way he's been playing recently I was say that Lallana is now in danger of being known as the poor man's Ellis Healing! 

Whilst the second half was not exactly a re-run of ‘The Alamo’ it was still very much a case of the Canaries soaking up lots of pressure and hitting Prestatyn on the break. Having said this, although the hosts enjoyed lots of possession I think their keeper probably made more saves than Paul Pritchard after the break. And talking of ‘Pritch’, he was magnificent on the day, pulling off half a dozen top class days and proving once again why he is so highly rated, even if his kits are just a bit suspect!

Cofis Number One, Paul Pritchard,
was in imperious form.

So, a very enjoyable first visit to the Motion Finance Stadium that ended perfectly as the victory saw Caernarfon return to the top of the league, albeit on goal difference over Cefn Druids. The only downside was that I couldn’t manage much by way of decent photographs. I used the best two, both of the manager, on the club’s website and, just to ensure that my efforts were not entirely in vain, I’m including them here. As you can see, they’re not the best!

The first week of the new year has not just been about Saturday’s victory however, as we have also seen the departure of two players from the squad, although it seems that only one of them has left on a permanent basis.

There was some talk amongst the supporters at the Prestatyn match about Jamie McDaid’s decision to leave the club. Everyone loves to see the best local players in the team and Jamie certainly fitted the bill. However, he has decided to try his luck at another club and although I’m disappointed that he’s leaving there can be no doubt that he does so having made his mark in the side, certainly last season when he was the team’s top netfinder. I have always find him to be a nice guy so hope he does well wherever he ends up and I’m pleased to hear that he will still be helping Nathan with his  Football in the Community work.

The other player to have left recently is James Bell, although I believe this is due to him needing minutes on the pitch rather than anything else.  James started the season really well  (and who could forget his man of the match performance against WPL side Bala in the Word Cup?) but has had a few niggly injuries and it makes sense for him to go to another team to gain match fitness. Iwan has spoken many times about how much he rates the young playmaker and I’m sure he’ll be back in the yellow shirt very soon. The fact that he’ll be looked after by former Caernarfon player Warren Gibbs will also mean he will taken care of properly which must have been a factor in the move.

Last season, Town’s challenge for the Cymru Alliance League title floundered during a patchy January when the side lost ground on the front runners after some
disappointing results. If the Canaries are  to mount a serious title challenge this time around, it will be important for the side to keep up the momentum built over an unbeaten run of ten league matches which dates back to September.

This is easier said than done, however, and looking at our fixtures this month, it’s not going to be easy. Flint, Guilsfield and Porthmadog will all be visiting the Oval in January whilst there is also an intriguing trip to Cefn Druids to look forward to. That old cliché about there being no easy matches these days is certainly true for this league! 

Before finishing, it was great to hear that the Caernarfon Town family received a new addition on Boxing Day. Huge congratulations to our Number One Paul Pritchard and his partner Ceri on the  birth of their daughter Elia Beth and we look forward to seeing Elia at the Oval soon. 

Paul.