I’ve just realised that February marked six years
since the club was saved from folding by Arfon Jones and the committee. And
here we are, two thirds of the way through the team’s third season in the Cymru
Alliance League and top of the table with just ten matches to go. Ten cup
finals from reaching our dream of getting the club back to the Welsh Premier
League. I had better not pinch myself in case I wake up….
Of course, if someone had offered me this position at
the beginning of the season I would have jumped at it and yet there’s a part of
me that is trying not to think too much about what might be at the end of the
season. There’s a famous old adage in football that I think is probably the
best, and soundest advice in the game: To take one match at a time. It’s
meaning is obvious and sensible, but just how hard is it as a supporter to not to look further ahead and imagine what lies ahead?!
Try as I might to adhere to the saying, I just can’t
help but thinking about the remaining matches we have in the league. Caernarfon
are four points ahead of second-placed Cefn Druids, and although they do have
one match in hand we still have to visit the Rock to face Huw Griffiths’ side.
This, of course, means that the title is in the Cofis’ own hands which is all
we could ask for.
And, having seen Town’s recent victory over Holyhead
on Saturday, I think we have a real chance of going all the way!
However, before looking at the fine
victory over the Harbourmen I think it’s worth taking a quick backwards
glance at last week’s abandoned match with Caersws.
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| Seamus O’Shaunessy? |
First of all, I must confess to being happy that
the referee called the match off when he did. The worsening weather was making it increasingly dangerous
for the players, not to mention making it impossible for them to play. On a
personal, and selfish note, I also feared that continuing with the match may
have cost us points as it had all the hallmarks of a goalless draw. Town always
try to play the ball on the ground but it had become impossible to do this from
the opening ten minutes onwards and, whilst not wanting to be dismissive of
Caersws, I always feel that such bad conditions can be a great leveller between
teams and I could see them possibly earning a point by sticking every player
behind the ball and working hard to frustrate Town.
Interestingly, after Buckley had used Patrick
Kielty in goal against us the previous week, Caersws decided on a guest
goalkeeper of their own, somehow persuading professional wrestler Seamus O’Shaunessy
to help out. This didn’t seem to phase Jamie Breese though, as he clearly wasn’t
about to back away from any confrontation, as seen in the photo to the left.
I had not originally planned to write a match report
for the website as it would obviously be a non-event in the record books, and
to be honest there was not too much to report on! However, I ended up completing
one and, although it won’t mean much to anyone else, I have to add to the
report that my man of the match was Toby Jones. Toby has had to bide his time
on the bench since returning to the club recently and was obviously chomping at
the bit against Caersws, and it showed! The heavy, and wet, pitch don’t really
suit Toby’s style of play and yet I thought he stood out on the day, and was
looking lively in the attacking third of the pitch. We all know how good Toby
can be, and I am sure it’s only a matter of time before he starts getting back
on the score sheet.
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| The pen-pic is on it's way, Gaz.... |
It was obviously disappointing that the weather
spoiled, and ended, the match but it was certainly the correct call from the
ref and the biggest disappointment of the day for me was the injuries sustained
by Clive Williams and Kevin Lloyd. I spoke with them both on Saturday and they
hope to return to the squad very soon, which is a relief, as we’ll need all the
players available for the remainder of the season.
Before moving on, I must own up to a slightly worrying
moment when Gareth Edwards told me he had a bone to pick with me. The object of
his discontent was that he’d been reading the match programme and noticed his
pen pic had not been included with the remainder of the squad. Gaz is an
imposing figure at around 6’5” and, to be perfectly honest, I was already
thinking of a quick retreat when I took a leaf out of every football manager
and politIcians’ book and passed the blame on to someone else, in this case the
club secretary, Geraint Jones. Thankfully, I saw a hint of a smile on Gareth’s
face as I stumbled out my excuses and can only say that we’ll have to put the
record straight and make sure it’s in the programme from now on!
And so, onto Saturday’s excellent performance against
a dogged Holyhead side at the Oval.
Recent encounters against Hotspur have been very
tight affairs with draws and odd-goal victories the norm, and there was no
reason to expect anything different on Saturday. For once against the Harbourmen
though I always had the feeling
Caernarfon would be too strong for them. That’s not to take anything away from
Holyhead as I think they’re a very competitive side with great organisation
throughout the team. And, in Carl Jones, they have one of the league’s top
stoppers in goal. Watching the keeper partaking in some banter with the
supporters behind his goal can also be great fun, although things do tend to get a bit
heated at times!
On the day, however the Canaries were too good for
them, despite what I thought was a concentrated effort by the visitors to try
and bully Town out of their usual playing style. They were a real physical
challenge for Caernarfon but, not for the first time this season, the players
refused to be give an inch and got their just rewards.
Holyhead seemed content to sit back in their own
half and wait to counter-attack in search of finding a goal which I think is
slightly negative but they’re good at playing this way so who can blame them?
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| Jay Gibbs was excellent against Holyhead. |
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| Still friends. |
Iwan made four changes to his starting line-up and
whilst one returnee, Darren Thomas, was named the supporters man of the match,
it was Nathan Craig who got the vote from me. With Chris Williams having
returned to action in the left-back berth, Nathan was given a more advanced
role on the left side, and his deliveries from that position, were excellent.
The fact that he provided assists for both goals on Saturday speaks for itself and
I would agree with Iwan’s post-match assertion that, technically, he's the best player in the league'. Nathan is
enjoying another impressive season for the team and, in addition to his
numerous assist during the campaign he’s also chipped in with nine league
goals! A special mention to Jay Gibbs too, who played as well as I've seen him this season against his former club.
Talking of the manager, he was on the end of some
banter from the chairman before the match and was even reminded by Arfon that
he still has Lee Dixon’s phone number just in case things start going wrong on
the pitch! Thankfully, they were still on speaking terms even after this
threat, as seen in the photo above!
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| Ready to play in his skins. |
Although the rain kept clear on Saturday, it was
still bitterly cold at the Oval and everyone, apart from Kevin Roberts, felt
it. Town’s bone-crunching midfielder, however, is made of sterner stuff than
all of us mere mortals, and was ready to play in his boxer shorts until the
manager sent him back to the changing rooms to put his kit on! Kevin wisely
took his advice but I’ve been told he wasn’t too happy about it….
I saw Grahame Austin after the match and he told me
that he’d struggled to get back to his position for the restart after scoring
his goal which, to be honest, had been apparent to everyone in the ground. To
be fair to the captain however, he had also been bear hugged by Superfan John Watkins
during the celebrations and this would have taken the breath out of anyone, so
he’s excused this time around!
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| Grahame Austin celebrates his goal against Holyhead. |
A two hour drive awaits us on Saturday as the team
travels to Rhayader and, whilst not looking forward to the journey, I can’t
wait to see the team in action again. I’ve only been to their Weirglodd Ground
once before, being the final match of last season, and I thought it had a
certain charm. I don’t think I’m wrong
in saying that the stands have seen better days, but it’s a nice setting and everyone
was very welcoming, apart from one or two spectators who Grahame Austin had to
put in their place during the match!
We won that match 2-0 and I’m sure we’d all settle
for the same result this time around.
Come on the Town!
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