In Their Own Hands....

Two matches, and two more victories, have been chalked up since the last blog and, as far as being a Caernarfon Town supporter is concerned, things could not have gone better during the past week.

The first of these successes was a hard win over our old friends from Holywell in the Huws Gray Cup and, if truth be known, the tie could have gone either way. I had been looking forward to the encounter with the Wellmen because they’re a club that, for me, will forever evoke memories of the Canaries’ treble season in 2012/13. As followers of local football may recall, John Haseldin’s side had been in the running for three trophies that season but Caernarfon had the edge on them, and proved it by winning the league, and defeating them in both the Cookson Cup final and semi-final of the FAW Trophy. The campaign itself is the subject of my Oval Ways book and anyone who has read it may have kicked up on the hint that there was no love lost between the sides at the time, especially following the league encounter at Halkyn Road at the end of the season. For anyone who wasn’t there, and wants to know more, you can read a free pdf version of the book by following the link on the home page of this blog, where the rather ill-tempered affair, and disappointing aftermath, is covered at length between pages 182-188.

Much water has passed under the bridge since that evening and, whilst I can’t comment on Holywell, I do know that the Caernarfon team these days bears little semblance, personnel wise, to the one that achieved so much back then, although it must also be said that this season’s squad, just like the 2012/13 vintage, also seems to have the golden knack of toughing out victories when not at their very best.

To be honest, Holywell are probably the last team I would have chosen as opponents so soon after the Rhayader match, where the Cofis had played with ten men for one half, and just nine players for the second period. I know that Iwan and his staff have been doing all they can to get their charges as fit as possible since they joined the club last summer and this can be seen whenever they play, but the players’ efforts at Rhayader could hardly have been the perfect way to prepare for a cup tie against such a competitive side. The visitors probably edged the play possession-wise but the Cofis have the league’s meanest defence and they again stepped up to the plate, whilst Town’s creative players again showed their quality with three excellent strikes from Toby Jones (above), Jay Gibbs and Danny Brookwell. 

Toby and Danny took their opportunities well but the pick of the goals was definitely Jay Gibb’s strike from a free kick that must have been near to thirty yards from goal. Thankfully, videos of the strike can be found on various social media and, if anything it looks even better now than it did on the night! And, just to prove how good a strike it was, even Holywell manager John Haseldin applauded it! I’m afraid I was out of position to take a decent shot of the goal, but here’s the one I got, which at the very least shows how far the ball travelled to find the net!

Jay's strike is on it's way over the Holwell wall and into the onion bag!

Talking of the Wellmen’s manager, I must admit to having exchanged a bit of banter with him after Jay’s goal, and whilst I should know better, I’m sure I’m not the first, nor last, to have had the pleasure! To be fair to him, John’s doing an excellent job with the club and has been doing so for a number of years now and whilst I would never agree with some of the comments he comes out with on the touchline, from what I’ve seen, his methods obviously work!   

So, the Canaries are in the next round of the League Cup and things are hardly going to get easier as we face Prestatyn in the semi-finals! Together with Holywell, I believe the Seasiders have been the best team to have visited the Oval this season, so it’s going to be another tough battle for the team, although I have no doubt that they’ll be up for it!

Caernarfon were back in league action on Saturday and the visit of Mold was an altogether more comfortable experience as the squad produced a stellar performance to sweep aside the Alyn Park outfit by six goals to nil.

In a match full of highlights for Caernarfon supporters, I thought one of the best moments of the afternoon was when Iwan made a double substitution during the second half. Looking over towards the bench, I saw that Kevin Lloyd and Toby Jones were entering the fray and it suddenly struck me how strong the squad is these days. Tom Taylor (left) had also joined the action early in the second period (and what a player he seems to be!) and Gareth Jones-Evans was also available, with Clive Williams and Kevin Roberts both out of action, although hopefully not for long. Iwan has assembled an impressive group of players and it’s testament to him and his staff that he’s managed to bring them all together to form such a solid unit.

Thus far, the players have passed every obstacle put in front of them, and, with just eight league fixtures remaining, and a cup semi-final, this could prove to be a very special season for the Cofis. There’s still lots of action to take before the final whistle of the campaign is blown, but it’s good to know that the players have it all in their own hands at this particular moment. 

Nearly capturing Jamie's fourth goal on my camera.  

I am, however, slightly worried about the lengths the players are going to in an effort to maintain their fitness as I caught Nathan Craig and Gareth Edwards both exercising
(left) during a brief respite in the action on saturday!

Before moving on I just have to mention that my admiration for local photographer Richard Birch increases by the week. Richard was unbelievably kind with me by offering his excellent photographs, completely free of charge, for the Oval Ways book and, as if that was not enough to impress me, I know find myself looking with envy at his weekly shots in the local, and regional newspapers. As Caernarfon’s press officer I try and take as many photos as I can at matches but find it an almost impossible task, although from time to time I manage a decent image. Camera-wise I know that I haven’t really got the tools for quality photos but another problem I have is that the club’s President, John Watkins, seems to regularly get in the way of possible attention-grabbing images. Just as an example, here’s one I took of Jamie Breese’s sixth goal on Saturday which is completely marred by Mr Watkins’ manly frame, hands aloft and right across the middle of the frame. And I have dozens of others like this too!      

I was recently invited to pop over to the Arfon Tennis Centre to watch the Caernarfon Town Academy’s Foundation Phase players being joined by first team manager Iwan Williams, club captain Grahame Austin and striker Kevin Lloyd, who were there to assist the coaches and take part in the session.  

Caernarfon's four-goal hero against Mold, Jamie Breese. 

Making the first team squad accessible to the Academy and all areas of the club and community is something Iwan strongly believes in and, having mentioned his conviction to implement a ‘One Club’ philosophy many times since he arrived at the Oval, I know he will keep to his promise in the years to come. This is something I’ll be writing about in on the club’s website and social media soon so do please keep a look out for it.

Off the field, the Caernarfon Town committee has released a statement this week whereby it is announced they are actively seeking a successor to Arfon Jones as chairman. I’m still finding it difficult to imagine the club without Arfon at the helm but this will soon be the reality and, being a member of the committee, I know how determined we all are to ensure that his successor will be  the correct person to take the Cofis forward.

It’s an important, but exciting time, for everyone interested in the Caernarfon Town and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the club, starting with Saturday’s match at Conwy.
Come on the Town!