A tough schedule and Cofis devastating at the Rock.

I’ll be honest and admit that last week’s blog was the toughest thing I have had to write but failing to address such a difficult time for the club was not an option and before carrying on I want to make it clear that I hope I did not offend anyone when discussing the domestic licence failure. I know that the club’s Board is already working hard with Iwan and the Canaries Club to put into place a structure to move us forward and it’s exciting to see how things are progressing behind the scenes. With a bit of luck there will be a number of positive press statements coming from the Oval over the next weeks that will prove this, and hopefully help us kick-start the next phase in the club’s resurrection.    

Having finished the last blog by mentioning how impressively Iwan and the squad had played in defeating Llanfair United just two days after receiving the disappointing licence news I can’t wait now to turn my attention to the players’ unstoppable march to a league and cup double, although it will take a second blog to cover the final three matches of the campaign. 

The Cofis had three more league matches, and up to two cup encounters to play following the 6-1 victory over Llanfair and, on paper, it looked a tough schedule. The powers that be at the Cymru Alliance League had, for some reason, decided that the final sequence of matches would start with encounters against Prestatyn, Cefn Druids and Holywell in the space of six days which I thought was a bit much when considering that both the league title and league cup were at stake. All three outfits are strong, physical sides that had already given Town tough matches earlier in the season, so the schedule promised to be another big test of the players physical and mental strength but, as ever, their response was magnificent.  

First up was the league cup semi-final at home to Prestatyn. In my opinion, the Seasiders have been the best side to have visited the Oval all season and it’s been a mystery to me why they've been languishing in mid-table for most of the campaign. They were superb when defeating us on their last visit to the ground back in August but a lot of football has been played since then and, in all honesty, this encounter was a very different affair to that earlier clash. Although Caernarfon were made to work hard for the 2-0 verdict, I still thought the side was comfortable for large periods of the game and had a gear up the sleeve if ever it was needed. The victory was secured with goals from Jay Gibbs and Jamie Breese and if ever one player has improved over the course of a season, it’s Jay. I know I'm repeating what I've already said in earlier blogs but the midfielder has been outstanding this season and especially so since January. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the team’s run of sixteen successive victories at the end of the campaign has coincided with his impressive form and in addition to his all-round game, he’s also proved to be something of a free-kick specialist, finding the net on numerous occasions with his set piece efforts over the past months.

Jay Gibbs added another superb free kick goal against Prestatyn to his ever expanding list of netfinders.

The team has scored many spectacular goals this season and I decided a few weeks ago to introduce an award for the ‘Goal of the Season’. Just a few days before the Prestatyn tie I had asked supporters, through social media platforms, to vote for their goal of the season and whilst everyone who supports the Canaries will know that Nathan Craig was the recipient of the award, I don’t think it will come as a surprise that Jay featured in the list of goalscorers more than once and, on the way out of the ground after the Prestatyn tie I received a number of nominations for his strike that night, a cracking free-kick from twenty five yards that is still doing the rounds on youtube and facebook which you shoudl seek out if you haven’t already done so. Incidentally, Jamie Breese’s goal to seal our berth in the final was pretty good too!

Iwan finalising his team before the Druids match.

Next up was a trip up the A55 for a match that I'm sure most followers of the Cymru Alliance League would have been looking forward to immensely. Cefn Druids had been clinging on to the Cofis’ coattails at the top of the table for most of the season and, although Denbigh Town had enjoyed a superb late run of form to temporarily overtake Huw Griffiths’ side, I think it had always looked likely from early on in the campaign that Caernarfon and Druids would be battling for the title. The team travelled to ‘The Rock’ in great form and full of confidence whilst the hosts still harboured slim hopes of pipping us for the league following a number of good results in recent weeks.

The cliff face at the Rock was ready for Jamie Breese.    

The Cofi Army was out in force and arrived at the ground in great voice, some heading to the clubhouse for refreshmnents and a singalong. The official crowd for the match was four hundred and four and I’m sure that more than three quarters of those will have been hoping for a Town victory. I don’t usually visit clubhouses when on the team’s travels but decided to do so on the day and was pleased I did because the atmosphere inside was brilliant, and I’m sure it would have made the players all feel ten feet tall as they prepared for the match. I spoke with Nathan Craig a few days later and he told me that the team could hear the Cofi Army singing before kick-off and this had given them an extra boost as they attempted to win the league on the day.

A victory for Town would see us clinch the title whilst a draw would have prolonged Druids’ slim hopes but, as we now know, the Cofis proved much too strong for our nearest rivals and overpowered them on the way to an exciting 7-0 victory. Being totally honest, I would have settled for a draw before the match as Druids had seemed such a dogged side throughout the season, toughing out narrow victories and showing plenty of mettle on the way. They had not been high-scorers by any stretch of the imagination but everyone I have spoken with during the season had suggested they’re a strong, well-drilled outfit who like to play a less expansive game than Caernarfon. Unfortunately for them, however, this type of game was not enough against the Canaries and, from the moment Clive Williams put us ahead in the third minute the hosts struggled to cope with Town’s gameplan. 

The players and supporters celebrate at The Rock.

I had arrived early at the Rock in the hope of catching a word with Iwan and he was the first person I saw when approaching the clubhouse. He was as relaxed as I have seen him before a match which was unexpected given the importance of the encounter but, of course, he knows his players well and must have felt confident that they’d get the job done. Which they did, in style! Incidentally, someone must have arrived very early that morning because he or she had already been climbing on the cliff face that dominates one side of the ground, and left a message for our striker, Jamie Breese on it! (see photo.) 

It was a pretty devastating performance by the players and my only disappointment about the day is that the incident involving one of Cefn Druids’ players that has since appeared via video on social media seemed to take precedence in the media over Caernarfon’s impressive victory and title win. There’s really no need for me to discuss the matter further as the video clip can be seen by everyone and people can make up their own minds. Predictably, I received phone calls the following day from media sources I have never spoken to before who wanted to hear the club’s official take on the matter but there really was nothing for us to say, so I declined. Isn't it a pity that those who phoned me could not have shown even a little interest in the actual match? Before bidding farewell for now I just have to mention the magnanimous way in which Druids manager Huw Griffths accepted defeat at the end of the match, ensuring that his staff and players formed a ‘guard of honour’ for the Cofis as the title winners walked back to the dressing room. That could not have been easy but it was classy stuff from the manager and further proof that there are still some people in the game that know how to behave with other teams.

Before heading for home I popped into the clubhouse and am so pleased I did because I managed to get Jamie Breese to pose in front of a unique flag that is exclusive to the Cofis. I think the shot below says it all! 

So, the league title had been won, in emphatic style, and the Canaries had just three more matches to play before the final whistle of the season. Amongst other things I’ll be taking a look at these fixtures next time around, beginning with an encounter with our old friends from Halkyn  Road….