Friendlies, Kev Bach and the Right Track....

When Town manager Iwan Williams announced the side’s pre-season fixtures it was pretty obvious that July would be a very busy month and so it’s proved, with the squad playing no less than eight matches in the twenty days following my last blog.

Going back over the years I’ve supported Caernarfon I’ve not really been a great supporter of  friendlies, mainly because there are no league points or another cup round at stake. In fact, up to six years ago I had rarely made much of an effort to watch any but, due to my added involvement with the club I’ve only missed one in the past six summers, and I certainly see the warm-ups in a completely different light these days.

Some of this has been due to the quality of opposition we’ve faced, the past two years especially, and I also appreciate much more how important the matches are to improve the players’  fitness and  help new additions settle into the squad and the club.

Incidentally, for whatever reason we’ve had difficulties in the past in attracting quality opposition for our pre-season matches and, as a supporter, I couldn’t see why. We had an excellent ground and a decent team that would test most opposition and yet, despite our best efforts, not many clubs would even reply to our requests, let alone agree to visit us. Our match secretary, Geraint Jones, did everything he could to attract top teams but it was a struggle.

Thankfully, this has changed since Iwan arrived and he has managed to arrange a number of high profile fixtures with quality opposition. Last year the team was tested with matches against Welsh Premier League sides Rhyl, Airbus and The New Saints in addition to a handful of local derbies, whilst this time around the manager has been able to attract four top tier teams, an English National league side and more derbies. It would take more than one blog to look at each match in depth so I’ve decided it would be best to concentrate on the highlights and one or two matters that deserve to be mentioned.    

Salford City were first to visit the Oval and they were a very good oufit. Despite the wintery weather,  more than five hundred people walked through the turnstiles to see us take on the side that is part- owned by five former Manchester United players and, despite the result, I thought the Canaries did well. Having enjoyed just two training sessions prior to the match there was a difference in the sharpness of the teams and I think this was a major factor in the result. Having said this, it was certainly a good marker for Iwan and the management team and a really good workout for the players.  

Kevin Roberts.

It was a bittersweet day for many supporters as, although the match marked the start of preparations for the new campaign, it also heralded the end of Kevin Roberts’ career with Caernarfon. The midfielder has enjoyed four excellent seasons at the club and has become a firm favourite with the supporters as a result of his all-action displays in midfield, punctuated by weekly bone crushing tackles in the heat of combat for anyone who tried to get the better of the team! Lee Dixon brought Kevin to the club and he has become synonymous with the club’s recent renaissance, which has seen him help the side win seven trophies in that time. A really nice guy, he will be missed by the supporters and team-mates I’m sure and my only hope is that he may decide to help the club in some capacity in the future. He’s told me that he’s out of football for good and is contemplating joining the egg-chasers at Bethesda Rugby Club. Scrum or fly half would be his position I assume although, knowing Kev he’d probably love having a go in the front three in the scrum! On a serious note, what a great player's he's been for us! Diolch yn fawr Kev Bach!

One final comment on this match is how impressively Corrig McGonigle took his opportunity to get on the scoresheet. The ball was travelling away from goal when he quickly swivelled around it and struck into the net from a tight angle and in that moment I could see why he scored over a hundred goals last season. He is definitely a finisher!

Llanfairpwll (5-0) and Glantraeth (6-2) followed during the week and a number of the reserve side were given an opportunity to shine, which they did courtesy of some fine football on the way to two comfortable victories. Over the course of the two fixtures eleven goals were scored and two conceded and I’m sure that the youngsters who played will have enjoyed lining up alongside some of the more established first team players such as Nathan Craig, Jay Gibbs, Jamie Breese and Clive Williams. I was particularly pleased for young striker Aaron Davies Thomas, who scored in both matches and his smile whilst walking out of the Oval after the match proved just how much it meant to him.

Cofi Messi.

Welsh Premier League side Aberystwyth Town were next up and the step up in quality from the midweek matches was fairly obvious as we found ourselves two down at half time, although there was very little to choose between the sides before the break. The second period saw the Cofis put the Seasiders under the cosh for long periods but they could only manage a single goal from  Jamie Breese to show for their efforts. Aber are managed by former Town assistant manager Matthew Bishop and it was good to see ‘the Bish’ back at the ground. The Cofis performed really well and I thought Darren Thomas was the best player on the pitch on the day. I’m not sure if he felt he had something to prove his former club but he certainly put their defence under a lot of pressure, running at their defence with his unique box of tricks.

I was in two minds about making the trip to Llangefni as the sun was out at its brightest and the temperature was pretty high. It seems to me that most people complain all year around about the  weather and how badly everybody wants to see the sun but I can guarantee you that you won’t hear me saying it! With no hair on top and freckles all around, the sun is not my friend and so it was very much a last minute decision to head over the Britannia Bridge for the match. I was accompanied by the former Chairman of Vice, who is happily regaining his health after illness, although his recent cruise around the Baltics had hardly helped him, judging from his less than complimentary overview of the trip!

I didn’t enjoy following the action as much as usual in the hot and sticky conditions and felt sorry for players of both teams for having to play in that heat. However, things improved after half time and cooled down a bit and I was glad I’d made the effort to attend as the winning goal, from Darren Thomas, was well worth it, the Cofi Messi finishing with a first time volley from twelve yards after a deep cross from Toby Jones.

I also have to mention how good Llangefni’s ground looks these days. I haven’t been there for a few years and was immediately struck by the improvements they’ve made.  Whereas it had looked quite run down on my last visit, it now looks nice and clean, with excellent facilities. Great stuff and I hope they enjoy a successful season and manage to challenge for promotion back into the Cymru Alliance League.

Not one to shirk a challenge, Iwan had asked another Welsh Premier League side, Bala Town, to pay us a visit and four days after the Llangefni encounter, the players lined up against Colin Caton’s men. I’m sure I won’t need to remind you that the Cofis knocked the Lakesiders out of last season’s Word Cup but since then they’ve gone from strength to strength, finishing as runners up in the Welsh Premier League, just seven points behind TNS and earning themselves a slot in the Europa League qualifying round in the process. They had enjoyed just two weeks off after the end of last term before preparing for their matches with AIK of Sweden and, just like Salford, they looked a tad sharper than the Canaries on the day. The 0-5 scoreline was flattering because we had a number of opportunities to score but their goalkeeper was in marvellous form, making a number of excellent saves, the best to keep out a Nathan Craig free-kick from finding the top right corner of his net.

Despite the strength of the opposition it was good to see Iwan give some of the younger players a run-out in the second half, and I thought Sam Ashworth was particularly impressive. Still just sixteen years of age, he is a real footballer who loves a tackle and I’m sure he’s at the right club to progress

Sam Ashworth. 

further. Like Corrig McGonigle, Sam was with Bangor City last season but it’s always been very difficult for local players to make the breakthrough there, especially under the stewardship of Neville Powell. I imagine that the situation this will only get worse there too for local footballers now that the new owners at Nantporth have taken over. Time will tell, of course, but early indications are that there will be an increasing volume of traffic heading down from the Wirral area over the coming years. Bala are a very strong side and I can see why they pushed TNS so hard last season. The differences between the side were the fitness levels, which were marginal but made such a difference, and their lethality in attack, when they punished three loose balls in midfield by finding the net. 

Llanberis proved resilient opponents in midweek and they even sneaked in front when Guto Llywelyn found the target with an excellent free kick. Iwan had selected a very strong side and, despite the early setback, they responded in kind, dominating most of the match and eventually securing a six-two victory. I spoke with the Darans’ assistant manager Geraint Jones after the match and he told me that Town’s pace and movement had given them real problems, especially in the second period when his players had started to tire. I’m sure there’s a chance this could be a continuing theme throughout the course of the new season, as Iwan certainly has a few flyers in his squad who can prove very difficult to play against.

I’m writing this almost immediately after the side’s latest match, which saw us take on Welsh Champions The New Saints. I don’t think I need to say too much about Craig Harrison’s team as they have become the benchmark for all teams trying to become the best in the country. Craig brought a strong side to the ground last night and I must say they were excellent. Town did well in the first half, entering the break just a goal down but the substitutions made immediately after the restart made a huge difference as the fresh legs gave them the impetus to run away from us and eventually end up 5-0 winners. Despite the scoreline I thought Town competed well and, if truth be told, these friendlies are all about recapturing match fitness and bedding in new players, and I’m sure that, with the amount of running the Cofis did, the former is certainly within reach now!

As hard as it may be to believe, I heard someone saying at the TNS match that the team must have regressed because we defeated them last summer! I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what I was thinking when I heard this but it goes to show that some people do actually look at these fixtures in different ways. I know that I certainly see these matches very differently to how I used to!

Alex Lynch. 

A quick mention to our goalkeeper for the match, Alex Lynch, who helped us out due to a temporary goalkeeping shortage at the Oval. Alex is a former Welsh Under 17 international who starred for Wycombe Wanderers in their Division Two play off penalty shoot-out victory at Wembley last May and very kindly agreed to put the gloves on for us last night. He had an excellent game, and I'm sure it won't be long before he's back in the football league. Thanks and good luck Alex. 

I think it’s brilliant that Iwan wants the players to face the very best opposition and that, just as importantly, he is not afraid to put every one of his squad onto the pitch, no matter what the score, and how strong the other side is. Yes, there is a place for local derbies too, especially now that we have a reserve side but these matches are all about fitness and gelling as a team. I would imagine that playing against strong teams will achieve this much more than by putting ten goals past every side. Of course, it’s always nice to win matches but it’s not the be all and end all at this time of year. 

Mike Jones

It hasn’t all been about what happens on the field since the last blog, because there has been lots going on off it too. The dressing rooms have been given a makeover, the ground  will now be known as the Roberts Oval for the next year, we have new main kit sponsors to be announced soon, new home and away kits, and we’ve even had Nathan Craig cutting the grass in the absence of our groundsman, Wyn Owen, who was on a well-deserved holiday with his family.

Iwan has been keeping me busy by ensuring I’m always keeping the supporters up to date on the club’s website and social media presence and, just as I was about to start writing this blog today, I was able to announce that former Prestatyn goalkeeper Mike Jones has signed for the club. I’m not sure how many hours the manager sleeps but it can’t be much!

Cory Williams.

Finally, I am thrilled that Cory Williams has returned to the Oval for his second spell with us. Cory's an excellent striker and I think he'll be a great success in this team, where I'm sure he'll link up well with the other forwards we have. He's also a really nice guy, comes from Caernarfon, and is without doubt another great addition to the squad!
It’s all go in and around the club but one thing’s for certain as we approach the new season, we’re moving in the right direction….