Random Highlights of 2015 Part 1.

The past twelve months have been quite eventful for Caernarfon Town Football Club and I hope that through the blog I’ve been able to accurately describe what it’s been like following the club from my perspective as a supporter of the team and a member of the club’s Board. As 2015 comes to an end, the advent of 2016 also marks the blog’s first birthday and I thought it might be a good time to cast a glance back at the past year. However, rather than repeating what I’ve already said over the past thirty blog entries I want to mention some of the highlights and otherwise from where I’ve been standing, usually on the cold touchline, with my camera and note pad!

So, this was 2015, in a very random way, as seen from the Oval Ways Headquarters…. 

Favourite Goals.  

We’ve seen a few great goals scored by Cofi players in 2015 and, of course, Darren Thomas’ strike  against TNS would definitely have been amongst the front runners were it not for the fact that it  happened in late November 2014. However, I think it warrants at least a mention in this inaugural, and totally unofficial, celebration of Town’s best goals due to the fact that  I, and over 30,000 other people,  saw it on the big screens at half-time during the Wales v Belgium match in Cardiff City Stadium in June. What would Belgium’s national team have done for a similar strike from one of their strikers on the night? Anyway, my top three goals for 2015 are: 

Ywain Gwynedd’s bicycle kick strike against Llandudno at the Oval during our 3-0 victory. I know some of you will be thinking that an overhead kick by Yws was probably nothing special as the ball must only have been about three feet from the ground but to be fair to the Cofi Keegan, it was a wonderful finish and amongst the best I’ve seen at the Oval. I’m not sure if he scored again for the team after this one but if he didn’t it was a wonderful way to finish! (The photo on the right shows Yws celebrating his strike with Steve Lewis.) 

Jamie Breese’s winner against Denbigh Town this season. This may be a surprise to some but it’s here not just because it was an excellent finish but, just as importantly, the team and player himself needed it! After an impressive pre-season, the team had not gelled as well as everyone had thought, and one point in the first two league matches had given us all a reality check.

The teething problems had continued into the match at and, when the hosts took the lead early on, I had a feeling things were about to get worse. However, the players clicked into gear in the second half and when Gareth Edwards levelled, the match was set up for a late winner. Enter one Jamie Breese. The goalgetter had seemed a little frustrated in the previous matches but he came into his own on the night and bagged the points with a clinical finish. The photo (right) shows the winner going on and, in addition to proving my limits as a photographer, I hope it gives everyone an idea of what it looked like. One thing is for sure, the strike immediately seemed to lift the players and supporters and from that moment on, the team improved on a weekly basis. 

Nathan Craig’s free kick against Denbigh at the Oval just before this Christmas. I was sitting behind the goal when Nathan’s effort flew into the top corner of the onion bag and was stunned by the strike. The keeper didn’t move and when two well-respected football people told me after the match that it was the best free-kick they had ever seen, then you just know it was something special! I spoke to Nathan afterwards and he told me that he was aware of the direction of the wind and just decided to hit the ball as hard as he could and hope for the best! I’m sure there was more to it than that but, as everyone will know, Nathan is one of the most modest people around and he seemed somewhat embarrassed by being congratulated on the strike! There is a video of the goal somewhere on facebook and it's well worth seeing! I don't have a photo of the goal, but do have one of Nathan standing at the end he scored, obviously checking the Oval angles last Summer and making plans for this season!   

If pushed for a favourite out of the three, my pick would have to be Nathan’s free kick. Absolutely top class!

Iwan Williams masterminded an impressive victory
over Bangor with a threadbare squad. 

Favourite Moments.

Two moments that stand above all are the Word Cup victory at Bangor and the return of Darren Thomas to the club. Rather predictable choices I’m afraid but equally understandable in my opinion.

Playing Bangor City is always a massive occasion and being drawn away in the Cup was a big match for everyone connected to the club. Let’s be honest about this, there is no love lost amongst supporters of the clubs and this has not been helped by the fact that the Citizens have had plenty of success in recent years whilst we have been through a very tough time until three years ago. Add this to the fact that they are our nearest rivals, then any victory over them is always more than welcome! That

Iwan welcomes Darren Thomas back to the Oval.

we deservedly beat them on their own ground, and with a threadbare squad was very sweet indeed!  

The other high-point has been the return of Darren Thomas to the Oval. I was gutted when he left for Aberystwyth in the summer but as thrilled as everyone else when he decided to come back and help us push for promotion. In my opinion, Darren is the most exciting player in Welsh non-league football and it was a real coup to get him back in the yellow shirt.      

Favourite Photo. 

Firstly, I don't think I need to explain that I’m not a photographer and most of the shots I take during matches are dreadful. In fact I would guess that the area's best photographer, Richard Birch, gets more good photos during one match that I have been able to get in the last five years but I console myself in the knowledge that mine are better than nothing! Every now and then, though, I do manage a decent shot and my favourite from 2015 is when I captured the ball on its way into the net from Nathan Craig’s boot against Llandudno in February. When even Mr Birch says it’s a decent photo, then I have to be happy! 

My favourite photo from 2015 as Nathan scores yet another cracker,
this time against Llandudno in a 3-0 victory last february.

Well, that's it for now and I hope that one or two of my choices have brought back some good memories for Caernarfon Town supporters. If not, then maybe I'll pick something that does in the second part of my random highlights from 2015, which I'll be posting soon. 

Paul. 

Three Keepers and Ellis Healing at Centre Half?

Friday’s night’s impressive victory over Denbigh Town at a wet and blustery Oval is the only place to start this time around. I mentioned in the last blog that, after an excellent run of results, Denbigh had suffered three successive defeats, including two 1-6 reverses. Despite this, I think most spectators would have expected a tough battle against Gareth Perry Thomas’ side and this is how it panned out in the first half.

Playing with their backs to the wind I felt the Canaries struggled to get into their usual playing style and, despite leaking fourteen goals in three matches, the visitors’ rearguard looked solid enough. With most of the balls played to Jamie Breese either falling into the hands of keeper Elliot Power or sailing out of play (due to the wind, and not the players ability I should point out) I felt we might have had to settle for a point on the night. However, when Darren Thomas managed to sneak a goal late on it would at least give the team something to hold on to in the second period and, as Town have the league’s best defensive record I suddenly felt there would be every chance of us getting the points.

And then, the second half happened! We scored six more goals. Against the wind. And it could have been more!

Considering the difficult conditions, heavy rain and blustery wind, I would go as far as to say that the Cofis’ performance after the break was amongst the best I’ve seen in many a year. Once Nathan Craig doubled lead with a simply outrageous free kick it was game over for the visitors, who seemed to lose heart immediately. It was a five star performance from Caernarfon from then on and an excellent way to finish their home fixtures for the year. Nathan’s free kick was the highlight for me, followed closely by Kev Lloyd’s goal. Kev had not scored since returning to the club in October and I think it’s fair to say that everyone was as desperate as he was for him to find the net. He has played well since coming back and been praised by the manager for his performances and it was brilliant to see him score again in the yellow shirt. His celebrations spoke volumes about how much it meant to him and it was good to see all his team mates celebrating so much with him. In fact, Grahame Austin rolled back the years (about ten in my opinion!) to sprint the length of the pitch to congratulate Kev, although he did struggle on the way back for the restart! 

I had been looking to get hold of Iwan before the match for a photo and although he is always approachable and helpful I often find it quite awkward to do this on matchdays as the manager is always the busiest man in the ground before kick-off. Having held a team meeting beforehand in the Boardroom I was aware that time was particularly short and so I’m sure being asked to pose with a Santa cap and beard for a photo was the last thing he wanted. Thankfully, he was as accommodating as always and, judging by the response the shot has had on social media, I hope he’ll agree it was worth doing! Iwan comes across to me as being a progressive manager who is always looking at ways of improving the team but I’m not sure that the formation he was looking at for the Denbigh match would have

Healing at Centre Half? 

suited the players. Three goalkeepers with Ellis Healing at centre half is definitely an interesting idea but I’m pleased he decided to stick with a more orthodox line-up!

Before moving on I must mention Darren Thomas’ celebrations after his third goal. Darren is not usually prone to bouts of excessive showmanship and so it was quite a surprise to see him stop suddenly after his netfinder before suddenly completing a forward tumble and ending on his back. It all looked particularly innovative and quite unlike Darren until I realised that he was, in fact, suffering from cramp.

Cramp or an elaborate goal celebration?

He received plenty of help from his team-mates but I noticed that this time Grahame Austin decided against another full pitch sprint towards a team mate!

Which brings me nicely to the annual Dave Jones Football Awards. I have enjoyed reading Dave’s end of year summaries over the years and was delighted, and proud, to be included in this year’s list, as Best Press Correspondent. Last year, Dave named Oval Ways and Treble Days as his book of the year, so it was nice to be named again in the list and get Caernarfon Town amongst some very big hitters. I was not alone either, as Grahame Austin was given the ‘Evergreen Award’ and Iwan was named as the ‘Manager to Watch’. Both deserve their recognition more than I do although thankfully Dave did not see Grahame taking an age to return to his own half after congratulating Kevin on his goal as he may have had second thoughts! On a serious note, I feel very proud to be part of the list and look forward to one day catching up with Dave, who is such a vital part of the grassroots game in North Wales.

Those who read my last blog entry, titled ‘A chameleon car and state of the art lawnmower’ may recall that I mentioned the gift made by the Football Association of Wales to Bangor City of pitch covers and a state of the art lawnmower. Not long after I posted the blog I received a tweet from the FAW’s Head of Competitions, Andrew Howard, who pointed out the equipment had been paid for out the Welsh Premier League broadcast money and not from the FAW’s budget. This had not been made clear in the newspaper article I had read, which included a quote from FAW Secretary Gwyn Derfel, but my point remains unaffected, being that the equipment was bought for a club that enjoys big gates, and therefore decent gate receipts. Gwyn Derfel stated that the FAW needs to assist clubs with grass pitches which is good, but it was not too long ago that they gave the same club £350,000 to spend on a 3G pitch, as part of a scheme to improve playing surfaces in Wales. I gather this 3G pitch is used for training purposes by the Academy, which is brilliant, although I’m not sure if the first team use it? I’m certainly not criticising the Citizens but do believe it’s a shame the FAW can find money from one pot to help one of the biggest clubs in North Wales whilst smaller outfits, and particularly those in the lower leagues, are finding it almost impossible to improve their facilities. As I pointed out to Mr Howard in my reply on twitter, if the FAW can use the broadcast money in this way, it may be a good idea to look at trying to secure television coverage for matches at more of a  grass roots level.         

It’s been brilliant seeing photos on social media of supporters wearing the Caernarfon Town kits Father Christmas has brought them this year. Judging from the shots, Jamie Breese and Kevin Lloyd have been popular choices although I think we may well be seeing a few shirts around town in the next few weeks bearing the numbers three and ten, those usually worn by Nathan Craig and Darren Thomas respectively.

Finally, I just have to include a photo of this year’s best Caernarfon Town Christmas jumper. I’ll keep the very happy recipient of this Christmas gift to myself for now but whoever designed it is a true artist!        

     

A Chameleon Car and State of the Art Lawnmower.

By the time I head to the Oval on Friday night (18/12) four weeks will have passed since I’ve seen the Canaries play, and I’m suffering withdrawal symptoms. Oh, how I’ve missed the touchline coldness, the ice cube feet, the banter and, most of all, the beautiful game played by the team. Yes, I’ve been watching a few matches on the box but no amount of prima donna football on Sky TV, where every team boasts its own Greg Louganis, and nearly every manager is whingeing about yet another ‘World’s Worst Ever’ refereeing decision, can really compensate for the absence of grass roots football.  

The pitch at  Llanfair Utd. 

When I last saw the side, Mold had been put to the sword and we were flying. Playing well, scoring freely and top of the league, the next match could not come quickly enough. Then the weather, and Storm Desmond hit, and it’s been Christmas Shopping time for me!

Well, that’s not strictly true, as I was well on my way to the league match at Llanfair two weeks ago before receiving the dreaded call to say that it had been called off. I usually enjoy hearing from John Watkins, but this was one call I did not want from the Club President.

With the Chairman and Chairman of Vice as company, the general feeling as we set off for the match was of surprise the pitch had passed its early morning inspection. It had been raining incessantly for two days and if truth be known we had expected it to be called off. Nathan Craig posted photos from the ground on facebook and we feared the worst but, hoping against hope, we continued through the driving rain and were just twenty minutes from our destination when John phoned.  

I have had the pleasure of travelling to matches with the Chairman of Vice on a number of occasions in recent years but he had failed to mention his car was some sort of chameleon prototype as it definitely turned from silver to blue for a few minutes after we heard the news! The chairman was his usual calm self of course, and he even magically produced a flask full of steaming hot Oxo which seemed to cool the hitherto equally steaming Chairman of Vice, and his chameleon car!

On a serious note, having looked at a number of photos of the pitch and discussing it with those who arrived at the ground, the playing surface was in a really bad way and I’m surprised the match was not called off much sooner. Of course none of us can control the weather but the pitch must have been near to unplayable earlier in the morning and, considering the horrendous weather forecast and amount of travelling Cofi players and supporters had to do, I would have to question the match official for not using a tad more common sense. I am not sure the home side would have had any influence on the initial pitch inspection, made at 8:45am, and so in my opinion the official who made the decision certainly got it wrong.

We were supposed to play Goytre in the Welsh Cup the following Saturday but this time common sense prevailed and the match was called off twenty four hours before the tie. This was no surprise after Desmond had been doing his worst for a few days but it was good that, unlike the previous week, Aa timely decision was made and we were all saved from a wasted journey on the crystal maze that is the A470.

The match was put back a week and, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to make such a long trip last Saturday, I had selfishly been hoping all week for another postponement as this would have resulted in the tie being switched to the Oval this week. However, the weather, and Goytre pitch, had improved sufficiently for the match to be played and, as you will all now know, it wasn’t a happy day for the Canaries.

I can’t comment on the match itself but have been told that Caernarfon started well and were the best side in the opening half, although the second period was a very different affair. Getting knocked out of the Welsh Cup is always disappointing and the manager, Iwan Williams, summed it up perfectly in his post-match thoughts:'Going out of the Welsh Cup is a bitter pill to swallow. The Welsh Cup is a very special competition with a lot of history and tradition so I'm bitterly disappointed to have gone out in the way we did.”

Of course there will be some saying that getting knocked out of a cup competition will help the team’s title push but I don’t agree with that, and never have. Promotion to the Welsh Premier League has always been the priority for Caernarfon Town this season but it was still good to hear the manager say how disappointed he was at the Cup exit, and that he didn’t revert to the oft quoted line about how ‘the team can now concentrate on the league’. I can’t recall Bob Paisley ever saying such nonsense when Liverpool were winning everything in the seventies and eighties, likewise Ferguson with United and Mourinho with Chelsea, when he was still ‘The Special One’! So, credit to the manager for this, and also for making it clear how important this weeks’ training session is for the players, with places up for grabs in the team this week.

On a personal note, I had to rely on texts from John Watkin for updates on the score and I have to admit I’ve had better experiences! The photo of Jamie Breese to the left perfectly encapsulates how I felt each time I read his messages!  

Wyn the Groundsman.

The weather has been much better this week and therefore there’s a good chance that the Oval pitch will be ready for the visit of Denbigh on Friday night. There are many unsung heroes behind the scenes at every football club, and at Caernarfon Town, our groundsman, Wyn Owen, is someone who deserves to be put in that category. Everyone who has been to the club in recent years will have seen for themselves how

The Groundsman.

good the Oval pitch looks and, from having spoken with players on a regular basis, visiting teams included, the surface is amongst the best in North Wales and on a par with teams in the top tier of the Welsh Pyramid. This is through the hard work of the groundsman, and whatever help he can get when requested. So, a big shout out to Wyn for his excellent work on the pitch.  

Level Playing field?

This brings me nicely on to a recent headline in a local newspaper which announced that the Football Association of Wales has provided Bangor City F.C. with three pitch covers and a state of the art lawnmower. A very nice gesture by the governing body to help out one of the Welsh Premier League clubs in this way, and I can only assume that it is just the first step towards providing similar assistance to all the clubs in Wales. After all, it hardly seems fair that they should provide such help to a club that attracts large home crowds, and therefore gate receipts, and yet they leave smaller clubs with little or no income revenues to fend for themselves. Good on the Citizens for getting some help but I imagine that the cost of the FAW’s recent assistance would go a long way to helping a lot of clubs survive. I know that Caernarfon Town could do with a new ‘state of the art’ lawnmower so maybe we’ll be receiving a call soon?

Before signing off I just had to mention this photo of Caernarfon's Chairman and President showing real interest in committee member Terry Roberts. The shot mysteriously appeared on my laptop just as I was posting this and I have asked both Arfon and John about the subject of their fascination. Both are adamant that they were trying to help Terry with his coat zip and I suppose we'll all just have to take their word for it....

So, onto Friday and a big test for Iwan and the team as they try and bounce back from last week’s defeat. I know that the manager and his staff will be pulling out all the stops to ensure a continuation of the league form that saw the Cofis hit the top of the league in November. Denbigh are a good side but have hit a poor run of form, losing their last three fixtures, which have included two 1-6 defeats. However, I don’t think we should read too much into this, as they have had a number of impressive victories this season against highly rated teams, including a cup win over WPL side GAP Connahs Quay.

Being the first match for over a month at the Oval, I’m sure there will be a decent crowd under the floodlights and I can’t wait to see the team in action again. Hopefully, the weather will be good with us in the days leading up to the match and if it does start raining heavily again, maybe Wyn could ask the FAW for a fast-track on those pitch covers?

Come on the Town!  

Prince Philip, Messi, Jay Gibbs and Nathan’s hat-trick.

It was good to see Jay back against  Llandudno Junction.

After my detour last week of an exclusive interview with Town striker Kevin Lloyd the blog is getting back to normal this time around as I take a look at the Cofis’ last four matches.

The last regular entry followed the comprehensive victory at Caersws that put the Canaries top of the Cymru Alliance League. The following week saw us hosting Llandudno Junction in the second round of the Welsh Cup and I think everyone had been expecting a really tough challenge from a team that was previously unbeaten in thirteen matches, of which they had won an impressive eleven. However, after a competitive opening half an hour I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that Caernarfon dominated the action and ran out comprehensive, and comfortable, 4-0 victors.

The whole team played well on the day but, in my opinion, Jay Gibbs stood out as the star man, running the game from midfield and finding the back of the net twice. Jay was returning to the side following a three match suspension and, having seen him watching the Caersws match from the stand and probably kicking every ball with the team, I was not surprised he was so good against the Railwaymen. Everyone who has seen Jay will know how good he is and whilst I’ve heard one or two people say he should sometimes try and curb his natural competitiveness on the pitch, I think his attitude is brilliant and exactly what you want from a midfielder. I’ve never played at a decent level of the game but there must surely be a fine art to playing with such drive and passion whilst also trying to avoid being booked, especially in today’s climate when a broody look at the referee can result in a card! Far from erring on the side of caution I think Jay should just keep on going as he is.

Although the manager has made it clear that winning the league is the priority this season, a good run in the Welsh Cup would be wonderful for the club, both for prestige and financial reasons. The team has been rewarded for the victory over Junction with an away tie at Goytre in the next round and I’m sure they will prove formidable opponents. It’s a 140 mile trip to their Plough Road ground and I’m pleased to hear that Iwan has decided the squad will travel down the night before, which seems a sensible thing to do. I can’t remember too many occasions when Caernarfon have decided to stay overnight before an away match and it’s good to see such a professional approach from the management. Hopefully, it will make a difference on the day against a side that is top of the country’s Southern equivalent of the Huws Gray Alliance. I don’t know much about Goytre but, having seen photos of their ground on their website, I hope it doesn’t rain because I can’t see many sheltered areas there!    

A Cracking Cheeseburger and Not Much Else.

Top Burger at the New Stadium.

The Cofis returned to the bread and butter of league action following the cup victory and I have to admit that the match at Holyhead was not the best. I enjoy going to the New Stadium and although Caernarfon have not always had the best of results when playing there, a warm welcome and a cracking cheeseburger are always guaranteed at the ground!

Having looked forward to a good encounter between two footballing sides, the match turned out to be somewhat of a disappointment. This was mainly due to the strong wind that enveloped the ground, making it extremely hard for the players to accurately pass the ball for anything other than the shortest of distances. To use a footballing cliché, it was very much a game of two halves, with the hosts bossing proceedings with the wind at their backs before the break whilst the Canaries were on top in the second period. Kevin Lloyd very nearly clinched the points for Town late on but he could not quite manage to get his effort in, having done well to get on the end of a Nathan Craig cross.

Not many teams will return from Holyhead this season with anything more than a defeat and therefore a draw was not too bad but such is the increased level of expectancy amongst us all these days that there was probably a slight feeling of disappointment on the way home that we didn’t win. It really was just one of those days when nothing much happens in front of goal and, not for the first time this season, I kept thinking during the match that Caernarfon could have done with former player Darren Thomas to work some magic and create a goal. That said, I still think it was more of a point gained than two lost.

Nathan Craig in front of the Main Stand at  Holyhead.

Although the action on the pitch had not been the best, spectators were treated to some unexpected entertainment just before the final whistle when one of the stewards walked over to the Main Stand and ordered a fellow steward to walk down from his perch at the top of the stand, and proceeded to share some rather stern sounding pearls of wisdom with him! I’m not sure what it was all about, and whilst it was all very odd it gave most of us a laugh!

Just two more things to mention about the afternoon.  Although half of Holyhead’s New Stadium is rather spartan it possesses an impressive Main Stand that must rank amongst the best in Welsh football. The club also has an excellent goalkeeper in Carl Jones, who I believe is second only to Paul Pritchard as the league’s best stopper. I do think he enjoys a tad too much banter with supporters during matches, but I have yet to see him have a bad game so it obviously doesn’t affect his performance.

Just Like Christmas Morning as Messi Returns.

Rumours had been rife since early November that the aforementioned Darren Thomas was on his way back to Caernarfon but I put it down to wishful thinking on the part of the supporters, myself included. I have often referred to Darren in this blog and everywhere else for that matter, as the ‘Cofi Messi’ and I was as disappointed as everyone else when he left for Aberystwyth in the Summer. I didn’t blame him because he wanted to play in the Welsh Premier League and he is certainly good enough to do so, but had always hoped he would do it with us.  

Then, on the Monday following our trip to Holyhead, Iwan sent me a message to ask if I could get to the Oval later in the day as he hoped we could make a special announcement about a new signing. Obviously, Darren’s name came to mind and a few hours later I was in the Boardroom taking photographs of him with the manager. As a committee member I was delighted that we were signing one of the best players in Welsh non-league football but as a supporter it felt a bit like Christmas morning when I saw the Cofi Messi was back!

As I very much doubt that Iwan would put me in his side on a Saturday afternoon, being the club’s Press Officer is the best job I could ask for at the Oval and breaking the news on the club’s website and social media outlets was pretty exciting. Judging from the amount of likes, retweets, views and comments the news enjoyed, I think every other Caernarfon Town supporter felt exactly the same as I did! Only time will tell of course but I do feel getting Darren back to the Oval could go a long way to helping us back into the top tier at the end of the season.

There was definitely a feel-good factor at the ground for Messi’s first match back in the yellow shirt and whilst the weather was not the greatest, the team certainly didn’t disappoint the supporters who had turned up. The Cofis were simply unstoppable on the day and routed Rhayader 7-1 in front of 272 souls who braved the elements. As expected Darren slotted straight back into the team and it was great to see him back, although it was another of Caernarfon’s highly rated favourites who shone the brightest on the day. Nathan Craig has been excellent so far this season and although he starts matches in the left-back berth, he is much more than a full-back and his deliveries at set pieces and from the left flank are consistently high quality.

Nathan’s Hat-Trick?

Nathan capped a fine personal performance with two goals against the Redkites and did his best to claim a hat-trick on the grounds that it was his goalbound effort that Rhayader player manager Dylan McPhee headed into his own net for Town’s fourth goal. To be fair, he had a point. I believe the official FIFA ruling such matters is ‘Shots that are on target (ie goal-bound)and touch a defender or rebound from a goal frame and bounce off a defender or goalkeeper are not considered own goals’. In this instance, Nathan’s effort was goalbound and was deflected off a defender into the goal.

Nathan's second goal against Rhayader. 

Caernarfon Town president John Watkin was present when Nathan discussed this with me and he was adamant that the goal should be attributed to McPhee as an o.g. Later that night I thought I’d have some fun and sent John a text to say that the match report would have Nathan down as the goalscorer and, just as expected, he phoned me immediately to put me straight! Nathan has never scored a senior hat-trick and although I did my best to try and help him with this, I’m afraid I had to relent as, such was John’s conviction on the phone about the goal I genuinely don’t think he would have slept that night if I had not listened to him!   

A Bit Like Prince Philip.

When I offered Caernarfon chairman Arfon Jones a lift to Mold for the match on Saturday his response went along the lines of “No, we’ll go in mine as I want to travel in a real car!”  And he meant it! I wasn’t complaining as I couldn’t really argue with his point but there is always a downside to riding in Arfon’s car because it does make you feel a bit like Prince Philip. As the County’s most recognisable man, it’s impossible for the chairman to go more than a few yards before having to wave, very much like the Queen, at his adoring public! Thankfully, there were two more committee members sitting in the back to partake in some banter with, including my friend the Chairman of Vice, who can always be relied upon to provide a few memorable, if totally unrepeatable, anecdotes!

The side’s last visit to Alyn Park had not been a happy one and I’ve heard some say that the 1-4 we suffered there last January contributed to heavily to the team failing to win the league. At the time, former manager Lee Dixon had made a few changes to his squad and whilst there’s no getting away from the fact that the performance on the day up to the usual standard, looking back at last season  as a whole, it proved very much a one-off.

Danny Brookwell gets brought down in the box for Town's penalty at Mold. 

I don’t think anyone expected a repeat of last season’s reverse and, from the very first minute, it became pretty obvious that Saturday would be different. Despite the impressive victory over Rhayader, Iwan changed his starting eleven and brought Kevin Lloyd and Danny Brookwell into the side at the expense of Jamie McDaid and Ellis Healing. I heard a rumour that Ellis was unavailable for selection due to a prior engagement but did not expect to see him lining up for Liverpool against Manchester City in Adam Lallana’s shirt on in Sky’s tea-time offering! And to be fair, he did well too!

Jamie Breese taking a breather at Mold.

The team continued its fine form from the previous week and outplayed the hosts who were left chasing shadows as a result of the Canaries’ quick possession football. As it was so cold at the ground I decided to take advantage of Mold’s half-time hospitality and must say they provided a warm welcome. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for their striker Lee Healey, who let his frustrations get the better of him near the end of the match as he recklessly flew into a challenge on Jay Gibbs. He was rightly sent off for the foul and it’s disappointing that as a result Jay may now have to miss a few matches due to a broken bone in his foot. Just as disappointing was the match report on Mold’s website that stated Healey had been harshly sent off. The author must have been looking the other way…. 

All in all, I think it’s been a pretty enjoyable month following the Canaries and, judging by the way the team is improving, there’s a good chance it will carry on into December.

Harry (left) and Paul (right) were thrilled that the
Chairman had agreed to pose for a photo! 

Looking at the strength of the squad, and the quality he now has on the bench in addition to on the field, Iwan has a really tough job on his hands to not only pick his best side for matches but also to keep all the group happy whilst trying to slowly re-introduce injured players. Of course, this is much preferable to having just twelve players to pick from as happened earlier this season (and I can’t resist the temptation of pointing out that eleven was all we needed at Bangor!) but this once again reinforces the need for a reserve side. Fingers crossed we’ll see one at the Oval next season?

Before finishing I think it’s worth mentioning that last week’s interview with Kevin Lloyd has proved one of the most ‘viewed’ blog entries on here which just goes to show how

Clive Williams. 

popular he is with everyone. I spoke with his father on Saturday and he was pleased with how it all worked out which is always a good sign! Hopefully one or two other members of the squad may agree to do a similar piece, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed for another exclusive interview soon! 

Finally, a quick thought for one of my favourite players, Clive Williams, who has had to miss the last few matches due to illness. 

A top player, and really nice guy, I hope he’ll be back in action soon!  

Kevin Lloyd: No More The Maverick?

What is a maverick? 

The definition of the word in the Oxford Dictionary is ‘An unorthodox or independent-minded person’ whilst the online Urban Dictionary defines it as ‘Someone who refuses to play by the rules and isn't scared to cross the line of conformity.’ 

To me, maverick means someone who has an independent streak and is a bit of a rebel. It’s a word I have felt in the past perfectly sums up Kevin Lloyd. I first met Kev when he joined Caernarfon Town during the Summer of 2010 and had heard beforehand that he could be a somewhat surly character. I have personally not seen this side of him in the ensuing five years but he certainly had one or two interesting moments on and off the pitch during his first spell at the Oval. 

I loved his attitude on the pitch, where he refused to give an inch to the opposition and particularly enjoyed his constant banter with some of our rivals for the Welsh Alliance League during the 2012/13 season! 

Knowing how much he enjoyed playing for the team he and his family supports I was disappointed when he left the club not long after that promotion campaign but he’s done well since leaving and it’s been great seeing his success at Llanrug United, where he had an excellent goalscoring record. Of course, he added to his impressive goal return with a netfinder against the Canaries in the recent Welsh Cup tie at Eithin Duon and I think his impressive display in that match may well have helped earn him a return to the Oval. 

I mentioned in a previous blog entry that I’d have to ask Kev how he felt after scoring against Town that day and I’m pleased to say he was more than happy to answer that question and a host of others about his time at Llanrug, his unexpected return to the club and how he feels he’s changed since his first stint for the Cofis. 

O.W.:You had a successful stint at the club from 2010 to 2013 and were a part of many triumphs for the team. What are your highlights of that time? 

Kev: The highlight was winning the league in that treble season during Lee Dixon’s first season at the Oval. Winning the treble that term was brilliant but the league had been our priority and the club may not be where it is now had we not done it. Another highlight was playing under Clive Jones when the team was full of Caernarfon lads. 

O.W.: As a Caernarfon Town supporter it must have been hard for you to leave? Why did you decide to go to another club? 

Kev: I had not been playing regularly for the side and I just felt that things were not working out as well as I wanted. I wanted to play ninety minutes every week and enjoy my football again but felt I had to leave the club to achieve that. I went to Llanrug because I knew the players, and some of my friends were playing there, such as Dylan ‘Midge’ Owen and Darren Phillips. 

O.W.: How did it go at Llanrug, and what were your highlights whilst there? 

Kev: I had a great time there, scoring sixty seven goals in one hundred and one matches and we won the Cookson Cup and FAW Trophy during the time I was there. The FAW Trophy victory was my highlight there. It was a great day for the club and also for me personally as I scored two goals and was named man of the match. I also really enjoyed beating Holywell Town in the final of the Cookson Cup, which they weren’t too happy about! 

O.W.: How did it feel to score against Caernarfon in the Welsh Cup earlier this season? 

Kev: It felt nice to score, but also not so nice to score against Caernarfon. Since I’ve returned the players have given ‘Pritch’ some stick for that goal, so it’s all good now! 

O.W.: How did your return to the Oval come about? 

Kev: “Caernarfon put in a seven days notice to speak with me soon after the Welsh Cup tie and to be honest I was shocked! I had not expected to play for Town again and thought that the Welsh Alliance League was my level. Once Iwan came in for me I didn’t have to think about moving as there was no decision to make! To be fair to Llanrug manager Mark Jat he knew as soon as the approach had been made that I would be leaving and he was happy for me. My Dad is so pleased that I’m back which also means a lot to me.” 

O.W.: How did it feel to be back in the squad for the Buckley match? 

Kev: It felt brilliant to get on against Buckley (see photo, left) and the support the Cofi Army gave me when I ran onto the pitch was superb. I felt nervous to begin with but was fine once I got my first touch of the ball. I was gutted to hit the post because a goal would have been brilliant in my first match back, but the main thing was that the team won and we did, so it was a perfect return! 

O.W.: Did you know the manager before you signed? 

Kev: I knew Iwan only through having played against him over the years but had heard lots of positive things about him and have been impressed with how he’s doing things. He’s a really nice guy and I’m so pleased he’s given me this opportunity. I don’t want to let him down and will be doing my best for him and the club. 

O.W.: Have things changed at all since you left? 

Kev: I think things are being run more professionally. The training is really good and not at all like I’ve had before. We do lots of ball work, playing patterns and tactics and everyone is expected to turn up and take part. Iwan makes sure we work as a team in everything we do, such as going on the team bus together and attending team meetings to discuss matches and tactics. 

O.W.: The team has changed a lot since you were last here, what do you think of it? 

Kev: The squad has definitely been strengthened over the summer. I have played with Nathan, Grahame, Jamie McDaid, Pritch, Kev Bach and Darren before and so know how good they are and really the whole squad is very strong. Gareth Edwards has really impressed me, he speaks well and is very experienced, and Jamie Breese is a really good player with great workrate. I was really pleased to see Darren returning to the club last week because we’re friends and I never thought I’d get an opportunity to play in the same side as him again. 

O.W.: Has the Kevin Lloyd of 2015 changed much from the person who left the club in 2013? 

Kev: Yes, I’ve grown up a lot in recent years. My attitude is much better than it has been in the past and I now realise that it’s all about the team and not just about me. I’m part of a team here and understand and enjoy it. I don’t want to let Iwan, the players, the club and the supporters down and will work hard and do my best for everyone. 

O.W.: And finally, do you have a message for the Cofi Army? 

Kev: Yes, please carry on supporting us and hopefully we can win the league for you and get the club back to where it belongs! 

This is where the blog should end but, having stated at the beginning that I have in the past felt the word Maverick perfectly summed Kevin Lloyd up, I must say that I’m not too sure that it does these days. Yes, there’s still an edge to him on the pitch, and you can be sure that opposing defenders are still going to have their hands full when he’s about, but his answer to a question about his goals for the season suggests that he may no longer be the maverick and is very much more of a team player these days. 

Kev:“Winning the league is what we all want and, although I’m Cup tied I really want us to do well in the Welsh Cup. We haven’t done well in it recently and it would be great for the club for us to enjoy a good run in it this year.” 

A massive thank you to Kevin for answering all the questions before saturday's match at the Oval and although I'm sure he would much rather have been partaking in some banter with his team-mates, I hope he'll agree it was worth it. Diolch yn fawr Kev!

Kev Lloyd, George Michael and Showing the Red Card.

Kevin Lloyd. 

Having ended the last blog by contemplating whether or not Town manager Iwan Williams would replace Toby Jones, who had recently left for Conwy Borough, we didn’t have to wait long for the answer as the manager moved quickly to sign not just a striker but also a defender and a midfielder!

The first arrival was a name from the past, and although slightly surprised, I was delighted when Iwan said he was bringing Kevin Lloyd back to the club. Kev, of course, played for the Canaries for three seasons, signing for former manager Clive Jones during the summer of 2010, and he was a big hit with the supporters during his time at the Oval. A Caernarfon Town supporter through and through, he has been a regular visitor to the Oval since leaving two years ago and although I haven’t spoken at length with him since his return, I’m pretty sure he’s thrilled to be back. I’m hoping to get hold of Kevin soon for an interview to share on here, but for now I’ll use his words from the Oval Ways book to prove just how much he enjoyed playing for the Canaries during his first stint which will give an indication of what it will mean for him to be back:

“It was fantastic to see so many of the lads I know going to the Oval to support the team. Seeing so many of my friends in the Cofi Army at our matches made me very proud and it meant a lot to me!”

Kevin making his return for the Canaries against Buckley.

Kev has played a prominent part in all three matches since his return and done well, which is something the manager pointed out in his comments after the Buckley and Connahs Quay matches. It’s early days yet but the signs are promising that he could strike up a good partnership with Jamie Breese and I believe and hope he can become an important player for the team going forward. 

James Thomas is another former Canary to have returned recently and, if anything, his arrival came as an even bigger surprise than Kevins’. Also known as ‘Smiler’, James played for us in the Welsh Premier League and although it’s been a few years since he left, I do recall that he was a skilful wide man with an excellent left foot. He came on for the final

James 'Smiler' Thomas.

quarter of an hour at Caersws and looked as skilful, and confident, as ever and he certainly gives Iwan a different option on the flanks. I gather ‘Smiler’ has been living abroad recently, although rumours that he’s been working as a George Michael lookalike are yet to be confirmed.

Iwan’s third new addition is Tom Taylor, and although I know very little of him, the fact that he was Player of the Season at Glantraeth in 2013/14 and was reportedly training with a Welsh Premier League club during the Summer suggests he has lots to offer. Having suffered from injury in recent months, the manager has hinted we may have to wait a while to see the very best of Tom as he recovers from injury so it will be interesting to see how he goes. Not rushing back into action too soon will be important and I’m sure Iwan and his staff will manage this in the correct manner. 

The first two months of the season have seen much more activity than usual at the club, personnel-wise, and it’s been interesting to see so many changes. Iwan’s predecessor, Lee Dixon, brought in a virtually new squad to the Oval in his first summer at the club and I think it’s generally expected that a new manager makes wholesale changes when he arrives. Iwan has done things differently to Lee as he kept most of Dicko’s group and added a few quality signings during the off-season to hopefully strengthen it. 

Ellis Healing (above) and Danny Brookwell (below)
have both arrived after the start of the season.

What’s been especially interesting is the way he has dealt with the spate of injuries we’ve had, reacting quickly whenever the squad has been low in numbers and making tough decisions along the way. Looking at the team’s latest match at Caersws, six of the starting line-up were at the club last season, Jamie Breese and Joe Williams were signed during the Summer and the remaining three players have been brought in since the start of the campaign. In addition to this, the three used substitutes were also signed by Iwan, two of whom arrived after the big kick off at Holywell. Injury may have forced Iwan’s hand a bit, although I certainly wouldn’t know, but I also think the volume of recent signing might also be something to do with the team’s difficulties in breaking defences down, which was definitely a problem at the beginning of the season. Certainly, signing players such as Ellis Healing, Danny Brookwell and Kevin Lloyd to add to Jamie Breese and Jamie McDaid suggests that the manager felt we needed more attacking options and in recent weeks I feel we have looked much better going forward. 

Judging from what we’ve seen thus far at the Oval this season, most teams will look to frustrate Caernarfon and hope to sneak a win on the break. Druids carried out the plan perfectly and Gresford also very nearly did but I think the manager has reacted well and definitely has more options available to deal with the problem now. Talking of Gresford, I don’t think I’ve been more frustrated as a spectator than during their visit to the Oval. I’m not normally one to say anything too negative about other sides (in print, anyhow!) but did tweet after the goalless draw that it was frustrating to see teams parking their bus on the pitch and playing for the draw from the very first minute. To be fair to Gresford they defended really well and have an outstanding goalkeeper in Jonathan Hill-Dunt, who kept them in the match with a string of excellent saves. He is also pretty good at helping run the clock down and I had to smile when he replied to my twitter message, saying I should give his side more credit, calling their tactics ‘game management’ as opposed to ;parking the bus’. I will never give a team any credit for wasting time and not trying to at least play some football and if ‘Game Management’ means ‘Time Wasting’ then I might start using this phrase from now on. 

Jamie Breese (above)and Rob Jones (below)
Support 'Show Racism the Red Card.'

Things have definitely taken an upward turn, entertainment wise, since the Gresford match, and I think that in addition to the new signings it also has a lot to do with the attitudes of our opponents. We all know that Iwan prepares his team to play an attacking style of football and the last three opponents, Buckley, Connah’s Quay and Caersws also like to play football. The recent matches against these teams have been entertaining affairs with no less than nineteen goals and whilst I’m sure we’ll see plenty of buses trying to get on the pitch at the Oval before the end of the season, I also believe that Iwan now has the options to find a way to drive them off the pitch! Time will tell of course, but the signs are good thus far.

Before finishing, here’s my rundown on the team’s last three matches:

I really enjoyed the match with Buckley for a number of reasons. A much needed home victory and the return of Kevin Lloyd were the most prominent amongst them but I also thought the players did very well to cope with the early injuries to Gareth Jones Evans and James Bell. 

Already missing a few regulars for the match, the manager was himself forced into action early on, and Jamie Breese dropped back to form a midfield partnership with the manager. This obviously had an effect on the team’s pattern of play but they still managed to play football and did well to get the victory. For once, Buckley manager Tom Taylor stayed in the technical area on the touchline instead of wandering around the pitch but it obviously impaired his vision as his post-match comments on the club’s website include him saying that his side were the better passing team. Really? I wouldn’t agree but his team definitely had a go, which is more than others have done recently. 

I’m afraid I missed the Word Cup tie at Connahs Quay due to work and I’m still gutted about it. Although the team lost after extra time everyone I have spoken to have praised the team and, from all accounts, the Cofis could have won the tie in ninety minutes. The fact that they more than matched a Welsh Premier League side for the third time this season speaks volumes about the quality in the team and having done so with a threadbare squad is even more impressive. Tom Taylor (our player and not the Buckley manager!) made his debut on the night as a late substitute but was mightily close to starting the match in goal, due to traffic problems on the A55 having delayed our number one, Paul Pritchard. Luckily, the Cat managed to make it with around a minute to spare and, despite the ruse, had another excellent match between the sticks. 

Iwan with Tom Taylor, who nearly made his debut in goal!

Joe Williams during the match at Caersws.

The team travelled to Caersws last Saturday and were excellent in a 6-3 victory. Unusually for the hosts, they find themselves bottom of the league and, in all honesty, I thought Caernarfon were by far the better side. Town started well, and got better as the match progressed. Despite Caersws being down to ten men after twenty five minutes, Town had already looked a stronger outfit and were already looking likely winners. To be fair to the hosts, they kept going for the ninety minutes and were a credit to their manager, Graham Evans for rolling up their sleeves until the final whistle. Despite the long journey I always enjoy my visits to the Recreation Ground and the work they’ve carried out at the ground in recent years is impressive. The Bluebirds always extend a warm welcome to visitors and I really hope they can turn things around on the pitch and manage to keep clear of relegation. I travelled to the match with the Chairman Arfon, vice-chair Dylan and the Chairman of vice, who shall in this instance remain nameless for the sake of the club, and have to say that the trip to and from Powys was every bit as enjoyable as the match itself. I could not possibly divulge any of the tales that were shared amongst us on the day but suffice to say that most, if not all of it, is totally unrepeatable. All harmless fun, of course, and another reason why I love supporting the Canaries. 

Town’s victory and other results last Saturday means the Cofis are now top of the Huws Gray Alliance League and whilst it’s still early days in the title race, I think we have a real

chance of being there after the final match of the season next March.
This Saturday, the Cofis entertain Llandudno Junction in the Welsh Cup and I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that it’s about time we had a good run in this competition. Fingers crossed! 

Finally, it's important to mention that the Show Racism the Red Card initiative's Fortnight of Action is taking place up to 31st October and it was great to see both Caenarfon Town and Caersws taking part last Saturday. We all know what the message is and I think it's important to mention it here, and I'm delighted to publish the above photo of the team spreading the message before saturday's match. For more information please visit the official site by following this link: http://www.srtrc.org/home

James Bell, former Cofis and 'The Deluded One'.

Celebrating Jamie's winner against Bala.

No trophies have been handed out to anyone and we’re just two months into the season, but the recent six day period during which the Canaries won three big matches was pretty exciting stuff, and may hopefully prove to be a sign of things to come.

The first of those fixtures, the Word Cup tie against Bala Town, was the highlight of the season thus far for me, and I thought the team was excellent on the night. The visitors arrived at the Oval in good form, and as joint leaders of the Welsh Premier League. If I’m being totally honest I was just hoping the team would be competitive and could maybe sneak a win but felt that Bala were favourites to get through. If every football supporter in the country relied solely on coverage of the beautiful game offered by BBC Wales and S4C, we could all be forgiven for thinking that the WPL is the only decent form of the game on offer in Wales and that there is a huge gap between it and the league immediately below. Well, Caernarfon Town have showed by defeating full strength Bangor City and Bala sides that the gap may not be that big after all.

James Bell was my Man of the Match against Bala.

Where Caernarfon had dug deep to overcome Bangor, showing resilience and dogged determination to grind out a famous win, the victory over Bala was achieved with the free flowing football that Iwan Williams is so passionate about and, if anything, the one goal margin flattered the visitors.

I feared the worst after the opening twenty minutes as Town struggled to contain the Lakesiders and when we went behind early on it seemed that we might have been in for a long night. However, I noted that the Bala players hardly celebrated their goal and, looking back now, it might have been that Steve O’Shaughnessy’s side may have underestimated the Cofis and expected to chalk up a comfortable win. As odd as it may sound, the opening goal seemed to have a more positive effect on Caernarfon than Bala as Iwan urged his side to find an immediate equaliser and the players responded well.

From the moment Rob Jones equalised, Town dominated the match and at times Bala could not get anywhere near the ball. I must confess to being a big supporter of playing two strikers up front and  would like to see Caernarfon playing with two frontmen but the way Iwan set up his team against Bala worked perfectly on the night, with Ellis Healing and Jamie McDaid providing plenty of support for Jamie Breese. The Cofis were very impressive, fully deserving of the victory and I don’t think Bala could have complained if the winning margin had been wider. Rob Jones and Paul Pritchard were named the supporters joint man of the match but for me it was James Bell. James suffered a frustrating injury last season and was out of action for a long period but has recently signed a contract at the club so is obviously rated by the manager. He was superb on the night and I’m sure we’re going to see him develop into an excellent midfielder.

A memorable evening at the Oval and it was great to see the positive reaction on social media as the result filtered through. I can only hope the message got through to the powers that be at BBC Wales and S4C!

Iwan looking on at Eithin Duon. 

The tables were turned three days later when it was Caernarfon’s turn to play the role of favourites against lower league opposition in a cup tie. The match at Llanrug was always going to be a difficult one and I found it a rather peculiar affair. With all due respect to the hosts, I thought Caernarfon were very comfortable in the first half and had it not been for the heroics of ‘Rug goalkeeper Dylan Roberts, we would have been three or four goals ahead at the break.  I don’t know what was said in the home dressing room at half time but whatever it was seemed to work as Llanrug were a different team in the second period and they caused all sorts of problems for Caernarfon’s defence. Despite seeing the home side going ahead courtesy of goals by former Town players Kevin Lloyd and Neil Thomas, I always felt the Cofis would get back into the game and so it proved when Jamie McDaid did well to equalise late on.

Once the match went into extra time I thought that Caernarfon were in pole position and it was brilliant that Clive Williams got the all-important goal. As all Town supporters know, Clive missed most of last season through injury and having him back in the squad this term is like having a new player at the Oval. And what a player he is! When Lee Dixon signed him from Bangor I knew very little of Clive but everyone I spoke with told me he was some player, and they were right. Following Saturday’s match, Jay Gibbs (justjay@jaygibbs8) got it spot on when he tweeted ‘if Clive Williams doesn’t get the man of the match today I don’t think he ever will’.

Clive Williams (left) was excellent against  Llanrug.

Before moving on, I have to mention Neil Thomas and Kevin Lloyd, both of whom were members of Town’s memorable 2012/13 treble winning team, and showed during the match that they had lost none of their goalscoring instincts.

Kevin has always been seen as a bit of a maverick but I have always found him to be a really good sort and always good for a laugh and one thing that always shines through is that he’s a true Caernarfon Town supporter and is not afraid to show it. I haven’t seen him since the match but when I do will ask him how he felt after scoring against ‘his’ team!

Neil Thomas enjoyed just one season at the Oval but was a special one it was, as he proved a massive influence on the team as captain, and finished the term as the club’s top scorer. I think some people see him as a bit of a pantomime villain and certainly Neil is always happy to partake in some banter with supporters but he has been a top player in the Welsh game and still is a very good striker. He was known as ‘the fox in the box’ during his time with the Canaries due to his ability to find the net and he proved last week that he still has an eye for goal.

There was no chance of a breather for the team after two hard, and high profile matches and a trip to Porthmadog followed three days later as Town returned to league action.

On a personal level I was pleased that my usual travelling mate, Gwyn, was back in action and so it was great to be chauffeur driven to the Traeth. I was pleased to see him, but not so much with his declaration that heavy rain was forecast at seven o’clock, just half an hour before kick off. Although there had been no sign of rain all day and indeed not even on the way to Port, I’m afraid the heavens opened as predicted and continued for the next two and a half hours!

Cofis past and present, Cai Jones and Gareth Edwards

The first thing I noticed upon walking through the turnstiles was how good the ground looked. It goes without saying that the pitch seemed as impressive as always but the new hard standing area from the clubhouse and in front and of the three stands was excellent and has improved the ground immensely. Cup of tea in hand, we both headed for shelter and ended up in a small covered standing area between the two main stands. Little did I know then that I would soon be joined by a football genius who stood in front of me just as the match kicked off. Listening to this elderly gentleman of I assume a Porthmadog persuasion (seeing as he was criticising just the one team!), he obviously felt he knew all about the game and indeed I kept asking myself why this ‘Amateur Morinho’ was not sitting in the home dugout with Craig Papirnyk, where his talents and knowledge would be best served? Any sense of credibility he may have had vanished around the seven minute mark when he stated, quite plainly, that Town’s left-back could not kick the ball and was a definite weak link. Caernarfon’s left back on the night was Nathan Craig, which probably suggests that, far from being the local ‘Special One’, the opinionated gentleman might be more of a ‘deluded one’. To be fair though he may have known we were Caernarfon supporters?

Jamie Breese celebrating his winner against Port
(he's there somewhere!)

The match itself was a thriller and, despite the awful weather, the teams put on a good show. We seem to come across former Town players regularly these days and it was the turn of Cai Jones to face his former teammates this time although I’m pleased to say that Cai did not manage to replicate Neil and Kevin’s heroics for Llanrug just days earlier and failed to find the net.

Toby Jones.

Caernarfon were second best in the first half but responded superbly after the break to overturn a one goal deficit and gain another important victory on the road. Iwan decided to go a bit more direct in the second period, and Danny Brookwell and Jay Gibbs gave the side more penetration, with Jamie Breese again doing what good strikers do, making the most of his chances to find the net with two good finishes. 

It was a good win for the Cofis and the team showed plenty of heart and character to find a way to win against a very good Port side. On the way home I wondered what was going through the mind of ‘the Deluded One’?

I’ll finish this blog by wishing Toby Jones the best of luck with Conwy Borough. I was delighted when he signed for the Canaries during the summer because he is undoubtedly a quality footballer but for whatever reason things just did not work out for him at the Oval. It will be interesting to see whether or not Iwan will bring in another player to replace him as he may feel that the squad is already strong enough. We’ll find out soon enough….