Cai-narfon up to fourth in Cymru Premier after great victory in the capital

Cardiff Met University 0
Caernarfon Town 3 (Sion Bradley pen 34, Darren Thomas 84, Cai Jones 88)
JD Cymru Premier – October 3, 2020

Birthday boy Cai Jones provided a fitting climax to this Caernarfon victory with an icing on the cake third goal two minutes from time.

The Canaries edged up to fourth in the JD Cymru Premier and three points off top spot after finally killing off opponents they had on the ropes for most of the second half with two late strikes.

Town started well, Sion Bradley forcing a save from Will Fuller before Met had to clear off the line from a corner. Darren Thomas hit another effort wide inside the opening 10 minutes.

The students responded, Liam Black and Kyle McCarthy just off target with headers.

Met had the chance to take the lead from a 20th minute penalty.

It looked harsh on Thomas that he was penalised for Charles Corsby’s fall to the floor inside the box when it appeared the Caernarfon man simply stood his ground.

Eliot Evans took the kick but Josh Tibbetts dived acrobatically to his right, pushing the ball away before the danger was cleared.

McCarthy’s 20-yard stinger was beaten out by Tibbetts before Evans was not too far away with another home strike.

In the 33rd minute the visitors were awarded a spot-kick when Corsby was adjudged to have clipped Bradley in the area.

Contact looked minimal, but referee David Morgan gave the penalty and Sion Bradley’s shot just beat the dive of Fuller.

Cai Jones nodded straight at Fuller from a superb Thomas cross, then at the other end Tibbetts spilled a corner and Black’s close range header was stopped on the line by Joe Williams, with Telor Williams completing the clearance.

Half-time: Cardiff Met 0 Caernarfon Town 1

Both sides had several regular players missing, but it was the Cofis who took total command after the break.

Thomas was not far off with a chip before Asa Hamilton nudged the ball past Fuller, but his effort lacked pace and a defender managed to prevent a goal.

Paulo Mendes’ angled drive was smartly pushed behind by Fuller, Thomas drilled just wide, then Mendes’ looping attempt was palmed over the top.

The question now was would Caernarfon regret their second half misses?

The answer was no, as on 83 minutes substitute Sam Jones, with his first touch, sent an exquisite pass down the wing. Recipient Darren Thomas cut into the box from the right and his left-foot shot went in off Met’s Jac Davies.

Two minutes from time, Thomas crossed from the right, Cai Jones threw himself at the ball and made it 3-0. Game over.

Cardiff Met University: William Fuller, Kyle McCarthy, Eliot Evans, Harry Warwick, Charles Corsby, Joseph Evans, Jac Davies, Rhydian Morgan, Liam Warman, Liam Black, Craig Davies (Keiron Proctor 57).

Caernarfon Town: Joshua Tibbetts, Joe Williams, Louis Augustin, Sion Bradley, Paulo Mendes, Darren Thomas (Cory Williams 90), Noah Edwards, Ryan Williams, Telor Williams, Cai Jones (Cian Evans 90), Asa Hamilton (Sam Jones 83).

Grassroots North Wales Player of the Match: Sion Bradley (Caernarfon Town)