What a difference a week has made for back-to-form Caernarfon Town !

Caernarfon Town 2 (Kenny 81, S Jones 86)
Barry Town United 0
Cymru Premier League – December 12, 2020

It may be an old cliche but in Caernarfon Town’s case it could not be more apt – what a difference a week makes!

Seven days after hitting a real low following a 6-0 thrashing at Penybont, Huw Griffiths’ men have responded with two excellent wins.

A 2-1 success at Cefn Druids last Tuesday was pretty impressive, but today’s disposal of fourth-place Barry at The Oval was even better. Six points a handful of days apart have lifted the Canaries back into the top six.

The visitors should have gone ahead in the second minute when Jordan Cotterill got on the end of a low cross, but failed to prevent his effort flying over the woodwork from 12 yards out.

For Caernarfon, Noah Edwards should have done better in the sixth minute after he skipped past four defenders on an excellent run into the penalty area but struck the ball too close to keeper Joshua Gould, who tipped over the target.

Sion Bradley’s low attempt slid an inch or so the wrong side of the upright before Barry’s Kayne McLaggon went close, missing at the near post after meeting a cross.

Gould denied Paulo Mendes and Michael Hayes but his best save saw him keep out a Bradley header after the youngster had got on the end of a Darren Thomas cross to the near post.

Evan Press nodded inches off target for the visitors before the break.

Half-time: 0-0

Barry were on top at the beginning of the second period, and Town keeper Josh Tibbetts did well to rush off his line and block Curtis Jemmett-Hutson’s effort.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 53rd minute after Luke Cooper earned himself a second yellow card for bringing down Hayes just outside the penalty area.

McLaggon still found spaces behind the hosts’ back-line, and Tibbetts had to rescue the hosts on the hour when he rushed out to block the striker’s drive.

Caernarfon’s numerical advantage began to show as the match wore on, and the breakthrough finally arrived on 81 minutes.

Thomas knocked a free kick to the far post, the ball was half-cleared and, at the second attempt, Jack Kenny found the net with a low strike that a Barry defender on the line could not keep out. It was sub Kenny’s first goal for the Cofis after his recent move from Prestatyn Town.

Another substitute, Sam Jones, clinched the points for the Cofis with a beautiful finish via the outside of his foot – a goal not unlike Jamal Lowe’s second for Swansea City at Cardiff today.

An inspired double substitution and six points in four days – Huw Griffiths must be feeling superb!

Caernarfon: Josh Tibbetts, Joe Williams, Telor Williams, Gareth Edwards, Mike Parker, Paulo Mendes, Noah Edwards, Darren Thomas, Sion Bradley, Mike Hayes, Cai Jones. Subs (used): Ryan Williams, Jack Kenny, Sam Jones. Not used: Jamie Crowther, Tyler French.