Caernarfon keeper Josh Tibbetts paves way for late goals victory with stupendous saves
JD CYMRU PREMIER LEAGUE
CAERNARFON TOWN 2 (O’Rourke 82, Wynne 86)
FLINT TOWN UNITED 0
Keeper Josh Tibbetts’ fantastic saves laid the foundation for Caernarfon to go on and win Friday night’s clash at The Oval with two late goals.
Flint had the opportunities to have the game wrapped up before they fell one behind in the 82nd minute, but they could not get past terrific Tibbetts.
The former Peterborough and Southport stopper began his heroics with a great block to deny Okera Simmonds, who had beaten Laurie Bell to a high bouncing ball and looked set to score only for Tibbetts’ outstretched leg to thwart him.
Tibbetts made an even better save to foil Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro, a magnificent reaction stop keeping out the Frenchman’s fierce close range shot.
Caernarfon’s closest call of the first half saw Dan Gosset’s drive held at the second attempt by Harry Allen.
The second half saw the Silkmen continue to miss their chances.
Simmonds broke clear into the box after racing onto a long ball from the left, but Tibbetts smothered tremendously at the front man’s feet.
Brandon Diau was guilty of the worst squander when he completely missed the ball with only the keeper to beat following a header into the area.
In the 82nd minute Caernarfon made the breakthrough.
Allen could only push out a cross from the right and Fidel O’Rourke, on loan from Liverpool, lashed into the roof of the net via the underside of the bar.
The game’s greatest moment came in the 86th minute.
Canaries skipper Dion Donohue intercepted the ball deep in his own half and made a magnificent run before slipping a sublime pass into the path of Ben Wynne, who lashed home to make it 2-0.
TEAMS
CAERNARFON TOWN
Josh Tibbetts
Iwan Cartwright
Gruff John
Laurie Bell
Dion Donohue (capt)
Daniel Gosset
Fidel O’Rourke
Tom Marsh-Hughes (Ben Wynne 63)
Noah Edwards
Aaron Simpson
Joe Faux (Sion Bradley 73)
FLINT TOWN UNITED
Harry Allen
Anthony Stephens
Harry Owen
Daniel Harrison (Omar Ibrahim 84)
Larnell Cole (Jack Hindle 84)
James Owen
Okera Simmonds
Brandon Diau
Bobby Beaumont-Broadhead
Tyler Garratt
Jean-Louis Akra-Akpro (Jordan Carroll 64)