Fate is in Caernarfon Town’s own hands – going into 2024 that’s a good place to be

JD CYMRU PREMIER – DECEMBER 31, 2023

Caernarfon Town 2 (M Williams 61, Clarke 73)
Colwyn Bay 1 (McCready 81)

Caernarfon set themselves up in a strong position for a first phase, top six finish after ending 2023 with a fine home win over Colwyn Bay at The Carling Oval.

Sunday’s televised North Wales derby was much closer than the first meeting of the sides back in August, which the Canaries won 4-0, but the points reward was the same for Richard Davies’ Europe-chasers.

After today’s results, Town are on 30 points from 21 games, while fellow upper-half contenders Penybont and Haverfordwest County are on 28 apiece after 21.

Caernarfon’s goal difference is -1, while Penybont and Haver are on -3. All three have one match left to play in phase one.

If the Cofis win at Cardiff Met University on January 13, a place in the Championship Conference is theirs whatever happens elsewhere.

A draw or loss for Caernarfon will leave them depending on the scores when Haver host Bala Town and Penybont entertain Connah’s Quay Nomads on the same afternoon in the 22nd and final round of phase one matches.

To maximise their chances of a top-half berth, Caernarfon needed to defeat the Bay today, and they duly obliged in front of a crowd of 978.

After a goalless first half, Bay’s Tom McCready hit a 25-yard missile that looked a goal all the way, but somehow 16-year-old keeper Hari Thomas produced a magnificent tip over the bar.

The deadlock was broken on 61 minutes when Daniel Gosset played an eye-of-the-needle pass into Marc Williams, who poked home from close range.

In the 71st minute, a great delivery from Sion Bradley released Zack Clarke who burst into the box and applied a calm finish past keeper Joe Smith.

Ten minutes from time, McCready’s free kick crept inside the right-hand post to put the Seagulls back into it.

However, Caernarfon held on for three priceless points to put their fate in the second half of the season in their own hands.