FLASHBACK – Five years ago: Llandudno and Caernarfon shared New Year’s Day draw

Mark Connolly was a Llandudno player when he scored his 99th Welsh Premier goal five years ago today

FLASHBACK – FIVE YEARS AGO

WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE – JANUARY 1, 2019

Llandudno 1 (Connolly pen 71)
Caernarfon Town 1 (Bradley 69)

Mark Connolly’s 99th Welsh Premier League goal rescued a point for Llandudno in a close-fought clash at Maesdu Park five years ago today.

Tudno’s ground was called The Giant Hospitality Stadium (remember that?) at the time and the hosts were good value for a share of the spoils.

In the first half, the Seasiders went close when a Connolly free kick was fumbled onto the bar by visiting keeper Alex Ramsay and George Harry headed the rebound over when perhaps he should have done better.

Leo Smith then burst forward for the home side, but his well-struck shot was smartly held by Ramsay.

In the second half, Kai Edwards delivered a great ball from the back which Smith controlled magnificently and raced into the box, but his left-foot strike came back off the post and into the grateful arms of Ramsay.

It was against the run of play when Caernarfon grabbed a 69th minute opener.

Ramsay’s long kick flummoxed the Tudno defence and Sion Bradley pounced to lash home left-footed, sending the visiting Cofi Army wild behind the goal.

Two minutes later Iwan Williams’ Llandudno side were level. Harry was bundled over in the box by Bradley and Connolly hammered the resultant penalty high into the top-left.

Caernarfon almost regained the lead from the move of the match. Bradley found Noah Edwards, whose marvellous back-heel freed Darren Thomas, but his near-post strike was kept out by the legs of home stopper Connor Roberts.

And Llandudno could have won it late on when Smith floated a ball into the box, but Harry was unable to convert from a good position.

In their first campaign back in the top flight after a 10-year absence, Caernarfon went on to finish an impressive fourth, but unfortunately Llandudno were relegated after a four-season stay.

TEAMS

LLANDUDNO

Connor Roberts
Kai Edwards
Leo Smith
Thomas Stevenson
Danny Hughes
Ben Clark
Zyaac Edwards
Mark Connolly
Toby Jones
Alun Webb
George Harry
SUBSTITUTES
Aron Hughes
Shaun Pearson
Iwan Williams
Telor Williams
Osian Jones

CAERNARFON TOWN

Alex Ramsay
Rhys Roberts
Gareth Edwards
Noah Edwards
Joe Williams
Ryan Williams
Sion Bradley
Danny Brookwell
Nathan Craig
Cai Jones
Darren Thomas
SUBSTITUTES USED
Jamie Crowther
Gareth Evans
Jamie Breese