Caernarfon and Bala drew all four league clashes last season – will there be a winner today?
PREVIEW: CAERNARFON TOWN v BALA TOWN
JD Cymru Premier League – Monday, August 26, 2.30 pm
Last season Caernarfon Town and Bala Town drew all four Cymru Premier encounters against each other.
Will history repeat itself at the Carling Oval on Bank Holiday Monday?
The Canaries will be buoyed by Friday’s thumping 4-0 victory at Newtown, while Bala should also be in good spirits following a 2-0 home triumph over Flint Town United.
Colin Caton’s Lakesiders have started the season well with two wins and a draw making them early joint-leaders of the Cymru Premier.
The Cofis have played just twice, winning at Newtown, but losing their opening fixture to Haverfordwest on home ground.
REPORT: PAUL EVANS
Newtown 0
Caernarfon Town 4 (Mooney 6, Davies 69, Clarke 89, Sutton OG 90+4)
Cymru Premier – Friday, August 23
In the past Latham Park has been an unhappy hunting ground for Caernarfon, but after Friday’s superb result they have now won twice there this season before the end of August.
The first success came on August 4 in the Nathaniel MG Cup, the Canaries prevailing on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Friday’s league victory was much more emphatic and made up for the disappointment of Richard Davies’ side losing their Cymru Premier opener at home to Haverfordwest.
Caernarfon surged ahead in the fifth minute. Joe Faux’ corner was headed back to him by Shane Sutton and the winger’s low cross into the box was met by Phil Mooney, who side-footed past the diving Alex Swindell.
Mooney was inches away from adding a second four minutes later when he struck from 25 yards, but the ball flew inches over the woodwork.
Home stopper Swindell came to his side’s rescue on 28 minutes after Darren Thomas had crossed for Faux, who connected well from eight yards but found the advancing keeper in his way.
Caernarfon’s number one Stephen McMullen pulled off an excellent point-blank double save to deny the hosts a leveller.
Swindell was forced into another great stop three minutes from the break to thwart Ryan Sears.
The Cofis’ one-goal advantage was probably not a fair reflection of their dominance in the first half.
Predictably, Newtown upped their game and were on the front foot for the first 15 minutes after the restart. McMullen proved his worth again when he flung himself to his left to parry away a Jason Oswell header.
The keeper was in action again seven minutes later when he pushed a Josh Lock effort past the upright.
Marc Williams was unfortunate not to claim Town’s second goal just past the hour when he rattled the bar.
Caernarfon’s dominance was finally rewarded when Faux delivered into the box where Adam Davies headed into the far top corner.
The Robins never really recovered from this and it was 3-0 when substitute Zack Clarke scored from close range.
Three minutes into injury time Matty Hill’s attempt from took a wicked deflection off Sutton into his own goal.
Caernarfon team: Stephen McMullen, Ryan Sears, Morgan Owen, Matty Jones, Joe Faux, Phil Mooney, Marc Williams, Paulo Mendes, Adam Davies, Darren Thomas, Sam Downey.
Subs (used): Gruff John, Matty Hill, Zack Clarke, Louis Lloyd. Not used: Hari Thomas, Osian Evans, Stefan Edwards.