Cymru Premier: Caernarfon Town up to fifth after late Jones winner
JD CYMRU PREMIER LEAGUE – DECEMBER 14
Caernarfon Town 3 (Lloyd pens 35 & 44, M Jones 82)
Barry Town United 2 (George 25, Williams-Margetson 51)
Matty Jones’ 82nd minute winner secured the three points which edged Caernarfon up to fifth spot in the Cymru Premier, making them still North Wales’ highest-placed top-flight club at present.
Eliot Richards lashed an early effort over the bar for Barry before the hosts threatened when good work by Zack Clarke set up Darren Thomas for a shot which Luc Rees saved well.
There was an element of fluke about the goal which gave the visitors a 24th minute lead.
Michael George did great work at pace to make room for himself down the right, but his right-foot delivery which sailed into the net beyond keeper Hari Thomas was probably intended as a cross.
No matter, they all count!
George had a golden chance to make it two soon after when he skilfully lobbed the advancing Thomas, but with an open goal gaping the right-midfielder rolled wide.
In the 34th minute, the Cofis were level when referee Jordan Harman spotted a push by Josh Yorwerth on Adam Davies in the box and pointed to the spot.
Mr Harman showed a red card to the Barry defender and Louis Lloyd’s penalty beat Rees straight down the middle.
In the 44th minute, Lloyd outpaced Callum Sainty on the left and powered into the box, where he was bundled over by the chasing Barry player he had left struggling.
Another penalty and this time Lloyd buried his strike into the left-hand corner.
Early in the second half, Caernarfon could have had a third when Thomas did really well to cross low from the right, Clarke received and turned, belting a shot which brought a fine instinctive stop from Rees.
Barry made it 2-2 in the 51st minute. Robbie Willmott launched a free kick into the box via the left, the hosts failed to clear sufficiently and Ben Williams-Margetson’s volley found the net past a wrong-footed Thomas off defender Jones.
Caernarfon pressed for a winner against the 10 men, sub Osian Eliis’ hanging cross being headed against his own post by Sainty.
Eight minutes from time came the decider. Ellis received the ball inside the box and nicely teed up Jones to drill home right-footed beyond a static Rees.
Caernarfon Town
Hari Thomas
Matty Jones
Gruff John
Zack Clarke
Adam Davies
Darren Thomas (c – William Xie 90 + 6)
Louis Lloyd
Matty Hill (Osian Evans 66 – Osian Ellis 74))
Sam Downey
Paulo Mendes
Ryan Sears