Cymru Premier: Caernarfon and Cardiff Met seal top six place, final slot still in balance

JD PREMIER NORTH REPORTS – TUESDAY, JANUARY 14

CAERNARFON TOWN 3 (Lock 47, G John 80, Canavan 84)
FLINT TOWN UNITED 0

In six of their seven seasons since returning to the Cymru Premier League, Caernarfon Town have secured a top-half place.

Tonight saw the Canaries book fourth spot with a 3-0 home victory over Flint Town United.

Richard Davies’ side are assured of finishing the highest-placed North Wales side at this stage and may well yet end up the sole Gogs in the Championship Conference for 2024-25.

Since being promoted back to the top flight in 2018-19, the Cofis have achieved the following end-of-season placings: 4th. 5th, 6th, 4th, 9th and 5th.

Despite being without striker Zack Clarke, who has signed for The New Saints after a highly productive spell with the Canaries. Town have acquired talented midfielder Jake Canavan on loan from the Park Hall outfit, and he was on the bench at the Carling Oval.

In a goalless first half, Ryan Sears’ fierce strike from a corner was somehow bundled behind, then only the crossbar denied the hosts after a piece of genius from Louis Lloyd, who later looked unlucky not to win a penalty when he went over in the box.

After a goalless first half. Caernarfon took a 47th minute lead with a goal from the very impressive Josh Lock, also on loan from TNS. A throw-in from the left was nodded into the path of Lock, who applied a thunderous left-foot finish.

On a quick counter, Lock fed a lovely ball into Lloyd, whose low drive was brilliantly kept out by Silkmen keeper Jack Flint.

Adam Davies somehow headed wide from a Lock delivery via the right, then Paulo Mendes hit a shot on the turn inches wide after the hosts appeared unlucky not to get a penalty decision for handball.

Morgan Owen’s cross was then fumbled by Flint, who did well to bravely thwart Davies from the follow-up.

In the 78th minute, Davies was tripped in the area by Ben Hughes and a penalty was awarded. Louis Lloyd was guilty of a very rare missed penalty, Flint saving tremendously again.

But just two minutes later, Gruff John made it 2-0 with a precise volley from a Joe Faux corner.

And the icing on the cake for the crowd of 729 was an 84th minute strike from new man Canavan, who replaced Lock on 76, Davies with the neat assist.

CONNAH’S QUAY NOMADS A
BALA TOWN A

The final round of games in the first phase remained unfinished after Nomads versus Bala was abandoned due to fog.

An emergency meeting of the Football Association of Wales National Leagues Board will take place on Wednesday morning to discuss the matter,

Quay were leading 3-0 when the game was abandoned.

The game at Flint’s Essity Stadium was in doubt ahead of kick-off because of thick fog but eventually started 15 minutes late.

Nomads made an impressive start with Rhys Hughes scoring twice inside the opening nine minutes – one an effort inside his own half.

Ben Nash pocketed a third to give the hosts a 3-0 interval lead.

But poor visibility resulted in a pause in play early in the second half and with half an hour of the game remaining.

Following a delay of over half an hour referee Tom Owen abandoned the game.

OTHER RESULTS

Newtown 1 Penybont 2
Cardiff Met University 0 The New Saints 2
Barry Town United 1 Haverfordwest County 1