Hughes the hero as Caernarfon Town advance to Euro play-off final

EUROPEAN PLAY-OFF SEMI FINAL

Caernarfon Town 0
Cardiff Met University 0
(Caernarfon won 4-2 on penalties)

What is it about Caernarfon Town and their goalkeepers?

At the start of the season, it was Stephen McMullan whose shoot-out heroics helped the Cofis win their first-ever European tie on spot-kicks against Crusaders of Northern Ireland.

Today it is Ben Hughes who has written himself into Canaries’ folklore by producing a stunning late double save before keeping out to two penalties to ensure Richard Davies’ side progressed to the European Play-Off final at the expense of Cardiff Met.

Caernarfon will now travel to Haverfordwest County next Sunday where the prize on offer will be a UEFA Conference League place.

In front of 1,568 fans at The Oval on Sunday evening, Town thoroughly deserved to reach the final, despite struggling to overcome Met’s defensive tactics over 90 minutes.

With no extra time, the semi went straight to pens and Caernarfon triumphed 4-2.

In a game of few clear cut chances, Town’s joint Cymru Premier golden boot winner Louis Lloyd saw an early free kick tipped over the bar by Kelland Absalom.

From the resulting Matty Owen corner, Blaine Hudson connected with a firm goalbound header, but Absalom made his catch look easy.

Met were lucky to escape a handball claim when left-back Barnaby Soady appeared guilty of blatantly using an arm to control the ball in the box.

The students did not trouble keeper Hughes, who joined the Cofis on loan from Swansea City in September, at all in the first half, but the visitors did show a bit more ambition after the break.

Still, it was Caernarfon, who dominated the possession 80-20%, that continued to do the lion’s share of the attacking.

Matty Jones’ netbound volley was headed clear by Matthew Chubb before Lloyd dinked a lovely cross in Rabona style onto the head of Adam Davies, whose nodded effort lacked the power to test Absalom.

Sub Josh Lock had an attempt blocked before Lloyd blasted over the rebound.

Absalom seemed confident a curling Jones free kick was drifting wide, but Paulo Mendes got his head to the ball at the back post, although he was unable to hit the target.

Caernarfon’s closest call came on 80 minutes when a pass to Morgan Owen forced him wide, but he was able to get in a good shot which Absalom pushed out and the keeper was also able to hold Lock’s follow-up effort.

Cardiff Met had their moment in the 88th minute – a golden chance to pull off a smash and grab.

Ryan Reynolds’ low drive was kept out by Hughes, but sub Thomas Vincent looked certain to net the rebound only to be denied by a phenomenal save.

Penalties were needed and this is how the kicks went:

• Jack Veale converts a great penalty – 1-0 Met
• Louis Lloyd shows typical calm to beat Absalom, slotting into the right-hand corner – 1-1
• Lewis Rees scores for Met despite Hughes diving the right way – 2-1 Met
• Josh Lock displays superb composure to find the net – 2-2
• Eliot Evans’ kick is saved by Hughes, diving to his right – 2-2
• Morgan Owen nets with another impeccable kick – 2-3
• Hughes keeps out Chubb’s effort diving left – 2-3
• Jake Canavan puts away Town’s fourth kick and sends his team to the final – 2-4

CAERNARFON TOWN

Ben Hughes
Morgan Owen
Matty Jones
Philip Mooney
Adam Davies
Louis Lloyd
Blaine Hudson
Sam Downey (Josh Lock 65)
Paulo Mendes
Jake Canavan
Ryan Sears (captain)
SUBS: Hari Thomas (GK), Gruff John, Darren Thomas, Matty Hill, Joe Faux, Osian Ellis