Archive Classics: 13 years ago Caernarfon and Holywell were both Tier 3 clubs and met in an FAW Trophy semi-final

FAW TROPHY SEMI-FINAL 2012-13

Holywell Town 1 (Povey 35)
Caernarfon Town 3 (K Roberts 31, C Jones 45+1, N Thomas 73)

March 9, 2013

Thirteen years ago Caernarfon Town and Holywell Town clashed for a place in the FAW Trophy Final at neutral Maesdu Park, Llandudno.
In the 2026-27 season, both clubs will compete in the top-flight Cymru Premier, but back in 2012-13, the pair were Tier 3 sides in the Welsh Alliance League.
March 2013 saw the Wellmen’s dreams of lifting the Trophy for the second time in three years dashed as a Caernarfon side bound for a treble emerged victorious.
The two Lock Stock Welsh Alliance rivals were both desperate for glory and tried to stamp their authority on the game from the first whistle.
A through ball from midfield had Holywell’s Ian Griffiths on the chase, but Cofis keeper Paul Pritchard got to it first. At the other end, the Holywell keeper was forced to tip the ball over from a Clive Williams header before Williams again headed over from a good position.
Darren Thomas saw his shot go across the goal and only needed a touch to see it home but the ball went out for a goal kick.
It was Caernarfon who took the lead just after the half-hour mark when Kevin Roberts found himself with a space on the edge of the box and fired low into the corner of the goal.
However, the Wellmen were not down for long. Barry Calder was brought down by Moses Barnett for a free kick deep in the Caernarfon half. Matty Roberts flighted in a perfect delivery for Tom Povey to outjump his marker and beat Pritchard with a well-placed header.
Stung by the leveller, Caernarfon roared back with Lee Mcardle hitting a free kick wide and Ywain Gwynedd seeing a header cleared off the line. But their pressure paid off a minute into injury-time as Cai Jones carved an opening on the edge of the box and slotted past the keeper.
Holywell came out for the second period with the strong wind behind them and caused problems for the Cofis but without being able to test the keeper, a Matty Roberts free kick deflecting out for a corner and Danny Sullivan just inches away from connecting with a Sam Jones cross.
Caernarfon soaked up the pressure and in the 73rd minute sickened the Wellmen by increasing their lead with a goal on the break.
Darren Thomas’ cross from the right found Neil Thomas, who avoided the challenge of Ashley Durham to fire the ball home, much to the joy of the Caernarfon supporters.
Holywell kept plugging away and Pritchard was soon forced to palm away a Sam Jones free kick for a corner, but Caernarfon advanced to the final against Kilvey Fords, which the Canaries won 6-0.

Holywell Town and Caernarfon Town met four times in the 2012-13 season
Both teams shared two wins apiece
Feb 27: Caernarfon Town 1 Holywell Town 2 (league)
Mar 9: Holywell Town 1 Caernarfon Town 3 (FAW Trophy semi-final)
Mar 28: Holywell Town 0 Caernarfon Town 1 (Cookson Cup final)
Apr 24: Holywell Town 2 Caernarfon Town 0 (league)

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