Having covered North Wales football for close on 40 years. I’ve attended and reported on hundreds if not thousands of games across the pyramid.
Here’s another in a series of classics from the archives – No 14 so far!
Back in September 2008, Prestatyn were just over a month into their debut season as a Welsh Premier League club, while Caernarfon were a struggling outfit heading for relegation.
How times have changed 18 years on.
A Friday evening at Bastion Gardens turned into an experience to forget for the Canaries, who finished up with nine men and were completely out of luck.
Prestatyn had made a mixed start to the campaign under player-manager Neil Gibson but were on song in this clash.
The final scoreline at Bastion Road did not tell the full story because if a controversial second-minute penalty decision had gone Caernarfon’s way the outcome could have been altogether different.
Canaries striker Lee Furlong was racing through on goal when he appeared to be brought down from behind in the box by Prestatyn defender Dave Hayes.
Had referee Huw Jones given a penalty it would surely also have meant a red card for Hayes, but the official waved play on much to the fury of the Caernarfon players and management.
Just two minutes later the Seasiders took the lead and went on to record their most emphatic Welsh Premier victory yet.
The hosts went ahead on four minutes when good passing between Michael Parker and Steve Bowes enabled Gibson to beat two Cofis defenders and slide coolly past keeper Michael Jago.
David Rowe’s Caernarfon side should have levelled when Warren Waugh’s shot was beaten away by keeper Jon Dunt, but Steve Johnson had the goal at his mercy only to slam the ball against the underside of the bar.
Prestatyn doubled their lead on 18 minutes when Steve Hoult’s cross from the left was headed in by Bowes who celebrated his first Welsh Premier goal.
Another big moment came on 22 minutes when ex-Wrexham defender Dave Ridler brought down Ian Griffiths as he was through on goal. This time ref Jones gave a penalty and issued Ridler with a straight red.
The Canaries may have felt some sort of justice was done when Griffiths’ spot-kick came back off the post and to safety.
Just before half time Gibson’s sublime ball down the right picked out Parker who squared to Bowes and he drilled home from eight yards to make it 3-0 at the break.
Parker added a fourth on 51 minutes following great link play between Griffiths and Bowes, but Caernarfon’s woes worsened when Paul Addo was sent off for dissent.
Prestatyn’s night was complete when poor visiting defending allowed substitute Jon Fisher-Cooke to steer in number five in the 70th minute – and he could have added two more before the end.
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