Then Huws Gray Alliance side Caernarfon met mighty Welsh Premier champions TNS in the third round of the Welsh Cup on November 30, 2014.
The Canaries were already one-up through Nathan Craig’s free kick before Darren Thomas brought the house down – literally.
In the 25th minute, Thomas turned sharply close to the halfway line before leaving a trail of defenders in his wake and lashed home a beauty from the edge of the D.
Unfortunately, what happened next also lives in the memory as a wall behind the goal Thomas had just fired into gave way, causing a large group of spectators to plunge forwards in a heap.
Thankfully, no-one was badly injured, but the game had to be delayed at a crucial stage while repairs were made.
On resumption, TNS settled much the better, and three goals in seven minutes put them ahead by half time.
Despite a fantastic second half display from the Cofis, there was no further score and Saints went through, but one will always wonder how Town might have fared had they not been disrupted in their prime.
Darren Thomas will forever be the man who captained Caernarfon Town in their first European adventure.
And what a story it proved to be!
After beating Crusaders of Northern Ireland 2-0 at home, the Cofis then lost the away leg 3-1 but went through on penalties to progress to the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round.
Darren was a two-goal hero as Caernarfon Town won the FAW Trophy Final by a record 6-0 margin in 2012-13.
Opponents Kilvey Fords of the Swansea Senior League were simply blown away as the flying Canaries ran riot at Latham Park, Newtown, cheered on by the amazing Cofi Army.
As a young man Darren Thomas had a dream. That dream was to win the Welsh Cup with his hometown team Caernarfon.
Last season, the Cofi Messi achieved that very ambition, appearing as a second half substitute as Richard Davies’ side swept past Flint Town United 3-0 in the final at Rodney Parade, Newport.
The atmosphere was something else, with the travelling Caernarfon fans creating an Oval-like cauldron of noise in faraway South Wales.
Not necessarily a sole magic moment but instead a whole season of them.
Darren scored 23 goals in 27 games as Caernarfon romped to a second tier 2 Cymru Alliance title in three seasons, losing just once in 28 matches. During the campaign, the Cofi Messi also reached 100 goals for the club.
Thomas at his very best in this hat-trick show at The Oval.
His first came when his pace and sharpness outwitted the Met defence and he sent a precise low finish past keeper Alex Lang into the bottom corner.
Thomas’ second was a bullet which hit the post and rebounded into the goal off the diving Lang’s back.
Some media recorded this as a Lang OG but this was a Cofi Messi goal all the way.
Darren’s hat-trick was an exquisite left foot finish to complete a 5-1 win. Magical stuff.
What a stunning strike this was!
Thomas latched onto a loose ball in midfield and from about 25 yards thundered home a right-footer which rocketed in off the bar.
On this day Caernarfon won 4-0 at Ammanford in the Welsh Cup, Thomas scoring twice.
His first was that Alan Shearer style effort which deservedly won Goal of the Season on Sgorio.
To represent Wales is a huge honour in itself, but to do it at your home ground is something else.
Darren was a sub at The Oval on a memorable evening which saw Wales C hammer England C 4-0, Will Evans and Aeron Edwards scoring two goals apiece.
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