Gold Plated Performance Earns Mold An Unexpected Point

Nathan Craig salvaged a point for Caernarfon Town with a stunning late strike that was enough to secure runners-up spot for the Cofis in the Cymru Alliance League.
With one eye on next week’s Welsh Cup semi-final, the starting line-up was tweaked somewhat as cup-tied duo Jay Gibbs and Jamie Roberts returned to the side whilst young local goalkeeper Alex Crofts was handed his first team debut.
Caernarfon started strongly and dominated possession from the opening moments, pinning Mold back in their own half for the first quarter of the match, although it must be said they failed to create any worthwhile openings, due mainly to the hosts solid backline and impressive workrate. It took the Canaries twenty five minutes to threaten the scoreboard, when Jamie Breese pounced on a half clearance in the box, but the striker’s goalbound volley was blocked by Alex Weatherby. A twenty yard bullet from Jamie Roberts was also blocked whilst the young playmaker’s second effort sixty seconds later flew just over the woodwork.
Despite enjoying nearly exclusive access to the ball, the Cofis were nearly caught out just before the half hour mark when a great delivery from midfield beat Caernarfon’s defence and Aaron Davies latched onto the ball. Crofts rushed out to meet the striker and pulled off a fine one handed save to turn the powerful effort around his left-hand post.
The Cofis started the second period strongly and, just four minutes after the restart Leigh Craven did well in the Mold box before crossing into the six yard area where Breese arrived late to finish comfortably past glovesman Leigh Williams. The striker went close to adding a second minutes later when he beat Williams again but his shot lacked power and a Mold defender hacked the ball off his own line to keep his side just a solitary goal behind.
The match turned around in dramatic fashion within three minutes around the hour mark. First, Jorden Stafford got his side back on level terms in the fifty eighth minute when he beat Crofts with a stunning strike from twenty five yards and Mold found themselves ahead when Danny Warren finished smartly into the far corner of Town’s goal after latching onto a loose ball in the box. The hosts are currently fighting for their Cymru Alliance League survival and, finding themselves on the cusp of an important victory, they redoubled their efforts around the pitch, giving Town’s midfield playmakers little time to exert their influence.
However, Caernarfon have an impressive work ethic of their own and they soon re-established their control, with Darren Thomas and Nathan Williams threatening to equalise before Nathan Craig did just that, the captain letting the ball run across his body and on to his left foot before stunning Williams with a thunderbolt that kissed the post on its way into the net. It was a sublime strike by the former Welsh Under 21 international that gave his side added impetus in search of a winner but, despite efforts by Breese, Thomas and Gareth Edwards, the Canaries could not manage to find the winner and were forced to share the spoils with their hard working hosts, who had been excellent throughout.
(Match report courtesy of Caernarfon Town F.C.)