After defeating Berriew in Round One Corwen were rewarded with a home tie against higher league opposition in the form of JD Premier outfit Caernarfon Town in Round Two. As cricket was scheduled at the War Memorial Park Corwen had to switch the tie to Maes Tegid in Bala and after the Reserves had played at home the previous evening it meant the rare prospect of two home games in the same weekend for Corwen.

Despite it being the second weekend in August the conditions in Bala were akin to a winter’s day, with a strong wind whizzing around the pitch in ever changing directions. The wind even caused problems for the officials, as the wind had slammed the door into the referees changing rooms shut causing kick off to be delayed by twenty minutes as the stewards tried to prise the door open so the officials could fetch their flags and whistle.

Goal
With playing against higher league opposition manager Danny Jellicoe was likely to have told his players the importance of not conceding an early goal, but in the third minute keeper Dylan Jones came off his line to come for the ball, which he was unable to get as it got caught up in the wind and went over him, allowing Gareth Evans to collect the ball and put into an unguarded net.

The home side’s response came when Joe Williams ran at the goal with the ball and got within shooting range, but delayed his shot as he tried to find a favourable angle, allowing a defender to track black and block his shot.

Goal
The Cofi’s were two goals to the good in the seventieth minute when some good up play ended when Noah Edwards collected a cross in the Corwen penalty area, which he then slotted into far corner of the net.

A cross from debutant Adam Williams went across the face of the goal and was being hunted by Tom Williams, but the slightest of touches from the outstretched Gareth Edwards took the ball from the Corwen striker.

A minute later a cross from Gareth Evans was heading towards Cai Jones, but a last ditch tackle from Ryan Billington prevented Jones from getting a shot away.

Half Time

During the interval the heaven’s opened to couple with the strong wind, making it seem even more like the game was being taken place in January rather than August.

After the restart Adam Williams crossed the ball into the penalty area, where a poor touch from Ryan Williams nearly allowed Joe Williams in, but the defender recovered just in time to prevent a shot.

Sion Bradley looked to put the result safe with a pot shot from distance, but his effort whistled wide of the post. Leo Smith also tried his luck with a shot from range, but the ball looped over the bar.

With ten minutes to play Corwen sub Eilir Edwards (who had dismissed rumours of him retiring from football) collected the ball with his back to goal and hit a shot on the turn sixteen yards from the target, which brought a great fingertip save out of keeper Alex Ramsay.

The visitors hit Corwen with a quick move in the eighty-third minute, which ended when Leo Smith played in Sion Bradley, whose shot forced a decent save from Dylan.

Corwen looked to set up a grandstand finish with five minutes to play as Steve Watkins got his head on to the end of a corner, but Ramsay showed lightning quick reactions to make a save. Form here Caernarfon went on the counter attack, and pulled a save out of Dylan with his feet. The rebound fell to a Caernarfon play, but he blasted the ball over the bar.

In stoppage time Joe Williams tried to get a consolation goal for Corwen from a twenty-five yard free kick, but he sent the ball just over the bar,

Full Time
The final whistle confirmed defeat for Corwen and passage into Round three for Caernarfon; however Danny Jellicoe’s team can take pride and confidence for putting in a good display against higher league opposition, who are likely to be the best side they face this season.

Gavin Billington