Despite an exhilarating first half display, Flint were unable to maintain the momentum in the second period, and Caernarfon took control of the game to run out comfortable winners and maintain their early season grip on the top of the table. The visitors were clinical and ruthless in finishing their opportunities, whilst defending from long throw situations proved to be very troubling for the home side.
Flint took the lead with just 3 minutes on the clock. Ben Hughes received the ball on the left, and laid it off to the supporting Ben Wynne, who switched feet before delivering a teasing cross that Caernarfon keeper punched away. However, the ball only got as far as the lurking Jake Canavan on the edge of the area, who controlled it, before striking a composed finish back past Roberts into the net.
Unfortunately, the advantage didn’t last long, as from a long throw, the Canaries hit back on 5 minutes. In trying to defend the throw, Harry Owen could only succeed in glancing the ball into the path of the incoming Paulo Mendes, who headed it beyond Jack Flint.
The game was now developing at breakneck pace into a real end to end affair. On 25 minutes, Elliott Reeves showed great determination to burst through into the box, and only an excellent last ditch tackle by Ryan Sears prevented him from restoring the Silkmen’s lead.
But another long throw not properly defended was to prove costly on the half hour mark for the Silkmen. It was delivered to the near post, and some hesitancy in attempting to clear proved fatal as Zach Clarke swooped in on the loose ball and rifled it into the roof of the net.
Flint hit back on 37 minutes, with a goal that deservedly finished off a sublime move down the right side. Jake Phillips fed Ben Woollam deep inside his own half, and the TNS loanee maraudered forward before sliding the ball through to Josh Jones who galloped towards the bye line and then pulled it back across ball for Reeves to slot home with aplomb.
Having squared the game the Silkmen then held the upper hand for the remainder of the half, with Canavan firing just wide, after being picked out by Reeves, before Reeves himself was denied by a good save from Roberts as the clock ticked up to the 45 minute mark. However, Flint were dealt a huge blow in stoppage time when Woollam was injured, forcing him out of the remainder of the game.
Five minutes into the second half Caernarfon regained the lead, and this time they weren’t going to relinquish it, but instead added to it as the match played out, and they grew stronger, whilst Flint visibly tired. Yet again it came from a long throw routine. Morgan Owen delivered the throw, and this time the initial threat was cleared, but the ball only reached Iwan Lewis on the edge of the box, who was all on his own, and had plenty of time to pick his spot, as he placed a perfect shot into the goal.
Flint pulled off a great reaction save to deny Sion Bradley in the 70th minute, as the Caernarfon substitute received the ball in the box, brought it under control, turned and shot.
The home side’s play was now becoming increasingly scrappy, and they were visibly struggling to clear the ball out of defence. A loose ball gifted Caernarfon the chance to attack, and the ball was fed into Mendes, and with the Flint rearguard disorganised he hit an absolute peach of a shot into the net from 20 yards. Adam Davies rubbed further salt into the Silkmen’s wounds when he curled in a nice effort from the edge of the area, to make it five for the visitors.
With ten minutes remaining, Flint had a chance to reduce the deficit when Darren Stephenson was through one on one with Connor Roberts, but the Caenarfon stopper spread himself well to deny the striker.
We must now reset and go again on Monday in the Flintshire derby against Connah’s Quay Nomads, which kicks off at 5-15pm.
Report by Nigel Sheen Photos by Geoff Quinn
Line Ups :
Flint Town United – J. Flint, B. Woollam (S. Fofana 46), M. Burke (C. Ferguson 76), J. Canavan, H. Owen (c), J. Thorn, J. Phillips (K. Imariagbe 68), B. Hughes, E. Reeves (D. Stephenson 68), B. Wynne (D. Davies 76), J. Jones. Unused Sub – D. Szczepaniak (GK)
Caernarfon Town – C. Roberts, M. Owen, M. Jones, D. Smith, R. Sears (c), I. Lewis, P. Mendes (D. Thomas 88), S. Downey (O. Ellis 88), A. Davies (C. Evans 88), J. Lock (P. Mooney 78), Z. Clarke (S. Bradley 67). Unused Subs – H. Thomas (GK), K. Harrison
Flint MOM – Josh Jones (high tempo performance throughout)
