Football: Caernarfon Town FC thumped at Prestatyn

Oct 2 2008 By Dave Jones

PRESTATYN TOWN 5 CAERNARFON TOWN 0

WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE

THIS game could have turned out so differently had a controversial second-minute penalty decision gone Caernarfon’s way.

Canaries striker Lee Furlong raced clear into the Prestatyn penalty area and was brought down from behind by Dave Hayes, but referee Huw Jones ruled no spot-kick.

Had the penalty been awarded, the Cofis scored and the hosts reduced to 10 men, the complexion of the match would have changed drastically.

But as it was, Prestatyn were 1-0 up two minutes later courtesy of a cool finish from player manager Neil Gibson.

Soon after Ian Griffiths let fly from 25 yards for the hosts and Michael Jago did well to palm past the post.

In the 11th minute Caernarfon should have equalised. Warren Waugh’s stinger was blocked by Jon Dunt, but from the rebound Steve Johnson needed just a sidefoot to score yet opted for power, lashed against the underside of the bar and the chance was gone.

On 18 minutes Town made it 2-0 when Steve Hoult’s right foot centre from the left was brilliantly headed home by Steve Bowes.

Caernarfon’s fortunes plummeted further on 22 minutes when Griffiths was bundled down from behind in the box by Canaries skipper Dave Ridler.

A penalty was given and Ridler was red-carded, but perhaps justice was done for the earlier decision when Griffiths’ kick struck the post.

In the 44th minute it was 3-0 when Mike Parker’s low cross was slotted into the net by Bowes.

The hosts added a fourth six minutes into the second stanza when Bowes set up Parker for an easy finish.

Bowes was denied by a brilliant stop from Jago from a shot on the turn, then on 65 minutes Paul Addo became the second Caernarfon player to be sent off, his offence using bad language.

Poor Cofis defending from Brookes and Smith allowed substitute Jon Fisher-Cooke to drill in number five 20 minutes from the end.