CONNAH’S Quay Nomads were the visitors to the Oval for a JD Cymru Premier clash on Friday evening and, on recent results between the clubs, Neil Gibson’s side will have felt confident of facing the Cofis.

Caernarfon had not defeated the Deesiders in their last 14 matches and, as the Nomads’ social media team reminded everyone in the lead up to the match, Nomads had an excellent record against Richard Davies’ side this season, having won three of the four previous matches this campaign convincingly. 

The match began with a bang, as Nomads were awarded a penalty 15 seconds into the match, when Franklin was brought down by Danny Gosset in the box but keeper Lewis Webb saved Jordan Davies’ spot kick.

Caernarfon could have gone ahead just a minute later when Sion Bradley’s free kick was met by Gruff John at the far post but the defender’s volley struck the woodwork.

A good move through the middle of the park eventually saw the ball at Darren Thomas’ feet and the little wizard’s cross was met at the far post by Adam Davies, who rose above Ben Nash and headed goalwards with the Caaernarfon players adamant that the ball had crossed the line but the referee waved play on.

Bradley was tormenting the Nomads backline with his trademark runs and he found Thomas with a fine ball into the box but the effort was deflected wide.

Town manager Richard Davies will have been frustrated that his side could not end a half they had dominated ahead but the second period began in the same manner with Caernarfon in almost total control.

The hosts were finally rewarded nine minutes after the restart. There seemed little danger when the impressive Dion Donohue took receipt of the ball on the half way line but he threaded an excellent pass to Gruff John on the left side of the penalty area.

He found Louis Lloyd on the edge of the area, and the young winger cut across the ball to fire it low in the left hand corer of Firth’s goal.

With 58 minutes on the clock, more good work between Bradley and Donohue ended with the latter crossing into the box, where Marc Williams arrived on time to bullet the ball past Firth with his head.

It never looked likely that Nomads would get back into the game.

They huffed, and puffed, and were certainly not short of effort, but Caernarfon were tenacious, first to the ball, and were creating plenty of opportunities to extend their lead.

The visitors were awarded a second penalty of the evening six minutes into injury time when Joe Faux brought Franklin down in the area, and this time Davies sent Webb the wrong way.