Manager Sean Eardley's Caernarfon Town . Pic: Caernarfon Town.

Canaries Inspired By Home-Town Hero ‘Mighty Wyn’

dai-sport journalist Terry Phillips reported on both Caernarfon Town and Llanelli Town over the last few seasons, charting their bids for promotion to Welsh Premier League football. Terry popped along to Caernarfon’s Oval Stadium for a WPL fixture to see how the two clubs are faring in the top flight.

The Canaries brought in former Wales, Wrexham, Bolton, Newcastle, Manchester City and Manchester United striker Wyn Davies help their cause and the big man provided the inspiration needed.

Caernarfon-born Davies, now aged 76, was a guest of his home-town club and the players in yellow responded in style, winning 3-0 thanks to goals from Danny Brookwell (59 mins), Jamie Breese (69) and substitute Cai Jones (86).

Personally, I didn’t see the Mighty Wyn play live, but I knew all about him as I grew up. He was a star striker and fans would single ‘Come on without, Come on within, you ain’t seen nothing like the mighty Wyn.’

That was a Manfred Mann hit in 1968 – and fitted Wyn to a T. 

The striker made almost 600 professional appearances, scoring 150 goals, and was capped 37 times by Wales, scoring six times.

Davies signed for Caernarfon in 1958, when Arthur Lynn was manager, and later moved on to Wrexham.

It was fitting that the mighty Wyn, who now lives in Bolton, was able to watch his local club win with such ease.

Manager Sean Eardley and his Coffis won the Huws Gray Alliance title in style last season, earning promotion to the top flight.

Their stadium – The Oval – was spic and span for the match against Llanelli and the playing surface looked immaculate.

Caernarfon have adapted to Welsh Premier League football – and each of their goals against Llanelli was heralded by a blast from a trumpet.

A home fan carried the trumpet in a plastic bag and took it out each time his team scored to play a celebratory tune.

All three came in the last 30 minutes, but Caernarfon always looked likely winners.

Lannelli, promoted from Welsh League football last season, have earned only four points from seven fixtures and are bottom of the table, while Caernarfon’s four wins have lifted them to fourth.

The North Walians have an abundance of talent led by captain Nathan Craig, a former Everton player who is a major spark for this Canaries team.

Breese is a striker who knows how to finish and underlined that with his smart run, composure and clinical strike for Caernarfon’s second goal.

Playmaker Noah Edwards, a former Prestatyn Town and Connah’s Quay Nomads midfield man, was man of the match for the Coffis, adding energy and experience through the middle.

Danny Brookwell was a major threat down for Caernarfon down their left and twice forced former Merthyr Town goalkeeper Oliver Davies into quality saves.

Llanelli, whose Lee Trundle-inspired team won Welsh League Division One last season, have suffered five defeats in seven WPL fixtures.

Manager Andy Hill and his coaching staff have struggled to select a settled team for a variety of reasons and their bench at Caernarfon was filled entirely by Academy players.

Caernarfon Town man of the match Noah Edwards.

The Reds were rocked again when new signing Daniel Alfei, making his debut, limped off after 25 minutes.

Hill can only hope Llanelli’s luck changes and he is able to find a settled team soon.

Both Caernarfon and Llanelli are back in WPL action on Friday. The Canaries go to Cefn Druids, while Llanelli entertain Newtown at Stebonheath Park.

Coffi Army supporters were delighted with their team in the win at the Oval, while club manager Sean Yardley said: “The boys were brilliant, a really accomplished performance. 

“We started well and although Llanelli had a good spell during the first half we finished strongly and I said to them at half-time to keep doing what they’re doing and getting those shots away.

“We have got the burden off our shoulders in terms of winning games more than 1-0. We missed a couple of chances early on, but the players kept going and our second we settled down and it was another clean sheet and three points.

“I’d have settled for 12 points from our opening seven games. We are learning week after week and it is a great return, particularly when you consider the quality of teams we have played.

“Our defeat against Barry deflated us, but the lads trained well and with good intensity.

“We have five Friday night fixtures now and our preparations will have to be altered, but once we kick off we will be rocking again and ready to go.”

Welsh League Division One champions Llanelli Town pictured after clinching the title last season.

The main problem for manager Andy Hill and his Llanelli coaching staff is that they are unable to pick a settled side from one week to another, with players missing for a variety of reasons, leading to a lack of cohesion with those selected on the field of play.

Missing another clutch of players for the visit to the Oval, the Reds` bench consisted entirely of academy players, who while talented at their own level, are hardly ready to be thrust into the high level expectations of the league – literally boys against men.

In addition when a team is struggling, it seems inevitable that fate will conspire against it, and the visitors` debutant, Daniel Alfei, lasted just 25 minutes before being injured and having to be replaced.

The hosts were on top from the outset, with the first threat coming from Jamie Breese when it took a good tackle on him by Ross Jones to halt his run into the box.

A Nathan Craig free kick sailed just over the visitors` bar, and the home side continued to call the tune, with their opponents struggling to establish a foothold in proceedings.

Davies again did well to deny Craig when he unleashed a fierce strike from distance, before the visitors at last managed to launch a rare attack when Alfei sent Chris Jones clear, but Alex Ramsay in the home goal blocked his finish in the box.

Brookwell and Breese then combined to set up another home foray with Davies again diverting the latter`s finish for a corner.

Alfei was then forced off the field and replaced by Anthony Nelson to further aggravate the Reds` problems, and they almost conceded when a free kick by Craig deflected off the wall and fractionally wide of the goal.

Llanelli Town manager Andy Hill.

It was a case of putting up a dogged defensive display to keep the host at bay, and to their credit the Reds achieved this objective up to the break, with the contest still scoreless.

However, with the game still very much in favour of the Canaries, it was almost inevitable that they would achieve a breakthrough, and two goals in the space of ten minutes sealed the Reds` fate.

The opener arrived on 59 minutes when a move into the area culminated in a couple of blocked attempts before Brookwell took full advantage of a rebound to send his finish low inside the far post.

This success was no more than the home side deserved as they were dominant, and the lead was extended further in the 69th minute through some shambolic defending by their opponents who had ample opportunity to clear the danger but instead allowed Breese to gain possession before rounding Davies and slotting into an empty net.

Welsh Guards accompanied Wyn Davies during his visit to Caernarfon.

A brief Reds revival led to Chris Jones lofting a cross to the far post where it was met by Joe Clarke, but his downward header was scrambled out of the goalmouth to safety.

With the clock running down, the Canaries completed the scoring four minutes from time through Cai Jones who had only been on the field for two minutes, when he met a ball into the area before swivelling quickly to send his attempt beyond Davies.

With the contest already beyond them, the visitors did mount a couple of late challenges when a poor kick by Ramsey let in James Loveridge, but he was crowded out before he could unleash his effort.

In stoppage time, Lenny Evans made a run down the middle before testing Ramsey who only managed to deflect it out, but again Loveridge was unable to take any positive advantage.

Caernarfon Town captain Nathan Craig.

The final result was again a disappointment for the Reds, but they can have few complaints at the outcome as they were outplayed for much of the game, but they must persevere and hope the tide will turn in their favour as they must avoid losing touch with the teams around them.

Caernarfon Town: Alex Ramsay, Joe Williams, Nathan Craig (capt), Rhys Roberts, Ryan Williams, Noah Edwards (Kevin Roberts 77), Jamie Crowther, Gareth Evans, Jamie Breese (Cai Jones 84), Darren Thomas, Danny Brookwell (Sion Bradley). Subs not used: Ross Stephens, Ben Maher, Dion Owen.

Llanelli Town: Oliver Davies, Daniel Alfei (Anthony Nelson 25; Lenny Evans 84), Ross Jones, Chris Thomas, Scott Tancock, Ross Jones, Joe Clarke (capt), Chris Jones, Jordan Follows (Tristan Jenkins 90), Mark Jones, James Loveridge. Subs not used: Jamie Owen, Kai Rees (gk).

Referee: Huw Jones (Llanfair-ym-Mochnant).

Attendance: 621.

Welsh Premier League

Opponent P W D L F A GD -Pts Pts
The New Saints 7 5 1 1 22 2 20 16
Connahs Quay Nomads 7 5 2 17 5 12 15
Barry Town United FC 7 4 1 2 10 11 -1 13
Caernarfon Town 7 4 3 6 6 0 12
Bala Town FC 7 3 1 3 11 11 0 10
Newtown 7 3 1 3 8 9 -1 10
Aberystwyth Town 7 3 1 3 11 17 -6 10
Cardiff Metropolitan University 7 3 4 8 8 0 9
Llandudno FC 7 2 2 3 4 7 -3 8
Carmarthen Town AFC 7 2 2 3 8 14 -6 8
Cefn Druids 7 2 5 10 10 0 6
Llanelli Town AFC 7 1 1 5 6 21 -15 4

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