Caernarfon Town reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup with a resounding 4-0 win against Cefn Druids in last night’s first quarter-final.
The match was in the balance at 1-0 until a sending off for Druids just before the hour turned the tie in Caernarfon’s favour.
An early Nathan Peate own goal after two minutes had put Caernarfon in front but the Canaries couldn’t take command of the game until Naim Arsan saw red, when further goals from Jamie Crowther (64), Sion Bradley (66) and Gruff John (86) sealed the win.
Wing-back Arsan, who had an outstanding first half, was first cautioned for kicking out and then earned a second yellow after diving right in front of referee Bryn Markham-Jones in an attempt to win a free-kick.
While Druids tried to reorganise themselves Caernarfon hit them with two quick goals and the game was over.
The Canaries were rewarded for a positive start when they took the lead after 90 seconds. Leo Smith’s shot from 30 yards was going wide but the referee decided the ball had taken a touch off a Druids’ player before going behind and awarded a corner. Smith swung the ball over and Crowther got a touch on it but the ball went in off Druids’ defender Peate.
The second half started evenly but the two cards for Arsan proved a real hammer blow for Druids, with the second goal arriving in the 64th minute when Bradley was first to a loose ball before picking out Crowther who fired home.
Two minutes later Darren Thomas crossed from the right and Bradley’s diving header proved too powerful for Druids’ keeper Michael Jones.
Jamie Reed had a goal ruled out for the Druids and they were further punished in the 86th minute when Nathan Craig’s deep corner from the left was lobbed back towards goal from the tightest of angles by John. Reed was on the line but misjudged the ball and it dropped into the net to complete the rout for Cefn Druids.
Last night’s other quarter-final between Flint Town United and Prestatyn Town was postponed due to the weather, while today big-hitters The New Saints play Newtown and Connah’s Quay Nomads entertain Cardiff Metropolitan University.
