Caernarfon Town - 09.08.2025 - Match Report

The 2025/26 Cymru Premier season got off to an entertaining start at Cyncoed Stadium as the Archers and the Cofi’s shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw. 

Playing with the wind at their backs in the first half, the home side were quickly into their stride and had the Caernarfon defence on the back foot, Mwandwe in particular looking dangerous every time he ran at the visitors back line. 

New signing Mwandwe was a constant threat and almost opened the scoring, shooting just wide after a mazy run from the left wing. With 19 minutes on the clock, the Archers pressure finally paid, Sam Jones was tripped in the penalty area and referee Ben Williams had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Up stepped captain CJ Craven who made no mistake with the penalty, drilling the ball low into the net past Connor Roberts to give Met the lead. 

With the visitors struggling to create any chances of note, the hosts looked to double their advantage, first through Sam Jones who saw his dipping volley drop just over the bar then Lewis Rees tried his luck from distance with the same outcome, his rasping drive fizzing just over. 

Connor Roberts was certainly the busier of the two goalkeepers and had to be at his best to tip a long-range Reynolds free-kick around the post but the Archers midfielder didn't have to wait long to claim his first goal of the season. Just two minutes before the break, a loose ball fell to the Met number 6 and he duly delivered, his 30 yard strike an early goal of the season contender, giving Connor Roberts no chance in the Caernarfon goal and Met a 2-0 half-time lead. 

Met began the second half with the same high tempo as the first and it nearly paid dividends after just 30 seconds; Craven saw his shot saved by Roberts and from the rebound Payne bundled the ball home. However, the Met celebrations were short-lived as the assistant referee had flagged the Met striker offside. 

The relentless Met pressure almost led to a third for the home side after a defensive mix-up in the Cofi’s defence allowed Sam Jones to latch onto a loose ball and run unchallenged towards the visitor's goal. Unfortunately for the Met striker, Roberts was able to make a save to keep Caernarfon in the game. 

That moment appeared to galvanise the visitors and with 12 minutes left, Matty Jones halved the deficit, turning the ball home at the far post to set up a tension-filled end to the game. With the Met defence dropping deep and looking to hit Caernarfon on the break, Darren Thomas was introduced by the visitors and with his first touch of the game drilled a low shot past Kelland Absalom to level the score three minutes into additional time. 

Met responded and applied some late pressure but as the final whistle blew, Met were left to rue the dropping of two points while Caernarfon will be grateful to leave the capital with a draw.