JD Cymru Premier League: Ace James is a Euro hero for Newtown

WELSH ROUND-UP

By Alex Bywater

JAMES Davies’ brace sealed a place in next season’s Europa Conference League and a four-figure financial boost for Newtown as they edged Caernarfon Town 5-3 in a JD Cymru Premier League thriller.

In what was a straight shootout for a place in European football, Davies scored twice in the space of four second-half minutes to secure a dramatic victory.

No fans were allowed inside The Oval, but Caernarfon supporters watched on from outside the ground and leaned over walls to catch a glimpse of the action.

In the end, they went home disappointed as Newtown came out on top.

With so much riding on the 90 minutes it was no surprise the first 10 were very tight.

There was a long, early stoppage while Caernarfon’s Paulo Mendes was treated after suffering a nasty clash of heads with Newtown’s Shane Sutton.

Mendes eventually rose to his feet and that inspired Caernarfon to take the lead on 17 minutes.

Louis Augustin Malandjou Kondjo’s long ball caught the Newtown defence all at sea and Jack Kenny lobbed the ball over goalkeeper David Jones.

Mendes then received more treatment on two separate occasions before eventually having to go off, raising serious questions must be raised as to why he was allowed to continue

Caernarfon’s Darren Thomas dragged a shot just wide as he looked to make it 2-0.

Newtown equalised just before the break. Lifumpa Mwandwe raced on to a long ball. He beat Lewis Brass to the ball and although his lobbed finish was cleared off the line, he was wiped out by the Caernarfon goalkeeper resulting was a penalty.

Nicholas Rushton smashed home the spot kick and it got better for Newton before the break.

Again, Brass was at fault. He palmed Rushton’s cross out into a dangerous area and Mwandwe’s first touch was brilliant before he then fired into the bottom corner.

The start of the second period was end to end as the game opened up, but Caernarfon were the next to score. Newton failed to deal with a ball into the box and couldn’t clear adequately.

It fell to Thomas who made no mistake with a powerful low finish. Now it was anyone’s game.

Newtown’s Kieran Mills-Evans volleyed against the post but the goals kept coming. Thomas put Caernarfon 3-2 up when he finished a counterattack with his left foot.

Newtown’s Davies then equalised with a header before adding a second goal from another breakaway and his cool left-foot strike was the crucial goal.

There was still time for Jamie Breese to wrap up Newtown’s win from close range after another error from the hapless Brass.