CAERWYS 2

LEX 0

PREPARATIONS for the forthcoming season are underway for Caerwys.

The Clwyd League (East) club paraded several new signings under the new management team of Ethan Jones and Jordan Hadaway.

Caerwys got off to a great start after only three minutes when former Ruthin Town FC player Elgan Hughes pounced on a through ball to shoot home from a tight angle from 12 yards out.

Lex are rebuilding after resigning from the Wrexham Area League midway through last season.

Their best player was Dan Jones, who was a livewire down both flanks, but they lacked a finisher.

Seb Czubaj was rarely troubled in the Caerwys goal, but he had to be replaced after half-an-hour when he went over on his ankle while taking a goal kick.

His deputy was young Lewys Thomson, who was well protected by his defence during the remainder of the match.

Another new Caerwys signing is Kieran Smith, the former Cefn Druids player, and he looked very composed at the heart of the defence.

Little got beyond him and his central defensive partner Shaun Thomson.

Josh Richardson and Deiniol Bower were pulling the strings in midfield for Caerwys with some great balls and newcomer Theo Woolford went the closest to increasing the lead with a rasping drive from the edge of the box.

Richardson shot wide from a good position before Scott Evans had a good chance for Lex, but he too shot wide from close range.

Caerwys also gave debuts to Robbie Lewis, Jon Edmonds, Alex Harrison-Smith and Jarek Sakowicz, who all gave good accounts of themselves.

Caerwys continued to control the match and they missed several good chances to settle things before Bower latched onto a through ball after 75 minutes to slot home from 18 yards.

Manager Ethan Jones said: "We were really pleased with the performance, especially seeing as it was our first game together after only one training session.

"It's been important to start this early, maybe a week or two ahead of most other teams, due to the amount of new players we have brought in.

"It's vital that the team gels as soon as possible so that, by the time the first competitive fixture comes around, we are fully prepared.

"I was impressed with the whole group, we didn't have any passengers and everyone worked hard for each other.

"It was also really good to have four under-19s in the squad with all having at least a half each.

"We were structured and disciplined, which is what we are all about.

"We attacked well and we were excellent off the ball, I was pleased with the amount of chances we created and how we always looked to play.

"There's a lot to work on in training and our remaining pre-season games, it is only going to get better."