CAERNARFON Town closed out phase one of the JD Cymru Premier campaign with a 2-0 loss at Cardiff Met.

The Canaries will mix with Welsh domestic football’s elite after booking their top six berth for a second straight season since entering the league, giving the club another chance of bringing European football to The Oval next term.

Sean Eardley’s side face another long trip to South Wales on Friday evening in the JD Welsh Cup, where they take on a dangerous Ammanford outfit in the fourth round.

A cagey opening brought little in the way of chances until Mail Davies’ thumping effort for the home side was brilliantly diverted by Cofis’ stopper Alex Ramsay.

The visitors carved out their first opening on 25 minutes when Danny Brookwell’s long range effort sailed over, and their task was made even more difficult on the half hour mark with the Students’ gained the upper hand thanks to a close-range header from Jordan Lam.

Skipper Nathan Craig came within inches of a leveller when his free kick saw Will Fuller produce a fine fingertip save on 37 minutes, and Brookwell was unable to turn in the rebound and the danger was averted.

After the break saw the Canaries’ reduced to ten men on the hour when Gruff John received his marching orders for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, and Ramsay had to be at his best immediately following the restart with a stunning double-save to deny Eliot Evans.

Influential forward Darren Thomas was unfortunate to see his goal-bound effort hacked off the line after good work from Sion Bradley, and they were crucially unable to make the most of their dominance late on despite their numerical disadvantage on the pitch.

The home side wrapped up proceedings when Will Evans, who had earlier been denied once again by the outstanding Ramsay, eventually hit the target to condemn the Cofis’ to their fourth defeat in five.