A HAT-TRICK from captain Nathan Craig was not enough to prevent Caernarfon Town from suffering a 4-3 reverse at Carmarthen Town.

The Canaries produced another spirited display but emerged with nothing from the contest to make it six games without a win, and the newly promoted JD Welsh Premier League side remain in eighth spot ahead of their trip to champions The New Saints on Friday (7.45pm).

Sean Eardley’s side got off to a great start and went ahead on 12 minutes when Craig despatched his first of the afternoon, but the Old Gold responded well to the setback and levelled matters after 20 when Liam Thomas converted a chance past Alex Ramsay.

Cofis’ striker Jamie Breese and midfielder Gareth Evans forced home custodian Lee Idzi into a pair of smart stops as the first period progressed, but the visitors were caught out just before the interval when Thomas pounced for his brace to put his side ahead for the first time.

Things went from bad-to-worse for the away side after the break when in-form Declan Carroll doubled the hosts’ advantage after 53 minutes, but the Canaries were given a lifelong from the penalty spot with 67 on the clock, which Craig duly took advantage of to reduce the deficit.

This joy proved to be short-lived as the home side restored their two-goal cushion soon after when Luke Bowen rounded off a period of pressure with a well-taken effort, but Craig ensured a nervy ending to proceedings with his treble on 88 with another penalty, but despite laying siege to the home goal in the closing stages it was not enough to see Eardley’s men claim a share of the spoils from a difficult away trip.

Attention now turns to their Friday night clash with Scott Ruscoe’s men, who have not had it all their own way this season after more than a decade of dominance, with the Cofis running them very close at The Oval earlier in the season before eventually falling to a 3-0 loss.