CAERNARFON Town face another long trip south for a crunch JD Welsh Cup fourth round clash with Ammanford.

The Canaries’ have endured a difficult month of travel that will culminate in a Friday night fixture that defies common sense, especially when you consider that the Cofis’ recent outing saw them make the trek to Cardiff Met for their final fixture of JD Cymru Premier phase one.

These are not full-time players and it represents a substantial commitment and sacrifice to make these long journeys on a Saturday, never mind taking time off work or putting aside family commitments in order to take your place in the squad for these games on a Friday evening.

They do not have the luxury of The New Saints in terms of having full-time playing staff and should not be treated in the same perspective.

Of course, the television revenue is welcome from a Town perspective, with the game to be broadcast by S4C Sgorio, and although Sean Eardley’s men will roll their sleeves up and get on with things, someone needs to look at how these games are picked and the implications that come with it going forward.

In January alone, Caernarfon have played away fixtures at Penybont, Cardiff Met and Ammanford, which is far from ideal and has put additional strain on a squad that has suffered its fair share of injury problems during the current campaign.

It will be a landmark occasion at the Recreation Ground as Sgorio come calling for their first ever live game from the venue, but surely a Saturday would have pulled in a bigger crowd and would certainly have seen more of the loyal Cofi Army make the trip, which would significantly add to the overall atmosphere.

Should the result go against the Canaries’ for whatever reason, this will be one of the reasons cited for it, and what sort of squad Eardley has at his disposal will be another telling indication of how much moving the fixture has hampered their chances of progression to the next round.

Sgorio do an incredible job of promoting the game in Wales, and this has influenced the domestic game in a hugely positive light, but I am sure the Cofis’ playing staff, management team and supporters were hanging their heads when this decision was made, and rightfully so.

The South Wales outfit will fancy their chances of knocking off another top-flight scalp, with the side sitting fourth in JD Cymru South disposing of Carmarthen Town to reach the fourth-round stage.

Having lost four of their last five outings despite securing a top six berth, the Cofis’ know the challenge that awaits them and it has not been helped with the travel prospects for a second consecutive weekend, and on a Friday night too.