Adroddiadau Ebrill 01 / April 01 Reports..............

CAERSWS FC 2 CARMARTHEN TOWN 2

 

 

In a game that ended in a pulsating and frantic manner Carmarthen Town gained the point they required to gain third place in the League of Wales and entry into European football with a 2-2 draw at Caersws tonight.

 

In a lively opening spell the home side had the better of the play but in a rare attack on the Caersws goal Town were awarded a controversial penalty by Wrexham referee Gerald Davies. Ryan Nichols converted from the spot to put Town ahead against the run of play on six minutes .

 

The strong wind ensured that most of the first period was played in the Carmarthen half and together with the hard pitch control was difficult. Both sides competed well but although enjoying a great deal of possession Caersws rarely threatened the Town goal.

 

Graham Evans came close on 25 minutes with a neat little header from a cross on the left but Fitzgerald was well placed to save. Ten minutes later, following a good period of pressure on the Town goal, a speculative overhead kick by the Caersws striker saw his effort go just over the bar.

 

With limited possession Town played some good football at times but conditions ensured that little further progress was made.

 

The second half saw Town play with more purpose and control and looking to extend their lead. From a free kick out on the left Shaun Chapple struck a classy curling shot over the wall and inside the left hand post to put Town further ahead on 63 minutes.

 

Caersws, however, continued to exert pressure in an effort to reduce the deficit. Graham Evans looked very sharp and Geraint Lewis was influential and with Carmarthen’s defence under pressure a frantic goalmouth scramble saw Mark Hughes' final shot creep wide of the Carmarthen Town post on 79 minutes.

 

Caersws’ pressure finally paid off a minute later. Fitzgerald was forced to made a point blank save and from the resulting corner Clark scored for Caersws to reduce the deficit.

 

The game had hardly resumed when the Wrexham based referee awarded yet another controversial penalty this time to Caersws. Graham Evans converted from the spot and with five minutes remaining the excellent crowd of 520 enjoyed some nerve jangling and frantic end-to-end football.

 

With the final whistle giving both sides a share of the points Town can now look forward to the exciting prospect of a European encounter to cap a very successful season.

 

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CARMARTHEN TOWN 1 BARRY TOWN 4

Report by Dave Collins

 

A stylish Jamie Moralee hat-trick kept Barry Town on course for the League of Wales title as they overcame what had looked like the toughest test of their run-in with an impressive second-half display.

As the morning's murk and drizzle gave way to a pleasant afternoon at Richmond Park, a large crowd turned out to watch the leaders take on the fourth-placed side.

Early indications were that Barry, narrow winners at Bangor in midweek, would be hard pressed by Tomi Morgan's men and the first real chances went to the home side, keeper Digby caught off his line after seven minutes, but not punished as Nicholls delayed getting the ball across, and then a fine curling effort from Craig Evans being palmed away from the top corner by Digby on 16 minutes.

In between these efforts, the competitive nature of the game was underlined by a challenge on French which brought a yellow card for Neil O'Brien.

It was no real surprise when Carmarthen took the lead on 25 minutes, Wayne Jones finding space on the left wing and crossing dangerously. In the goalmouth confusion Gary Lloyd turned the ball into his own net.

Barry, typically, looked unsettled by the setback and for a while Carmarthen dominated, but in the closing stages of the half the Dragons began to press forward with new purpose.

Lee Phillips was causing Carmarthen problems on the right wing and one cross was almost touched in by Jon French on 41
minutes. When Carmarthen failed to clear the ball, Phillips had another chance to cross and this time the ball was met by Andrew York's header across goal and Terry Evans crashed the ball home from close range.

If Carmarthen had just shaded the first half, the second unquestionably belonged to Barry.

With just over a minute of the half gone, Jamie Moralee received the ball with his back to goal and turned to fire a low shot inside the left hand post, and five minutes later a fine run on the right by Terry Evans led to a cross which Moralee headed firmly past Fitzgerald.

Carmarthen tried to find a way back into the game but for most of the remainder of the game their possession brought few clear-cut chances, though they did appeal hard for a penalty for handball from a Neil O'Brien header into the box.

Gary Lloyd almost made it four from a free-kick on 70 minutes but the ball hit the wall and Fitzgerald saved, defender Wyn Thomas being stretchered off with an ankle injury sustained in the scramble.

Barry's, and Moralee's, joy was completed when he met Luke Staton's free-kick in the 78th minute, his powerful header crashing off the bar and over the line.

Carmarthen must now forget this game and concentrate on the
meeting with the other top side, Cwmbran, on Monday, while Barry have every right to look forward to their home match with struggling Port Talbot.

Carmarthen: Fitzgerald, McPhee, Wayne Jones, Wyn Thomas (sub Summers 70), Craig Evans, Rossiter, Nicholls, Chapple, Meredith

Barry: Digby, Terry Evans, Lloyd, Kennedy (sub Jamie Jenkins 79), York (sub Sharp 85), Phillips, Brown, French (sub Truman 77), Moralee, Flynn, Staton.

 

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CARMARTHEN TOWN 1 NEWTOWN AFC 2

 

A brace of well-taken goals, one in the first half and one in the second, gave Newtown a deserved victory at Richmond Park. As well as easing the disappointment of recent results this win gave Newtown the full six points from their encounters with Carmarthen Town this season. The win also sees them regain third position above Town.

 

A good crowd of 482 saw the visitors take the initiative.  With a strong wind at their backs Newton pressurised the Carmarthen defence from the kick off. John Leah almost struck an early goal when he had a powerful free kick deflected wide by Neil O’Brien in the opening minutes.

 

Carmarthen’s Wayne Jones had a good run up the left forcing the Newtown keeper Mark Jones to turn the ball wide of the upright. From the corner Neil O’Brien got above the defence to head goalwards but Mark Jones did well to save on the line from a weak Chris Summers shot.

 

Leah again shook the Town defence on 13 minutes when his superbly hit shot from 40 yards was deflected on to the crossbar and over. From the resulting corner Steve McCormick produced a spectacular finish when he volleyed home from 20 yards.

 

At the other end Chris Summers, twisting and turning in the penalty area, had his final shot saved by Jones and Siôn Meredith headed over following some good work by Chapple just before the break.

 

McCormick caused problems for the Carmarthen defence but Town managed to prevent Newtown adding to their lead with Wyn Thomas making some crucial clearances and at the break Newtown were worthy of their lead.

 

Carmarthen came into the game more in the second half with a fine move involving McPhee and Chapple that nearly produced the equaliser. However, as they pushed forward in the 51st. minute Town were caught on the break and rode their luck as Fitzgerald, who had come out to smother the attack, was beaten and Chapple was forced to clear off the line.

 

In the 64th. minute Newtown increased their lead when Jonathan Williams, breaking through the defence, beat Fitzgerald with a powerful curling shot into the top left hand corner of the net.

 

Town suddenly found themselves back in the game in the 67th. minute. A long up field clearance by Fitzgerald  beat the Newtown defence and found Nicholls who flicked the ball over the advancing keeper to find the net and reduce the arrears.

 

Town went looking for the equaliser but the Newtown’s back four, who had looked impressive all afternoon, held firm. Parker and Summers came close in the final fifteen minutes but on the day Newtown looked sharper, stronger on the ball and more hungry for the points. McCormack for Newtown was influential all afternoon and John Cotterall had a great game down the right

 

The first Saturday fixture at Richmond Park since January 27th.  saw a lacklustre and disjointed Carmarthen Town performance. Newtown's win ended a undefeated run of seven League games for Town. However, Manager Tomi Morgan will now turn his attention to ensuring that Town are back to winning ways for the visit of Barry Town next Saturday.

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