23.04.05 Bangor City 0 Carmarthen Town 1

With Town keeper Tony Pennock in commanding form Carmarthen Town ended their Welsh Premier League season in style with a well earned victory at Farrar Road, Bangor on Saturday.

A superb shot from the edge of the box by Leyton Maxwell on the quarter hour proved the difference between the two sides, although it took a ‘man of the match’ performance by Tony Pennock to deny fellow European qualifiers Bangor City.

Town started brightly with the strong running Mark Dodds and Nicky Burke causing problems for the home defence. The breakthrough came after 15 minutes when Gary Lloyd’s corner was cleared to the edge of the box for Maxwell to dummy past one defender and blast his shot into the roof of Phil Priestley’s goal from 18 yards to give the visitors the all important advantage that proved, in the end, to be the only score of the game.

The setback galvanised the home side but with Richard Carter in supreme form at the back the hosts were limited and with Pennock dealing comfortably with Clayton Blackmore’s floating free kick, Owain Jones shot and Paul O’Neill’s header Town retained their narrow advantage at the break.

The second half saw Town start strongly with some neat interplay on a pitch which was in very good condition given the lateness of the season.

Gradually the home started to put a few good moves together. Tony Gray set up Clayton Blackmore but with Pennock in unbeatable form his low save denied Carl Lamb and he held Paul Roberts’ clean strike from Peter Hoy’s long throw well.

With Pennock in decidedly miserly mood Town’s custodian continued to frustrate the ‘Citizen’s’ attack throughout earning himself a deserved standing ovation from the crowd at the end of the game.

In the end Town could have extended their lead in the final ten minutes. Substitute Omar Abdillahi caused problems for the home defence with an impressive cameo, nearly created a goal for fellow sub Jeff Aspell with a fine attacking run.

And Luke Hardy’s cross after a strong run down the right hand side only needed the the slightest of touches to extend Town’s lead. But in the end Town finished their League campaign with a performance that puts them in good heart for their forthcoming Cup Final assignments.

Bangor City Priestley, Blackmore, Scott, Priest, O'Neill, Baker, Gray, O.Jones, Roberts, Lamb, Davies (Hoy 65'). Subs not used: Short, Connelly, Ogilvey.

Carmarthen Town Pennock, Hardy, Lloyd, Carter, Chiverton, Smothers, Maxwell (James 70'), Kennedy, Dodds (Abdillahi 73'), Burke (Aspell 85'), Aherne-Evans. Sub not used: Jones.

Attendance: 412 Referee: K L Parry

17.04.05 Newtown 0 Carmarthen Town 4

Carmarthen Town’s game at Newtown on Saturday was a more evenly contested affair than the score-line suggests with the performance of both goal keepers proving an influencing factor in this Welsh Premier tie.

Whilst Town capitalised on several defensive errors by the hosts to establish a convincing score-line a polished performance from Tony Pennock ensured the visitors did not prophet from their dangerous breaks as Town recorded a convincing score-line.

Early Town pressure saw Richard Carter and Leyton Maxwell link well to press the Newtown gaol but with Michael Brown and Danny Barton combining well for the hosts there was action at both ends.

On the quarter hour Newtown threatened down the left but with Town struggling to clear the danger Brown’s header glanced the post before rolling to safety - an early escape for the visitors. And with both sides looking to exert themselves on the game it took excellent defending from Richard Kennedy to deny Oliver Williams’ individual break.

With the half hour approaching Maxwell changed flanks with Nathan Cotteral and within a minute the switch produced the breakthrough Town needed as Maxwell broke through the defence on the right. With his low shot parried by the keeper Kevin Aherne-Evans netted the rebound from close in on 29 minutes to give Town the lead.

Straight from the restart the hosts went on the attack but danger man Barton’s turn and shot from close in was well held by Pennock. Town soon regained the initiative as Cotterall rounded the defence down the left. With the hosts failing to clear his ball into the box Aherne-Evans bagged his brace to give Town a two goal cushion with ten minutes of the half remaining.

Town started the second half in hesitant mood. With play having little pattern or direction slack defending by Town allowed the hosts to pressure for a period as they looked to salvage the situation. But gradually Cotteral began to have more of an influence on the game with his incisive runs down the flank.

But with Barton, Brown and Williams a constant threat Neil Smothers and Kennedy in midfield scrapped for possession to ensure that Town retained their advantage.

With twenty minutes remaining Town made the game safe. Cotterall produced a weaving run down the left and with the home defence failing to clear yet again from in front of goal Aherne-Evans played the ball back to substitute Luke Hardy whose low well drilled shot found the net having taken a slight deflection.

But with the hosts refusing to give up there was still some excitement for the fans as Barton picked up on a missed clearance and sent his ball inches just wide of the empty net.

And minutes later when Town were penalised for a back pass Newtown were awarded a free kick 10 yards out. With Pennock organising the defensive line-up Town made a wall across the gaol mouth and with the custodian crouched in front of his defenders the visitors snuffed out the danger keeping the goal line intact.

Then on the stroke of full time Gary Lloyd sent in a thundering drive that spilled from the keeper’s hands and young substitute Jimmy James touched home the ball for his first senior goal and compounding the host’s miserable afternoon.

Newtown AFC Jones, Harris (Lewis 85'), Giles, Moody, Allen, Sudlow, Brown (Field 67'), Desormeaux, Matthews, Barton, O.Williams. Sub not used: Webb

Carmarthen Town Pennock, Carter, Lloyd, Giles (James 76'), Chiverton, Smothers,
Maxwell (Hardy 70'), Kennedy, Aherne-Evans (Aspell 80'), Burke, Cotterrall.

Attendance: 210 Referee: K Morgan

13.04.05 Carmarthen Town 0 TNS 1

TNS were crowned Vauxhall MasterFit Retailers Welsh Premier champions at Richmond Park last Wednesday night courtesy of a narrow 1-0 victory over Carmarthen Town.

With the scenes of celebration at the end of the match emphasising what the success meant to the visitors it was not all gloom and doom for Mark Jones’ men as TNS’ championship win now guarantees the Richmond Park outfit a UEFA Cup spot in next season’s European competition.

In a lively opening Town nearly created an early shock when a lobbed ball from Neil Smothers found Mark Dodds in space but hesitancy by the striker allowed keeper Gerard Doherty the slimmest of touches and with Tommy Homes’ covering tackle denying Jeff Aspell the danger passed.

The early jolt brought an immediate response from the visitors as Steve Evans' net-bound header from a Scott Ruscoe corner was, cleared off the line by the covering Luke Hardy.

Then with half time approaching hesitancy in the Carmarthen defence saw Mike Wild flick on a high ball to the League’s top scorer Marc Lloyd-Williams who slotted home past Tony Pennock to grab the all important advantage that proved, in the end, to be the difference between the two sides.

If the visitors had dominated the first period the second half proved a more even affair with Town came agonisingly close several times. But the TNS back line, with the towering Evans in commanding form, proved formidable obstacle though young substitute Omar Abdillahi caused problems in the visitor’s penalty area late on with his close control and willingness to strike at goal.

But in the end the visitors were not to be denied their night of celebration and it was credit to the Carmarthen Town players and fans that they saluted TNS’ Championship win. There was some consolation in the fact that EMC Services sponsored Carmarthen Town can now look forward to a second European adventure.

Following the game Rhodri Jones was awarded the Supporter’s Player of the Year Award by Vice Presidents Val & Rob Fulton who also made the McGinley’s Player of the Month award to Kevin Aherne Evans.

Carmarthen TownPennock, Hardy (Abdillahi 67'), Lloyd, Carter, Chiverton, Smothers,
Maxwell, Kennedy, Gils, Dodds (Burke 58'), Aspell (Cotterrall 58'). Sub not used: Aherne-Evans

Total Network Solutions FC Doherty, Holmes, King, Leah, Evans, Taylor, Ruscoe, Lloyd-Williams (Jackson 89'), Wilde (Bell 79'), Wood (Lawless 88'), Toner.

Attendance: 417 Referee: D C Richards

09.04.05 Carmarthen Town 2 CPD Porthmadog 1

CARMARTHEN TOWN continued their run of good form with a valuable 2 – 1 win over Porthmadog. The win further strengthens the Richmond Park outfit’s position in the higher echelons of the division. Most of the excitement took place during the final quarter of the game when Town scored twice in quick succession to seal the victory.

The first half, which began lively enough, soon became rather nondescript with both sides finding it difficult to create any clear cut chances. Mark Dodds forced visiting keeper Gerard McGuigan into a fine diving save whilst Jeff Aspell was unfortunate not to get a better connection with a diving header.

Tony Pennock in the home goal was largely untroubled until just before the half time whistle when a three man move from the visitors pressed the Town goal and it took a brave block from Town’s custodian to deny Port’s forward line with the ball eventually running out for a goal kick.

Town again started the second half strongly, dominated possession without really threatening. But with Porthmadog gradually playing their way into the game a well constructed raid on the hour and John Gwynfor Jones’ speculative chip ten minutes later tested the home defence.

The breakthrough then when it came was rather against the run of play. As Town’s defence cleared a corner and broke quickly visiting defender Jones was put under pressure and his intended clearance, in the direction of his own goal, flew over the advancing McGuigan and into the net from around thirty five yards.

Town then quickly added a second goal when second half substitute Nathan Cotterall stormed down the left flank and crossed perfectly for fellow substitute, Martyn Giles, to score from close in. To their credit the visitors fought back immediately throwing players forward. Gareth Parry found his way through the defence and having accepted a return pass from Caughter slotted the ball past Pennock in the home goal to reduce the deficit.

With the clock winding down Town dealt comfortably with several free kicks and corners from the visitors and Giles came close to extending the home side’s lead but was denied on both occasions.

Carmarthen Town Pennock, Hardy, Lloyd, Carter, Chiverton, Jones, Maxwell, Smothers, Dodds (Cotterrall 63'), Aspell (Burke 75'), Aherne- Evans (Giles 63').

CPD Porthmadog McGuigan, J.G.Jones, Foster, Davies, Webber, Hughes (J.P.Jones 58'), Parry, O.Roberts, M.Williams, Caughter, R.Owen. Subs not used: Harrison, Gwynedd, B.Evans.

Attendance: 320 Referee: M A Jones

02.04.05 Carmarthen Town 1 Haverfordwest County 0

Carmarthen Town earned their place in the final of this year’s Welsh Cup competition courtesy of a 68th. minute header from mid-season signing Kevin Aherne-Evans - glancing home Luke Hardy’s corner kick at the near post . The win sees Town take on Total Network Solutions in next month’s final and with the full time professionals looking to win the League the final placing could well see Town hit the European trail once again.

Having missed out twice at the same stage, whilst managing Maesteg and Port Talbot, manager Mark Jones was absolutely delighted to have won through to the final of Wales’ premier competition.

“The win is not about Mark Jones or Kevin Aherne- Evans it’s about Carmarthen Town football club,” said the elated Jones.

“Today was a big, big win for the club. There is every possibility that we can earn a European placing and that will be a fantastic achievement.

“The fans were phenomenal there was gold and black everywhere. The players really appreciated the support,” he added.

“Most importantly it has been a club effort and that means everyone who has contributed in any way. It has been fantastic experience and long may it continue.

Following an uneventful opening quarter Town began to press forward on the 20 minute mark as Gary Lloyd set pieces began to test the resolve of the Bluebirds defence. Lee Kendall tipped over Lloyd’s corner and with Mark Dodds causing problems, Richard Kennedy linked well with Hardy to stretch the defence and Kendall again did well to deny Aherne-Evans from close in.

With Rhodri Jones and Neil Smothers bossing the mid-field Town exerted a firm grip on the game. Just after the half hour Nathan Cotterall outwitted the Bluebirds’ back line and squared the ball to Kennedy in front of goal who was bundled over by the covering defence.

Haverfordwest introduced Dylan Blaine for the injured Phil Catlin in defence and with Town continuing to dominate proceedings the breakthrough remained elusive and the Richmond Park outfit had little to show for their first half endeavour.

The second period saw EMC Services sponsored Carmarthen Town continued to dominate. Cotterall caused problems down the left running at the Blue’s defence and with Jones and Smothers driving Town forward Haverfordwest’s defensive lineup was at full stretch. As the pressure mounted Deryn Brace almost headed into his own net but with Kendall spilling Hardy’s shot it was the player manager who made the crucial goal line clearance under the mounting Town momentum.

A minute later Town finally made the breakthrough. A series of corners saw Aherne-Evans and Dodds swap positions in the box and when Aherne- Evans got in front of his marker he flicked home Hardy’s in-swinging corner kick for the goal that proved in the end to be the winner.

With Town securing the all important advantage Haverfordwest streamed forward and Town keeper Tony Pennock found himself under pressure for the first time during the game.

But with Town’s back line solid and the clock winding down Kendall came forward to join the attack at a late set-piece and then found himself having race back the length of the field to deny substitute Nicky Burke’s long range salvo on the open goal.

The win takes Carmarthen Town through to their third Cup final this season. Having secured places in the League and West Wales cup finals the pinnacle of the season will be the Welsh Cup final that paves the way into European competition for the Richmond Park outfit.

Carmarthen Town Pennock, Hardy, Lloyd, Giles, Carter, Jones, Aherne-Evans, Kennedy, Smothers (Burke 67'), Dodds (Chiverton 87'), Cotterrall. Sub not used: James

Haverfordwest County Kendall, Brace, W.Jones, Rossiter, Cattlin (D.Blain 36'), R.Jones, Palmer, Hicks (Algieri 65'), Adams, Loss, Hudgell. Sub not used: Raymond.

Attendance: 458 Referee: K J Parry

Played at Stebonheath Park Llanelli