29.04.06 Carmarthen Town 1 Connah’s Quay Nomads 1

Carmarthen Town manager Mark Jones has certainly used substitute Mattie Davies to good effect this season as it was the ‘super sub’ who struck his eleventh goal of the season to gain Town a valuable point that sees the Richmond Park outfit finish the season with an impressive nine game undefeated run.

With Town having trailed since the sixth minute to a Phil Molyneux strike it was Davies’ deft chip of the keeper with six minutes remaining that gave Town a deserved share of the spoils to confirm their admirable fourth place finish in the Welsh Premier League.

In a disjointed end-of-season affair manager Mark Jones had no complaints with the outcome.

“It was an end of season affair from the first minute to the last. To be fair to the boys even though we didn’t play well they kept plugging, not at 100% I don’t think, but they got the equaliser. A point was all we deserved on the day.

The remarkable end of season run sees the Richmond Park outfit now in a European place should Rhyl win the Welsh Cup. Having sat in eighth position in the last week of March Mark Jones’ men staged a late season surge gaining 21 points from 27 for a convincing end to the season.

“It’s been a fantastic run six wins and three draws, and that’s having played Rhyl and TNS. With a couple of additions for next year we will look to improve on fourth. I think we’ve shown we have the ability to compete with the top sides”, added Jones.

Having started the season in a blaze of European glory Jones suffered the loss of several key players in mid-season but having redressed the situation it was a positive end to the season.

“It’s been a great season, a bit of a rollercoaster with highs and lows. Especially the low point in February, March when the doubters were all out and thought our season was over. But we put that behind us and we came back strong and we finished in the top flight of welsh football. Our aim is to make Carmarthen a top three contender every year.

Having been rocked by Molyneux early opportunist goal Town rallied with Danny Thomas’ fierce free kick crashing off the upright. But with wily Nomads striker Tommy Mutton causing problems out on the left Town needed to be constantly vigilant.

Following the hour a lacklustre second half showed some life with Town pressing for the equaliser. Molyneux’s low drive, following a breakout, brought the best out of keeper Andrew Delve and with Nomads reduced to ten men substitute Davies turned well in front of goal to beat his marker but his strike flew inches wide of the target.

Then moments later having been pushed out wide of the goal to pick up on Aherne-Evans’ flick-on Davies showed his guile and experience as he coolly placed his angled chipped shot into the top far corner of the net to bring the curtain down on Town’s successful season.

Carmarthen Town: Delve, Hardy, Jones, Lima, Aherne-Evans, Fleming, D. Thomas, Loss (Davies 58'), Walters (Morris 77'), Mohamed, Cotterrall (Hughes 80').

Connah’s Quay Nomads: Smith (Stanton 80'), Morgan, Russell, Hutchinson, Williams, Jellicoe, Rain (Phillips 80'), Murtagh, Mutton (Cann 80'), Molyneux, Cook.
Referee M. S. Whitby. Attendance 242

22.04.06 Carmarthen Town 1 Rhyl FC 1

Carmarthen Town manager Mark Jones praised his sides great character following a hard fought but deserved draw with cup finalists Rhyl FC. With the visitors needing a win to secure third position and Town looking to book fourth spot and press their European credentials, there was little to separate the sides in an entertaining game that provided chances at both ends.

“The desire and belief is that we don’t want to loose”, said Jones “the character in the team is really strong and we’ve proved that we are competing with the top sides in the League”.

“We created three or four chances before half time and had a definite penalty call turned down. They got their goal, but as I told the lads at half time we’re strong and have come from behind the last couple of games. We knew we could turn it around”.

“I think the key decision was to swap Mark Dodds and Kevin Evans. Kev gives us added options in the air and was able to beat Tim Edwards to put pressure on their back line. I think it worked well, we kept them penned in for the last twenty minutes and we got our goal.

The crowd were magnificent and the players respond to that kind of support”.

Rhyl opened well but it took a crucial interception from defender Stuart Graves to deny Mark Dodd’s cross with Kaid Mohamed poised to strike. And with Town pressing referee Ray Ellingham inexplicably waved away Town’s confident penalty call when Danny Thomas was brought down in the box on the twenty minute mark.

Town’s keeper Andrew Delve blocked well from Chris Sharp and Colin Loss’ nod down was cleared off the Rhyl line on the half hour. But it was the visitors that broke the deadlock. Following a cleared long throw-in Mark Connolly was given room to cross and Lee Hunt fired home for his 19th. strike of the season.

Following the break there were several half chances a both ends. Graves was influential for the visitors and following the hour Town pressed forward with Kevin Evans switching up front, adding to Town’s aerial options.

With the pressure building John Gann finger tipped over Dodds’ powerful header and with Rhyl defending deep a breakaway saw Hunt’s shot crash against Delve’s upright.

But with five minutes remaining Gann’s throw-out rebounded off the back of Connolly’s legs and with Thomas picking up on the loose ball he struck a superb left footed chip into the top corner of the net to grab a well deserved equaliser for the hosts.

Carmarthen Town A. Delve, L. Hardy, M. Giles, N. Smothers, K. Aherne-Evans, S. Walters (M. Davies 54'), K.Thomas, C. Loss (W. Jones 87'), M. Dodds, K. Mohamed, D.Thomas. Sub not used: S. Hughes.

Rhyl FC J. Gann, M. Connolly, S. Graves (C. Adamson 76'), G. Stones, G. Horan, T. Edwards, G. Wilson, C. Sharp (G.Powell 63'), L. Hunt, M. Powell, J. Brewerton. Sub not used: M. Limbert.

Referee R. J. Ellingham. Attendance 376.

15.04.06 Carmarthen Town 3 CPD Porthmadog 1

A sizzling first half produced three quality goals and some first class football. But with the second period struggling to live up to the cutting edge of the first Town added a third goal late on to run out comfortable winners and maintain their European challenge.

Danny Thomas’ low drive from 25 yards gave Town an early lead on six minutes after Kaid Mohamed and Kris Thomas had linked well to stretch the visiting defence. Mark Dodds’ back header from Kris Thomas’ long throw sixteen minutes later beat the keeper to give Town a comfortable early margin.

Then on the half hour mark Porthmadog were back in the game. Jason Sadler’s sensational long distance strike caught Town’s defence completely unawares and with the margin now minimal the visitors gained some momentum with Les Davies strong on the ball and Saddler continually looking to beat theTown back line.

Mohamed should have restored the margin when he out stripped the Port defence but his lobbed effort beat the keeper and, with a little too much pace, found the top of netting rather than the gaping goal maintaining 2-1 score-line at the break

Steffan Hughes replaced the injured Wayne Jones just after the resumption and with Kris Thomas dropping back into the left back berth the game became a lacklustre affair lacking the completive edge of the first period.

Danny Thomas saw his header rebound off the bar and his point blank follow-up blocked by a wall of bodies and Port survived another goalmouth scramble on 70 minutes following a Colin Loss corner as Town looked to put the game beyond the visitors.

But a timely substitution did the trick. Mattie Davies replaced Mohamed with five minutes remaining and with his first touch of the ball the substitute broke well down the left. Having switched inside his low shot was partially blocked by Richard Harvey but with Thomas picking up on the loose ball he notched up his brace as he steered the ball into the open goal.

A delighted Mark Jones said, “We deserved the victory. We came out of the trap well and sometimes you need a bit of class and Danny’s first goal today was real class and it set us up well”.

Kris Thomas’ throw worked well and although we huffed and puffed a little in the second half I don’t think we were in any real danger. We were forced into a few changes but we we came through it well".

Carmarthen Town: Delve, Hardy, Jones (Hughes 49'), Smothers, Aherne-Evans, Walters, K.Thomas, Loss, Dodds, Mohamed (Davies 85'), D.Thomas. Sub not used: Cotterrall.

CPD Porthmadog: Harvey, J.G.Jones, Foster, Mitchell (R.Davies 85'), Webber, Friel (Gwynedd 75'), D.Hughes, Thomas, Sadler, Caughter, L.Davies. Subs not used: Harrison, Cook.

11.04.06 Cardiff Grange Quins 0 Carmarthen Town 6

The emphatic 6-0 score line truly represented Town’s superiority over an inexperienced Quins side at Leckwith tonight. Whilst the win maintains Town’s late season momentum it condemns the Quins to Welsh League football next season.

After a tentative opening Town dominated proceedings and quickly took charge as Sasha Walters’ drive into the Quins six yard box was deflected past keeper Gareth Williams by Town’s front man Kaid Mohamed for the opener.

Town built a good move from deep and with Danny Thomas threading through a great ball for Mohamed to finish in style and give Town a 2-0 cushion at the break.

The start of the second half saw the hosts have their best period of the game. Town keeper Andrew Delve was forced to save well from former Town player Saad Essa and almost immediate Nelson Nsowah was unlucky when his effort was denied by the crossbar.

Town quickly regained the initiative and were seldom troubled for the remainder of the game. Danny Thomas converted Mohamed’s cross from the bye-line just after the hour and with Mattie Davies replacing Colin Loss the substitute put the game beyond the hosts with the finishing touch to Luke Hardy’s shot come cross on 72 minutes.

Having done well out on the right Thomas then returned the favour and provided for Mohamed to complete his hat-trick with eight minutes remaining and was on hand on the stroke of full time to deliver a fine cross for Davies to bag his brace.

With Town now up to fifth in the table Mark Jones is setting his sights on a fourth place finish.

“We’re on a good run at the moment and tonight was a good win. Quins went to Caersws with the same side at the weekend and got a draw. I’m pleased we kept a clean sheet and I really fancy us for a strong run in”, said the delighted manager.

Grange Harlequins Williams, Nash (Fish 48'), Hopkins (Bishop 1' White 62') , Essa, Bashir, Stacey, Redwod, Tanetta, Karvouniaris, Nsowah, Perkins. Sub not used: Lyon.

Carmarthen Town Delve, Hardy, Smothers, Giles, Aherne-Evans (Jones 75'), Walters, K.Thomas, Loss (Dodds 60'), Mohamed, D.Thomas, Cotterrall (Davies 64').

08.04.06 Carmarthen Town 3 NEWI Cefn Druids 0

CARMARTHEN TOWN’S good run continued with a 3-0 victory over NEWI Cefn Druids.

Nathan Cotterrall, two-goal hero of the midweek win over TNS, opened the scoring after only three minutes when he scrambled the ball over the line after Sasha Walters had seen his shot rebound off the post.

Town increased the lead in the twenty first minute when Mohamed capitalised on a poor clearance by the visitors to half volley past the despairing dive of Peter Pahulyi the visiting custodian.

Town were now in complete control with Andrew Delve in the home goal a virtual spectator.But with the strong wind making playing conditions difficult it remained 2-0 at the break despite Town's dominance in all areas.

Following the resumption the visitors had their best period. It took a superb covering tackle by Martyn Giles to deny Druids front man Mike Heverin a clear cut chance whilst at the other end Cotterall lobbed the advancing keeper from thirty yards only to see his effort inch over the bar and nestle in the top netting.

But it was second half substitutes Danny Thomas and Davies who added a late third goal to cap Town's performance.

Having made a diagonal run across the box and deftly beaten a defender Thomas found his fellow striker on the edge of the six yards box and Davies struck home to continue Town’s rich vein of form. With Town's late flurry encouraging, manger Mark Jones is adamant that fourth position is not an impossible task for his team .

Carmarthen Town: Delve, Jones, Smothers, Giles, Aherne-Evans, Hardy, K.Thomas, Walters (Thomas 82'), Dodds, Mohammed (Davies 68'), Cotterrall. Sub not used: Fleming

NEWI Cefn Druids: Pahulyi, Rowlands (Robbins 84'), Martin (Mazzarella 77'), Hobson, G.Roberts, Barton, Jones, Cook, Williams (McDonnell 46'), Heverin, C.Roberts.
Attendance: 296 Referee: P R Southall.

04.04.06 Carmarthen Town 2 TNS 1

Carmarthen Town brought TNS’s unbeaten league run to an end on Tuesday evening with a fine all round performance. Two goals by captain Nathan Cotterall inflicted the first league defeat on the champions since March 2005.

In perfect conditions both sides contributed to a very entertaining game. Home ‘keeper Andrew Delve was made to make a save in the 1st minute while Town’s Kris Thomas was unfortunate to see his shot rise over the bar following a fine move after two minutes.

The pattern continued for the whole of the first half with Delve denying the visitors on several occasions while Mark Dodds came closest to scoring for Town with an improvised shot which hit the bar following a nod down by Martyn Giles.

Surprisingly the half ended with no goals despite attacking play by both sides.

The second half started in fine fashion for the home side. Kaid Mohamed slipped a superb ball into space for the onrushing Cotterall who managed to squeeze his shot past visiting ‘keeper Gerard Doherty to give Town the lead.

This brought the best out of the Champions and whilst Town’s defence was subject to extreme pressure they managed to deny TNS a clear cut chance.

But the pressure did finally tell. Tommy Holmes found himself unmarked in the box and he duly deposited Michael Wilde's cross in the back of the Town goal.

Both sides continued to look for the winner and in the 86th minute Thomas slipped the ball inside the full back for Cotterall who took the ball past Doherty but was pulled down in the box for an undisputed penalty. Cotterall took the onus on himself and scored confidently from the spot.
A great performance and a very entertaining affair. Attendance 341

Carmarthen Town: Delve, Fleming, Smothers, Giles, Asherne-Evans, Hardy, K.Thomas, Jones, Dodds, Mohamed (Davies 83'), Cotterrall. Subs not used: D.Thomas, Walters.

Total Network Solutions FC: Doherty, Naylor, King (Leah 84'), Baker, S.Evans, Holmes, Ruscoe, Lloyd-Williams, Wilde, Hogan (Toner 56'), Jackson. Subs not used: G.Evans

Referee: M S Whitby