BBC WALES Website Carmarthen 3-2 Afan Lido

A brace from Kaid Mohamed saw Carmarthen win the Welsh Cup for the first time in their history.
Mohamed got onto Nathan Cotterrall's pass at Llanelli's Stebonheath Park for a superbly struck opener on 12 minutes.

Welsh League Division One side Afan Lido, in their first final, fought back bravely, Ian Jones driving into the top corner from a free kick inside the box.

Sasha Walters restored the lead, and Mohamed's second after the break meant Jones' second was just a consolation.

The match was Welsh Premier side Carmarthen's third cup final, making the experience of lifting the coveted trophy at last something to savour.

"It was a very sweet victory, fantastic for Carmarthen Town," said Old Gold manager Mark Jones.

"There were two great goals from the youngster [Mohamed], but I'm proud of every player and every supporter.

"I also want to really congratulate Afan Lido who put in a superb performance.

"This means we're in Europe for the third time in three years, you have to be happy with that."

Carmarthen Town : N. Thomas, Evans, Brace (Keddle 46'), Walters (Loss 83'), Dodds, K. Thomas, D. Thomas, Ramasut, Fowler, Mohamed, Cotterrall Sub not used: Hancock..

Afan Lido FC: B. Thomas, C. Jones, Lewis, Williams, Felton (Latham 85'), Martin, McCreesh, P. Evans (C. Evans 68'), I. Jones, O'Leary, Hurley (Piper 68').

Attendance: 946 Referee: Lee Evans

John Edwards WESTERN MAIL 07.05.07

Carmarthen Town 3-2 Afan Lido

TWO sensational Kaid Mohamed strikes earned Carmarthen their first ever Welsh Cup success in the 120th final at Llanelli’s Stebonheath Park yesterday.

But the Welsh Premier giants had to fend off a spirited response from Afan Lido after going 3-1 ahead three minutes into the second period.

The Aberavon side, who had eliminated Port Talbot and Welshpool in previous rounds showed tremendous determination in the second period and when Ian Jones netted with eight minutes remaining, they were very much back in the hunt.

But they failed to find another goal scoring chance and Carmarthen’s success was well deserved, if only for their first half superiority.

Victorious manager Mark Jones paid tribute to Lido, saying “They were a credit to the Welsh League and what a game they gave us.

“It’s been a long road and we have had our good fortune along the way with victories on penalties over Caersws and Porthmadog, but it’s an historic day for the club and the town of Carmarthen.

“Victory means we are now in Europe for the third year on the trot and that is a magnificent achievement.”

Afan Lido boss Phil Holmes paid tribute to his players.

“I could not have asked any more of them and I’m extremely proud of the fight they showed in the second half,” he said.

“Carmarthen were always a threat going forward and our former player Sasha Walters caused us lots of problems.

“But I thought we flew the flag proudly for the Welsh League and our target now is to gain promotion back to the Welsh Premier in the next few seasons.”

Mohamed gave Carmarthen a 13th-minute advantage with a stunning 15-yard shot, from Walters’ supply, giving ’keeper Brian Thomas no chance.

But within four minutes, the Welsh League side were level from a free-kick awarded in the box for a Terry Evans foul on John Felton.

Prolific striker Ian Jones drilled a fierce drive through the wall and it was game on for the minnows.
Walters had to endure a good deal of banter from his former supporters, but he got how own back putting the Old Golds in front midway through the first half, though Lido keeper Thomas will feel he should have done better.

The speedy wide man weaved his magic and after beating Karl Lewis on the inside, let fly with his left foot and the wind appeared to outfox the Lido keeper.

Carmarthen had other opportunities to increase their lead before the third goal arrived early in the second period.

A long Neil Thomas clearance found Nathan Cotterrall who set up Mohamed for an instant shot that crashed into the net with blistering pace.

The underdogs were not finished, though, and increased the tempo leaving Carmarthen rocking at times.

And their reward came when Liam McCreesh floated a long ball up field for Felton to supply Jones with a low drive that the marksman side-footed home in style.

It set up a sustained period of Lido pressure, but Carmarthen hung on and will now enter the Uefa Cup for the second time in three years, their other European adventure being in the Inter Toto Cup.
Jones, whose burning ambition has always been to land the famous old trophy, added, “We were a little disappointed to finish only seventh in the league, but this is the icing on the cake.

“I’m absolutely delighted for everyone connected with Carmarthen Football Club.”

Carmarthen Town : N. Thomas, Evans, Brace (Keddle 46'), Walters (Loss 83'), Dodds, K. Thomas, D. Thomas, Ramasut, Fowler, Mohamed, Cotterrall Sub not used: Hancock..

Afan Lido FC: B. Thomas, C. Jones, Lewis, Williams, Felton (Latham 85'), Martin, McCreesh, P. Evans (C. Evans 68'), I. Jones, O'Leary, Hurley (Piper 68').

Attendance: 946 Referee: Lee Evans

CUP WIN MEANS TOWN ARE HISTORY-MAKERS
CHRIS BARNEY - Carmarthen journal

Carmarthen Town lifted the Welsh Cup for the first time in their history in an enthralling final.

Mark Jones had asked his side to be history-makers in the build-up and he got exactly what he pleaded for as Carmarthen made up for their final defeat to TNS two years ago and booked their place in the Uefa Cup.

Kaid Mohamed grabbed a brace in a man-of-the-match display for the Richmond Park side, with Sasha Walters bagging their other goal.

For Welsh League club Lido, who were also looking to lift the cup for the first time, leading striker Ian Jones bagged a brace as they did themselves proud in making the Welsh Premier side fight tooth and nail for their crown.

They had beaten top opposition in Port Talbot and Welshpool along the way, but the Lido express ran out of steam just short of the finishing line.

In a fairly scrappy start, both teams took a little time to get used to the windy conditions at Stebonheath Park.

Carmarthen were perhaps the brighter of the two and skipper Nathan Cotterrall indicated the danger he possesses when he outpaced his marker and flew down the left flank before delivering a low cross that Lido keeper Brian Thomas gathered.

Lido retaliated via Craig Jones, who fired wide from the edge of the box, while Greg Hurley directed his effort over the crossbar.

Then, in a classic counter attack, Carmarthen drew first blood after 12 minutes.

Lido playmaker Liam McCreesh broke into the Carmarthen half and his back-heeled pass unleashed Jones, although he was foiled by a perfect sliding tackle from Mark Dodds.

Fellow centre-back Kris Thomas picked up the loose ball and play was quickly shifted into Lido territory.

Striker Mohamed, who scored Carmarthen's semi-final winner over Llanelli, chested down a swirling cross and half-volleyed a powerful drive past keeper Thomas.

But before Mark Jones's side could even think of European football, Lido hit back three minutes later.

Carmarthen defender Terry Evans threw a high foot to a challenge in the box and was penalised with an indirect free-kick, not the penalty the vocal Lido faithful had cried out for.

Nevertheless, they got on with things and they were back on level terms when Hurley touched it to top scorer Ian Jones, who blasted into the top right-hand corner for his 36th goal of the season.

Both teams then battled it out, with Tom Ramasut in particular catching the eye in midfield for Carmarthen.

And just when Lido manager Phil Holmes was calling for his side to keep it steady, Carmarthen punished them just before the half hour.

Former Lido midfielder Sasha Walters broke down the right just inside his half and waltzed along. He fooled his marker Karl Lewis before hitting a dipping shot which bounced over the diving Thomas.

It was a sucker punch from Carmarthen, but Lido still plugged away and had the ball in the net again when Jones poked home after O'Leary's shot had cannoned off the bar, but he was called back for offside.

They went close again when Lewis drove an inviting cross into the box and with McCreesh missing out, Carmarthen keeper Thomas was forced into a fingertip save as he pushed the ball out for a corner.

Carmarthen really should have extended their lead before the break when Paul Fowler delivered along the face of goal but Mohamed, unmarked four yards out, failed to connect.

Mark Jones made a change at the break with Paul Keddle - who has been picked for Wales semi-pros' defence of the Four Nations tournament - came on as a direct replacement for left-back Deryn Brace.

With such a slim margin, the next goal was going to be huge.

It came just four minutes into the second half and it saw Carmarthen extend their lead.

A long punt upfield from keeper Thomas was brought down by Cotterrall, who fed Mohamed and he drove a vicious strike low past Thomas into the bottom corner.

Lido kept plugging away, though, and striker Jones saw his 25-yard free-kick gathered well by keeper Thomas, while at the other end Walters drove his curling drive over the bar and Ramasut tested Thomas with a powerful 20-yard effort.

Lido threw on Carl Evans and Chris Piper for Paul Evans and Hurley as they tried to cut the deficit, but it was Carmarthen who continued to have a stranglehold on the game.

They really should have put their tassles on the cup when Mohamed broke down the right flank and squared to the unmarked Walters, but he somehow scuffed his shot wide.

Lido then had a chance to cut the gap when John Felton found himself in some space on the edge of the box but he fired over.

But they went one step closer to levelling when Ian Jones directed Felton's cross into the top corner with 12 minutes to go. It was testament to their fighting spirit and the Welsh League club really threw everything at Carmarthen.

Chris Latham was introduced for Felton, which saw McCreesh pushed up front as Lido went all out for the equaliser, while Colin Loss came on for Walters as Carmarthen looked to close the game out.

They did just that and wrote themselves into the club's history books.

WELSH CUP WIN IS JUST CHAMPION

CHRIS BARNEY Carmarthen Journal

There were talks of Champions League and treble success from Mark Jones following Carmarthen's Welsh Cup final win over Afan Lido on Sunday.

A 3-2 win over Welsh League side Afan Lido ensured Jones's players engraved their name into the history books as they lifted the cup for the first time.

Jones and Co can now sit back and relax as they look forward to a third successive season in European competition, with the Uefa Cup set to include Carmarthen in its draw.

Proud manager Jones has seen his side scrape through two penalty shootout victories in the competition before a hard-fought 1-0 win over Llanelli in the semi-final.

Now he is just soaking in the ecstasy of becoming the first manager to take the cup back to Richmond Park.

''It has been a long road,'' he said. ''We had to go through penalties against Caersws and Porthmadog and it was close against Llanelli, but we have created history and won the Welsh Cup for Carmarthen, so we are all elated.

''It is a big thing for us - this is our Champions League, and we got it.

''It is our treble. We have got into Europe three years running and for a part-time team that is a great achievement. We are glad to have got over the line.

''We will celebrate this - someone had better get the beers ready because we are going to have a few.''

A brace from classy striker Kaid Mohamed and one from former Lido midfielder Sasha Walters secured the win and erased painful memories of their previous final defeat to TNS two years ago at the same venue.

Mohamed put them ahead with a neat volley on the turn before Lido replied through striker Ian Jones.

Walters's solo effort edged Carmarthen ahead at the break before Mohamed's superb half-volley looked to have ended the contest early in the second half.

But Lido grabbed a lifeline through Jones but Carmarthen held out.

Jones had particular praise for Mohamed and Lido's Ian Jones, who looked the best players on either side.

''There were some magnificent young footballers out there - Kaid Mohamed for us and Ian Jones for Lido,'' he said. ''But everyone played their part. Sasha gets a lot of stick but he went on to score against his old club. I think he'd better have a couple of weeks in Carmarthen after this.''

Jones had been in regular contact with the Lido coaching staff throughout the competition, so he knew a considerable amount about the threat coming from the Marston Stadium side.

''I know the Lido,'' said Jones. ''I told the boys that even if we got four up on them, they would come back. We did tend to drop back a bit in the second half and Sasha had a great chance to make it 4-1, but Lido kept going and pushed us all the way.

''But we were pushed along by our supporters. They have been brilliant and very patient with us in the league. They may not be as wild as the Lido fans, but they made a lot of noise to keep us going to the final whistle.

''They have been superb for us and this win is for them. I'm sure they are enjoying the success.''

Town players Paul Keddle and Kris Thomas are in the Wales semi-pro squad defending their Four Nations tournament crown between May 22-27.