02.04.11 AIRBUS UK BROUGHTON 0 CARMARTHEN TOWN 0

A scoreless draw saw Town maintain their unbeaten record at the Airfield and, in this live televised game, it was the home side that predictably started strongly. Without Liam Hancock through injury and the suspended duo Dale Griffiths and Steve Evans Tomi Morgan’s restructured defence took some time to settle down.

Initial set pieces caused the visitors problems but gradually Stephen Pockett and Lee Bevan in the middle of the back four built up an understanding and by the end of the game were dominating the visiting attack. But the visitors were indebted to keeper Mike Lewis who kept them in the game early on when he palmed away a vicious strike from Leon Clowse after only four minutes.

With the hosts clearly enjoying the better of the first half chances Gavin Cadwalleder squandered a good free header and the lively Ian Sheridan, who left the field injured just after the half hour mark, did well to get round the defence but under pressure saw his angled finish denied by the post.

Mid field pairing Nicky Palmer and Kieran Howard began to win more possession enabling Nick Harrhy to break through on the half hour, only to have his shot charged down. And Palmer was adjudged to be the man of the match by ‘Sgorio’ commentators at the end of the game after having covered every blade of grass at least twice.

Following the break Town made far more of an impression forcing a series of early corners. Ten minutes into the half Dan Sheehan's cross into the box was helped on by Tim Hicks before Passmore put his hurried shot wide.

But a couple of minutes later it was the hosts who had to be thankful to their keeper when Nicky Lee-Bulmer did exceptionally well to tip over Passmore's well struck, goal bound volley following a cleared corner that was put back in.

Passmore was replaced by Steffan Williams and with Taylor Harding replacing Harrhy Town maintained momentum. A superb tackle by Airbus defender Richard Dorman denied Hicks as he bullied his way through and Sacha Walters did well to get to the bye line and pull the ball back, but with no reward.

Nicky Rushton and Ian Hamilton’s strong running caused a few problems for the Town defence. But with Pockett and Bevan now dominating and Richard Hughes and Sheehan policing the flank the late threat was snuffed out.

Morgan will be the happier of the two managers having got some reward against the side in the play-off spot. The Wingmakers on the other hand will be pleased to have put their TV jinx behind them after losing their three previous contests in front of the cameras.

Morgan was understandably pleased with his squad after the game. “Because of injuries and suspensions we have had to readjust our line up today but the players all contributed to a fine team performance. " It was hard work and perseverance which kept us in the game during the initial period”.

“They (Airbus) were very strong from corners and free kicks and had two great chances first half. But I thought we did OK in open play. I thought we had the better of the second period. For the last hour of the game we were very competitive ".

"Yes I'm happy with a point especially after the boys battled so well in the second half”. "We've now got two home games now to build on today. Both very important games. Every point is vital. It will be interesting to see how important today's point will be at the end of the season".

Airbus UK: N Lee-Bulmer, M Allen, P Clarke, L Clowes, G Cadwallader, R Dorman, N Rushton (M Woodward 85'), D Desormeaux, I Sheridan (A Hamilton 36'), E Hope, P McManus (R Nash 78') Subs not used: C Doran, Jo Parry.

Town: M Lewis, R Hughes, D Sheehan, S Pockett, L Bevan, K Howard, G Passmore (S Williams 60'), T Hicks, N Harrhy (T Harding 78'), N Palmer, S Walters Sub not used: M Davies.

Referee: Paul Thomas.

08.04.11 CARMARTHEN TOWN 1 HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY 0

Nick Harry’s 56th. minute strike proved enough for ten man Town to take all three much needed points in this West Wales derby. With the Richmond Park outfit looking to close the gap on the play off place and with manager Tomi Morgan committing himself to the club by signing an extension to his contract Town fans can be confident of Welsh Premier status for the coming season.

But it was the dismissal of Sacha Walters, for dissent, five minutes before the break that proved the catalyst and spark that Town needed to push for the win following a disjointed and forgettable first half.

With Town depleted through injuries, suspensions and the recall of Stephen Pocket to Neath, Deryn Brace returned to the left back berth to allow Richard Hughes to partner Lee Bevan at the heart of the defence.

But with little quality or pattern on show the first real chance of the game fell to Tim Hicks on the half hour when he picked up on Geraint Passmore’s diagonal ball to round the defence only to be blocked out at the near post as keeper Neil Thomas saved with his feet.

Following a Chris O’Sullivan corner that had been headed clear by Bevan the influential youngster Rickie Watts sent in a curling strike that was well held by Town keeper Mike Lewis before, what proved to be, the pivotal moment in the game.

With Walters holding the ball up on the flank he appealed for a foul having been pushed in the back. But with the game being waved on his dissent was brought to the referee’s attention by the assistant and Walters was shown red for his abusive outburst.

Following the break the Bluebirds had a short period of possession but without any real threat. And, galvanised by the dismissal, Town picked up the pace before making the breakthrough they threatened. With Kieran Howard and Nicky Palmer linking well to provide for Harrhy before the lone striker was crowded out by two defenders. But the front man persisted to pick-pocket Lee Jarman and reclaim possession before stepping sideways to strike right footed beyond Bluebirds keeper Neil Thomas for what proved the deciding goal of the game.

A couple of minutes later and Hicks could well have made the game safe. With Passmore’s diagonal ball to the back post headed down by Howard, Hicks somehow scuffed his shot before it was gathered, on the line, by Thomas. With the Bluebirds looking for an equaliser they lacked any real conviction but Watts’s 25 yard angled strike, just before the hour, came close to a ‘goal of the season’ award as it smashed against the angle of Town’s goal.

With a quarter hour remaining Hicks broke through well on the right but his cross to the far post of an open goal was just beyond Harrhy’s out stretched foot and minutes later the lone striker again came close to sealing the game when he buried Passmore’s defence splitting ball in the side netting. Richard Evans proved an effective outlet down the left for Haverfordwest but his excellent cross with ten minutes remaining was headed narrowly over by debutant substitute Harry Allen.

But with Town disciplined and defending in numbers when needed Passmore, Harrhy and Palmer linked well as Town broke forward with pace. But Town had to survive a late scare when, following a goalmouth scramble, Jarman’s cheeky chip fortunately cleared both keeper and bar as the hosts saw out the game for a well-deserved win.

Manager Tomi Morgan was both pleased and relieved with the outcome, “Not the best first half but a good win and a well deserved one as well. It was an important three points for us and I thought the boys put in a very good shift of work especially after the sending off”.

“There was no excuse for what Sacha did and it made it very difficult for Nick Harrhy to play up front by himself. With the injuries and suspensions that we had as well the boys showed great commitment and determination”.

Town: M Lewis, R Hughes, D Sheehan, D Brace, L Bevan, K Howard, G Passmore , T Hicks(S Williams 86'), N Harrhy, N Palmer, S Walters Subs not used: M Davies, T Harding, A Davies

Haverfordwest County: N Thomas, C O’Sullivan, K Griffiths, L Jarman, M Dodds (H Allen 81'), J Bradford, C George, N A Thomas (L Robinson 61'), R Watts, D Thomas, R Evans Sub not used: D Rees.

Attendance: 526 Referee: Paul Fisher