Having seen his side suffer a devastating final seventeen minutes when hosts Porthmadog cancelled out a first half Gavin Allan goal and added a further two goals to record a win on their first home fixture following their return to the Welsh Premier League Carmarthen Town manager Tomi Morgan was disappointed regarding the outcome but confident that the quality in his squad will show through.

“We’ve had a good pre-season and we have quality in the squad. Although there are eight months to go a win in August will get us settled and the campaign under way. “

“If we didn’t have any shape I’d be worried but we created chances and had the better of the first half, but we do need a little flair in the final third of the field. Once they scored they lifted their game and took the initiative”.

Town started positively with neat controlled play and possession. Anthony Wright returning from injury made his presence felt in midfield and it was a his quality free kick, headed inches wide by captain Andrew York, that produced Town’s first real chance on 20 minutes.

A couple of minutes later with Carl Owen and Gareth Caughter combing well the hosts had their best chance of the half when captain Mike Foster’s accurate cross was headed narrowly wide by Caughter.

RSU sponsored Carmarthen Town took control and when Wright forced a corner just after the half hour it was again York at the back post who headed down for David Moss and then Allen to stab the ball home and give Town the lead.

Town looked comfortable but Owen for Porthmadog again showed his quality just before the break with a cleaver run that tested Town’s defence.

The second half saw Town continue to exploit the advantage of the wide pitch with Nick Burke, Allen, and Moss combining well to pressurise the home defence. Allen had a fierce shot well saved by Gerard McGuigan and on the hour, with Porthmadog struggling to clear a corner, Dale Price’s shot hit the cross bar and ominously Town failed to build on their first half lead.

Having made two substitutions and a positional change Porthmadog began to widen their attack and gain the initiative in midfield as they looked to reduce the deficit. Their persistence was finally rewarded on 73 minutes when Caughter broke down the right and his cross was headed home by the irrepressible Owen to level the score.

With the momentum of the game changing in favour of the home side Town struggled to contain the Port attack. With eight minutes remaining and pressure mounting a shot from Caughter took a deflection behind and substitute Lee Webber headed home Foster’s corner, in a crowded box, to give the home side the lead.

Then in the final minute with Town pushing forward in search of the equaliser it was Port’s second substitute Tony Williams who broke down the right and his bullet of a cross was met by Owen with a diving header to make the game safe for Porthmadog.

Carmarthen Town : Pennock, Barnhouse, Jones, A Thomas, York, Price (Reid), Wright (Keaveny), Rossiter, Burke, Allen, Moss. Subs: Davies, O Thomas, Chapple.

30.08.03

CARMARTHEN TOWN 2 NEWI CEFN DRUIDS 0

With Tomi Morgan billing the fixture against NEWI Cefn Druids a ‘Must Win’ game Carmarthen Town secured their first victory of the new season in a hard fought contest with their visitors from N.E. Wales.

Two goals in the final quarter by the ex Swansea City duo of David Moss and Paul Reid finally ended Town’s points famin and with expectations high amongst the Richmond Park faithful the win will, hopefully, provide confidence and a platform for the team to build on.

Town could have taken the lead as early as the first minute of the game when Nicky Burke headed a dangerous cross by Steffan Davies narrowly wide. Burke was again unfortunate with another header in the eighth minute but with RSU sponsored Carmarthen Town dominating the game the visitors were quick and clever on the break and the Town defence could not afford to lose concentration.

In fact the Druids could have stolen the lead when a dangerous cross into the Town box, that eluded the home defence, also luckely eluded the visiting attack as the Druids forwards got in each others way to squander a good opportunity.

Having seen Anthony Wright’s effort blaze over his bar Stuart McIntosh in the away goal made a brave save at the feet of the luckless Burke to keep it goalless at the break.

The second half followed a similar pattern with Town failing to convert a number of half chances created but as the game entered its final quarter timely substitutions by manager Tomi Morgan had the desired effect.

Jon Keaveny’s turn of pace caused immediate problems for the visiting defenders and when another Town attack was turned behind for a corner Davies’ well placed set piece was firmly headed home by Moss in the 77th. minute to give Town the lead they deserved.

Five minutes later Reid hammered home a shot from the edge of the box to double the advantage and make the game safe for the home side.

Morgan, who’s side has improved on each outing, will hope that the win will kick start Town’s campaign and he will have an opportunity to fine tune his line-up for the League Cup visit to Afan Lido ahead of a difficult away fixture to Caernarfon next Saturday.