UEFA CUP 1st. Qualifying Round

14.06.05
Longford Town 2 Carmarthen Town 0
Flancare Park, Longford

Irish too strong for Carmarthen

Longford Town will take a healthy 2-0 lead to Latham Park for the second leg of their UEFA Cup tie against Carmarthen Town.

And it could have been more for the home side who dominated most of the game minutes at Flancare Park.

Carmarthen started well with Mark Dodds forcing a close range save out of home keeper Stephen O'Brien, but it took dogged defending to keep out shots from Dean Fitzgerald, Davy Byrne and Stephen Paisley.

It was Paisley who opened the scoring after 35 minutes when he side-footed the ball into the top corner from a Fitzgerald cross.

And Longford doubled their advantage nine minutes into the second half when Alan Kirby's corner was headed past Tony Pennock from close range by Barry Ferguson.

Longford should have made it three in the 73rd minute when Davy Byrne's shot was saved by Pennock and John Martin's follow-up was somehow kept out by the Carmarthen stopper.

Dodds spurned a late chance to grab a vital away goal when he headed wide.

Longford Town: Stephen O'Brien, Alan Murphy, Sean Dillon, John Martin, Barry Ferguson, Stephen Paisley, Alan Kirby, Dean Fitzgerald (Sean Prunty78’), Andy Myler (Dessie Baker86), Paul Keegan, Davy Byrne. Subs not used: Gary Cronin, Danny O'Connor, Alan Cawley, Gary Murphy, Seamus Kelly.

Carmarthen Town: Tony Pennock, Richard Carter, Gary Lloyd, Martyn Giles, Paul Cochlin, Rhodri Jones (Jimmy James 90’), Kevin Aherne-Evans, Richard Kennedy, Mark Dodds, Daniel Thomas, Neil Smothers (Luke Hardy 63’). Subs not used: Sacha Walters, Omar Abdillahi, Adrian Tucker.

28.06.05
Carmarthen Town 5 Longford Town 1 (5-3 on aggregate)
Latham Park, Newtown

A scintillating second half display saw Carmarthen Town make history and become the second Welsh side into Friday's UEFA Cup draw. Former Cardiff City striker Danny Thomas and left-back Gary Lloyd struck two goals apiece as a four-goal second half blitz saw Town knock out Eircom league side Longford Town at Newtown's Latham park.

Town got a dream start as they looked to overhaul the two-goal first leg deficit when new signing Thomas gave them the lead after 15 minutes, with the club's first ever European goal. A long-ball, flicked on by fellow front man Mark Dodds saw the former Bluebird get between the centre halves to slot the ball past the advancing Stephen O'Brien.

The home fans then found their voice as they looked to level the tie but Town's joy was soon short-lived when a slide-rule pass from Stephen Paisley split the Carmarthen defence and Carmarthen keeper Tony Pennock brought down Andy Myler as he tried to go round the Town stopper. With the Andoran official flashing a yellow car and pointing to the spot Myler sent Pennock the wrong way and planted the ball high to the keeper's left.

With Town now needing three to go through they continued to press forward and Thomas twice went close, just failing to connect with a knock-down from Kevin Aherne-Evans, and the same combination was again denied by O'Brien's superb tip-over from Thomas' looping header. Pennock was again called into action as he did well to send a low angled drive from Davy Byrne around the post.

Five minutes in to the seocond half Town again gave themselves a glimmer of hope. A long looping cross from Lloyd evaded the Longford defence and looped over the stranded O'Brien to make it 2-1 to the Richmond Park outfit.

Carmarthen's aerial threat was causing panic in the vistors' defence as the home side turned up the heat, but as the hosts pushed forward Longford looked dangerous on the break and Myler's pace caught the home back line napping as he put Paul Keegan clear but a superb block by Pennock denied the visiting forward line proved the turning point of the tie with just over an hour gone.

A minute later Thomas was bundled over by Dillon in the box and, having cosulted with his assistant the referee pointed to the spot. Then after a nail biting delay, Lloyd drilled the ball down the middle to level the aggregate scores with 25 minutes remaining.

With Town supporters sensing that the tie was now within grasp Dodds blazed over from 12 yards after O'Brien flapped at another Lloyd centre but with Aherne-Evans flicking on a long-ball Thomas nipped in behind the static defence and rounded the keeper to cooly slotted home and put Town on the road to the second round.

With Longford looking devastated Byrne had an effort deflected wide and an ambitious penalty appeal denied but a costly slip on 80 minutes by O'Brien wrapped it up for Town as subsitute Nathan Cotterrall robbed him of possession 40 yards out and raced clear to slot it into the empty net to guarantee that it was Carmarthen Town's name that went into Friday's second round draw Geneva.

Carmarthen Town: Tony Pennock, Luke Hardy, Gary Lloyd, Martin Giles, Richard Carter, Rhodri Jones, Kevin Aherne-Evans, Richard Kennedy, Mark Dodds, Danny Thomas (Sasha Walters 84’), Neil Smothers (Nathan Cotterrall 59’). Subs not used: Nicky Burke, Jimmy James, Omar Abdillahi, Adrian Turner.

Longford Town: Stephen O'Brien, Sean Dillon, John Martin, Barry Ferguson, Stephen Paisley (Alan Cawley 79’), Alan Kirby, Dean Fitzgerald (Alan Murphy 68’), Andy Myler (Dessie Baker 69’), Davy Byrne, Danny O'Connor, Paul Keegan. Subs not used: Sean Prunty, Gary Cronin, Gary Murphy, Seamus Kelly.

UEFA CUP 2005 2nd. Qualifying Round

Aizlewood believes in battling Carmarthen
Aug 11 2005 Western Mail

MARK AIZLEWOOD saw it, did it and wore the T-shirt during a distinguished playing career - but he knows he faces one of his biggest tests persuading Carmarthen Town's players that they can be European heroes again.

Tiny Carmarthen, a motley collection of students, firemen, gardeners and schoolteachers, confront FC Copenhagen in a Uefa Cup second round, first leg qualifier in the Danish capital tonight (7.15pm).

A gate of around 15,000-plus is expected at Denmark's National Stadium for a match that is a quintessential David and Goliath encounter.

Yet Welsh Premiership Carmarthen have already sprung a shock to reach this stage - dumping out Eircom outfit Longford 5-3 on aggregate in the last round after thrashing the Irish Cup winners 5-1 at Newtown.

FC Copenhagen, who chalked up a Danish double in 2004, form top-notch opposition, though. The Scandinavians have plenty of pedigree with ex-Aston Villa and Sweden raider Marcus Allback, former Ajax destroyer Ole Tobiasen and Tobias Linderoth, who once wore Everton's shirt, in their ranks.

But Aizlewood, the 39-times capped former Wales defender, outlined his brief by saying, "My role is to convince our players that winning a tie against Copenhagen is not mission impossible.

"To do that you have to analyse what we face and then condense the action in terms of statistics.

"We might have 90 minutes ahead of us in Denmark, but the ball is in play in any game for only an hour.

"Within this period we will have 35 throw-ins - some in the attacking third - and, possibly, 25 to 30 goal kicks.

"If we are professional and do our jobs properly that hour of play will come down to 48 minutes. Suddenly it is not impossible for us to get a positive result.

"I've told the lads to see this match as six games at 10 minutes each. Our target will be to draw or better four of these games."

Should they cheat the odds, then ex-Charlton and Leeds star Aizlewood feels Carmarthen need to emulate the sort of defensive durability shown by Wales during Terry Yorath's managerial tenure.

He said, "I've had a rundown on the Danes as we have a DVD on them. "I know now that success for us will be to be tight defensively, and we must make the most of our opportunities to counter-attack.

"I think back to my time with Wales between 1986 and 1995. You always knew that most other countries would have more of the ball because they were more gifted technically.

"But our thought was to always stick in there and maintain our organisation and discipline. That way the opposition's character and spirit could wane.

"The secret in Copenhagen is for us to match them for the opening 30 minutes." Aizlewood and Carmarthen manager Mark Jones are certain that Town won't be embarrassed with fitness this evening.

Said Aizlewood, "Durability will be a strong point for us. Apart from Gary Lloyd, we are a young side.

"Since the match in Longford last month our players have been training on a more regular basis than they normally do.

"The improvement could be seen going into the return with Longford as we'd had six gruelling sessions before that game."

Carmarthen, of course, include a clutch of league discards with defender Martyn Giles, Kevin Aherne-Evans and striker Danny Thomas, a two-goal hero against Longford, all rejected by Cardiff City.

Full-back Luke Hardy was at Peterborough, while ex-Wales Under-21 star Rhodri Morgan got no further at Manchester United than the reserves set-up.

But Caerphilly-born teenager Thomas believes more European glory could provide him with a platform for a Football League return.

He said, "I was devastated when Cardiff showed me the door last May. "I still haven't really decided what I want to do with the rest of my life.

"But I pray someone gives me another chance to be a professional. If I can do well against Copenhagen, who knows what opportunities might come my way?

"The second leg is at Ninian Park in 14 days and I never believed I'd be going back to my old ground so swiftly.

"I just hope we have something to play for in that game. But it'll mean us putting in the performance of our lives in Denmark."

11.08.05
FC Copenhagen 2-0 Carmarthen Town
PARKEN Stadium Copenhagen

Gutsy Town hoisted the Welsh flag with pride but missiles from Alvaro Santos and Michael Gravgaard inside seven second-half minutes shredded their bid for a UEFA Cup miracle in Denmark last night.

Battling Carmarthen had frustrated the star-spangled Danes with a tight defensive show before the break.

The minnows even had the temerity to almost snatch a lead through raider Mark Dodds and centre-back Martyn Giles, but, after a Danish breakthrough, only excellent keeper Tony Pennock prevented real carnage.

The Swansea coach frustrated Andre Bergdolmo, Michael Silberbauer with spectacular saves - the ex-Yeovil man also spiking goal-scorer Santos on three occasions - including a brilliant penalty stop from the Brazilian 19 minutes from time.

Town were unchanged from the line-up that dumped Eircom team Longford out. The home club, worth around £100m on the stock market, and regular participants in European soccer over the last decade, included seven full internationals in at the start - Denmark custodian Jesper Christiansen and central destroyer Gravgaard expected to be involved against England in the city next Wednesday.

And the Danes were showing their obvious menace after just 45 seconds. Silberbauer's right-side ball split Town open - Pennock's torso blocking Santos at the near post.

Feared Copenhagen playmakers Marcus Allback and Tobias Linderoth were obvious dangers.

And the visitors were so grateful to ex-Barry hero Gary Lloyd on 18 minutes - the left-back clearing Gravgaard's downward header off the line with Pennock beaten.

Silberbauer lashed wide before Pennock made a brilliant twisting save from the darting Santos.

Yet, almost unbelievably, Carmarthen, with skipper Rhodri Jones and Richard Kennedy so effective in the midfield attrition could have gone ahead in the 26th minute.

Kevin Aherne-Evans, once of Cardiff, skinned Norwegian cap Bergdolmo on the right, Dodds' hook clutched by Christiansen.

And Town wasted another gilt-edged opportunity from their first corner six minutes later - Giles heading Luke Hardy's delivery over a gaping net.

Evening showers had started to slick the pitch. But Pennock's handling was faultless as he clutched Bergdolmo's dipping free-kick inches underneath his bar.

But the 34-year-old Welshman was fishing the ball out of his net within two minutes of the restart, though. Silverbauer's deep cross was knocked back by Peter Ijah for Santos to finish coolly.

The rampant Danes pierced gritty Town once more six minutes from the hour,. Bergdolmo speared over a precise set piece - Gravgaard powering in.

Battered Carmarthen were struggling to contain the siege and Pennock superbly diverted Santos' snap shot.

And Pennock did even better in the 72nd minute - springing to his right to beat away Santos' low spot kick, this after Richard Carter had been harshly adjudged to have handled in the area by Maltese ref Joseph Attard.

Carmarthen: Pennock, Hardy, Lloyd, Giles, Carter, Jones, Aherne-Evans, Kennedy, Dodds, Thomas, Smothers Subs: Walters [for Kennedy 69min], Cotterall [for Thomas 57min], Burke [for Smothers 76min], James, Abdillahi, Tucker.

Aizlewood banished after ban uncovered
Aug 12 2005

Carmarthen Town assistant coach Mark Aizlewood was banished to the stand as the part-timers gave top Danish outfit FC Copenhagen the fright of their lives in the Uefa Cup last night, before going down 2-0.

Aizlewood who works under manager Mark Jones, was not allowed into the changing room or pitchside because a ban he received for being sent off while playing in a European tie for Cwmbran eight years ago is still outstanding.

The Echo understands Uefa officials got wind of Aizlewood's involvement with Town the day before the game and were waiting for him last night.

The Welsh Premiership outfit performed heroically again against Denmark's top side and now have a real chance of progress in the return leg at Ninian Park on August 25.

Jones urges Carmarthen to bide their Uefa time
Aug 25 2005 By South Wales Echo

Carmarthen manager Mark Jones wants a calculated and committed performance as his side bid to make 'the biggest breakthrough ever in Welsh football' and reach the Uefa Cup first round proper.

Town trail 2-0 from the first leg against the Danes of FC Copenhagen and though an early goal for the Welsh side at Cardiff City's Ninian Park tonight (7.30pm) would be ideal, Jones is preaching patience to his players.

'You have just got to play it as you would play any game,' he said.

'You are not going to go for broke against a team who are obviously superior to us in technical ability and in stature.

'We are going to play to the best of our ability. If nothing happens for the first hour or we nick one in that time, then anything can happen.'

Jones will draw encouragement from his side's 5-3 aggregate win over Longford in the first qualifying round, when they trailed by the same scoreline from the first leg.

'We played at home against Longford and went 1-0 up when we were 2-0 down (on aggregate),' Jones recalled.

'They scored a penalty five minutes later and people thought the tie was over, but then we scored four in the second half.

'I doubt very much whether we would be able to do that against this sort of opposition, but we will certainly give it our best shot.'

The new Welsh Premiership season kicks off on Saturday and another comeback win against Copenhagen would, in Jones' view, have positive spin-offs across Wales.

'If we win it would be the biggest breakthrough in the history of Welsh football ever, to go through to the first round proper,' he added.

'It would be a massive step for Carmarthen and for the Welsh league. 'TNS did very well against Liverpool, so the profile of our league has been given a big boost in the early part of the season.'

Top Danish stars save their bacon
Aug 26 2005 By South Wales Echo

Ninian Park, Cardiff

Carmarthen 0-2 FC Copenhagen

Top Danish club FC Copenhagen sent out their stars to end Carmarthen Town's European adventure at Ninian Park last night.

The Danes fielded 11 full internationals over the 90 minutes, from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, South Africa and Nigeria, and three of them have experience with Premiership clubs. They are Sweden's Tobias Linderoth (Everton) and Marcus Allback (Aston Villa) plus Denmark's Peter Moller (Fulham).

'Copenhagen are a class act, top quality,' said Carmarthen manager Mark Jones after his team had gone out of the Uefa Cup, having beaten Irish club Longford Town in the first qualifying round.

'The players can look back with satisfaction on our team performance, but I am still left with a tinge of disappointment. We had four good chances in Copenhagen, while tonight at Ninian Park I would like to have seen more attempts on goal, a bit more passion.

'But the players can hold their heads high. When we were 2-0 down at half-time the smart money was on six or seven, but our boys were magnificent. They gave everything in the second half and kept going to the end. 'They have done the Welsh Premiership proud.'

Goalkeeper Tony Pennock made some excellent saves against the slick Danes, whose movement and passing were of a standard which would certainly have tested Cardiff City and proved too much over the two legs for Carmarthen. Copenhagen are highly experienced in European competition, with Lazio among their victims.

Their goals in last night's second qualifying round tie at Ninian Park both came from Danish international Moller, who netted after 37 and 39 minutes.

Craig Hughes was the biggest goal threat for Carmarthen after he went on at half-time, while Copenhagan coach Hans Backe hailed his team's defensive display as 'perfect'.

He also described Moller's second, a beautifully-taken header from a superb cross, as 'brilliant'.

Carmarthen, who open their Vauxhall MasterFit Welsh Premier League fixtures this weekend, included three former Cardiff City players in their line-up - Martyn Giles, Kevin Aherne-Evans and Danny Thomas.

Giles, who played right-back for Cardiff City and now operates in the centre, was helped off the pitch by two stewards at the end after falling heavily. But the problem was diagnosed as cramp.

Carmarthen Town: T Pennock, L Hardy, G Lloyd, M Giles, R Carter (capt), R Jones, K Aherne-Evans, R Kennedy, M Dodds (J James, 84 mins), D Thomas (C Hughes, 45 mins), N Cotterall (N Smothers, 68 mins). Not used: A Tucker, S Walters, N Burke, G Wharton.

Moller pair puts tie beyond brave Carmarthen
Aug 26 2005 David Wolfe, Western Mail

Carmarthen 0-2 FC Copenhagen (FC Copenhagen win 4-0 on aggregate)

A COUPLE of missiles inside two first-half minutes from former Fulham striker Peter Moller sent brave Carmarthen spinning out of the UEFA Cup last night.

Town had conjured a startling second-leg display to eliminate Eircom club Longford in the first qualifying round - but polished Copenhagen ensured there was no such repeat inside a near-deserted stadium.

The Danes had brought a small travelling contingent of support across the North Sea and only Scandinavian voices rang out after Moller's goals arrived just before the break.

Mark Jones' Town saw just the one change from the side that fell gallantly 2-0 in the first leg in the Danish capital 14 days ago - former Cwmbran player Nathan Cotterall replacing Neil Smothers on the left side of a midfield four.

FC Copenhagen, giants in their domestic section made their hosts the ultimate compliment by fielding an XI studded with internationals - including Denmark cap Michael Gravgaard, a scorer for his country in their 4-1 home mauling of England last Wednesday.

Denmark international Moller came into the attack for menacing Brazilian Alvaro Santos, who dropped to the bench - Thomas Roll Larsen also at the cutting edge.

Town had been forced to travel around 85 miles east along the M4 for this clash - UEFA deeming that the West Walians' Richmond Road ground was unfit for European competition.

And with former Everton schemer Tobias Linderoth and Marcus Allback, once of Aston Villa, orchestrating the midfield, the white-shirted Danes were soon moving into top gear.

Copenhagen should have been ahead in the third minute. Elrio van Heerden cut inside Cotterall from the right, Roll Larsen somehow blazing over an unguarded net.

Town keeper Tony Pennock had stopped a Santos penalty a fortnight ago and the ex-Yeovil man was soon in the action, stooping low to grasp Moller's snap shot.

It was one-way traffic as Hans Backe's charges produced another superbly crafted raid.
Michael Silberbauer's diagonal ball lashed across a congested area by the excellent van Heerden.

Former Wales U21 cap Rhodri Jones, watched by Swansea No 2 Kevin Nugent, was doing his utmost to halt a white tide but poor set-piece deliveries meant a quiet night for Copenhagen stopper Jesper Christiansen.

Only Pennock's bravery halted the marauding Allback on the half hour and then Gravgaard rose to power Andre Bergdolmo's curling corner wide from point-blank range.

British pop star Gabrielle's 1990s hit Dreams had rung out at the half-time - but by then Town's hopes of a Euro miracle were well and truly buried as the Danes struck twice in devastating fashion through Moller.

Copenhagen smashed the deadlock on 38 minutes. Cotterall fatally surrendered possession to the eager Silberbauer and the linkman fed Moller whose angled chip looped over Pennock.

The slick-moving Danes doubled their advantage in the 41st minute with an assault that oozed class. Silberbauer's cross was touched on by Allback and Moller's left footer fizzed into the corner.

Craig Hughes, who had missed out on Town's Euro adventure because of a prison sentence for violent disorder, left the bench to replace the disappointing Danny Thomas at the break.

The irony was clear because 26-year-old convicted football hooligan Hughes was treading the turf of an arena from which he is banned until 2014.

But the ex-Coventry player was a helpless spectator as Copenhagen almost bludgeoned a third - Roll Larsen again wasteful from 12 yards.

Battered Town were finally hitting back on 52 minutes though - Jones advancing before firing a 20-yard right-foot special over the bar.

The Scandinavians, in total control, were playing a couple of new cards around the hour - Janne Saarinen and Peter Ijeh replacing Swedes Linderoth and Allback.

Town sent on Smothers for Cotterall on 65 minutes but by now they were in dire need of divine intervention as Copenhagen refused to loosen their grip on the encounter.