29.08.08 CARMARTHEN TOWN 5 NEATH ATHLETIC 2

A well taken Paul Fowler hat-trick set up a hard won win for Carmarthen Town against Neath Athletic on Friday night. Having enjoyed an early two goal lead Town were pegged back by the Eagles before Town restored the lead just before the hour. But with the visitors having two players red carded late on, they remain pointless. The win sees Town maintain their undefeated run and move up into fourth place.

In a pulsating opening twenty minute period both sides netted twice. Fowler opened the scoring after 3 minutes when he latched on to a threaded ball after the tireless Nicky Palmer had foraged well for possession in mid-filed. Town’s tally was doubled just after the quarter hour when captain Nathan Cotterrall switched sides and cut in from the right to net with a sweet curling 20 yarder into the top corner of the net.

Neath replied immediately. Raiding up the left flank Richard French hit a 20 yard scorcher to reduce the arrears and the Eagles then pulled level when Town were penalised on 19 minutes after the pacey French was adjudged to have been pulled back by Hancock in the box  for Andy Hill to score from the spot and make it two apiece at the break.

A double substitution after the switch-around saw Neil Smothers replace Richard Hughes who was struggling with injury and Stuart Roberts came on for Tim Hicks to freshen Town’s attack.

But, in a bright opening to the second period, Dale Evans went narrowly over for the visitors and Hill's driven shot into the top corner was tipped over by keeper Neil Thomas. Approaching the hour Town gradually regained momentum. With Palmer tireless in the middle Fowler latched on to Cotterrall's long free kick from his own half to fire past former Town youngster Wyn Walters and restore the lead with his second strike of the evening.

Neath made a double like-for-like substitution just after the hour and with Lee Hudgell replacing the injured Damon Searle for Town and Cotterrall dropping into the left back berth to accommodate the change the game became a little disjointed. but with Sacha Walters foraging well on the right Town maintained momentum and continued to push forward.

Neath were reduced to ten men on 81 minutes when Stephen Pockett was dismissed for violent conduct and six minutes later was joined by Evans who was red carded for dissent following a tackle.

In between Danny Thomas reacted well to capitalise on a spilled ball from Walters to tighten Town’s grip on the game. But it was Fowler who wrapped it all up in style with a rasping 20 yard shot to record his maiden hat-trick after he had muscled his way through from mid-field. Manager Deryn Brace was naturally delighted with the five goal outcome.

"Obviously delighted with the five goals. We have to put things into perspective. Were we five goals better than them? Realistically I thought we were better then them but I thought it was a little harsh on them. But of course I'll accept it. There was some fantastic movement and some fantastic goals. When they come along it’s a case of not feeling sorry for people and having that ruthless streak. “I thought tonight, second half, when we got ourselves in front again we did that.”

“Obviously the blip we had on the twenty minute mark when everything was going fantastically and playing some fantastic stuff we had them in all sorts of trouble. But then we had a crazy few minutes and before you knew it, it was 2-2 and game on.”

“I don’t think people should be looking at the result and saying that we walked over them. Far from that. If I was Andrew Dyer I’d be looking at that game and saying in all fairness my players deserve as much credit apart from the score line.”

“We’ve had two amazing scores tonight and they’ve had an amazing strike. Neil Thomas has pulled off a great save. What edged it was that we managed to get in front again and obviously we just drove on from then ".

"It was great to see Paul Fowler back to his normal self and back amongst the goals. For Paul by his standards it’s been a slow start to the season. He was absolutely fantastic the way he picked up the ball, the way he drove forward and his strike was something else.”

“Of course one player gets the headlines but everyone realises the part that everyone else has played in getting him the headlines. We’ve spoken about it since pre season. If we win there will be one person that gets the headlines. Everybody has to accept that. But everybody has to accept the part that everyone else has in getting that person the headlines.”

“I thought Nicky Palmer today was absolutely magnificent, he’s covered every blade of grass but he hasn’t had a shot. Fowler’s had three and scored three. That’s the way it works and Paul will be the first to give Nicky Palmer credit for what he did out there. Sacha Walters, again, fantastic as was Nathan Cotterrall, Danny Thomas' goal, all added to a great team win".

"Probably Mark Dodds and Liam Hancock set the tone for the game with some towering headers in the first five minutes. The first three balls they put forward we sent them back and that set the tone for the game and we went on from there. Obviously we had a mad three minutes but the good thing was we didn’t lose our heads completely, we managed to re-group well and we came again".

"We brought Neil Smothers on because Richard had a sore groin and the other change was tactical. But if you have personnel on the bench like we have then use them. It’s not a case of giving them the last twenty minutes they are there to do a job. Whether it’s for an hour, 45 minutes or the last five minutes, we use them.”

Town: Thomas, Hughes (Smothers 46'), Searle (Hudgell 67'), Palmer, Hancock, Dodds, D Thomas, Hicks (Roberts 46'), Fowler, Walters, Cotterrall.

Neath: Walters, Burrows, Blackmore, Cronin, Pockett, Chunuosee, D Evans, Pridham (Morgan 65'), French (Jones 65'), Hill, Price (Shaw 79') Sub not used : Ingham. Referee P. Southall (Cwmavon). Attendance 401

22.08.08 Welsh Premier League
HAVERFORDWEST 1 CARMARTHEN TOWN 1

Having made the best possible start and dominated the first period Town ultimately had to settle for a share of the spoils as a rejuvenated second half performance from the hosts saw Jack Christopher cancel out Danny Thomas' second minute opener seven minutes after the break.

Manager Deryn Brace made four changes from the side that beat the Bluebirds 2-1 in the Loosemores Cup in midweek. Phil Cattlin, Stuart Roberts, Neil Smothers and Lee Hudgell made way for Liam Hancock, Paul Fowler, Sasha Walters and Nathan Cotterrall respectively.

Haverfordwest manager Derek Brazil included Lee Jarman in his starting line up and the experienced defender was made his first Welsh Premier appearance, six years after he last featured in the League in the Championship-winning Barry Town side of 2002/03.

Town were into their stride immediately as front man Thomas opened his season’s account when he applied the final touch after Hicks had beaten the keeper Lee Idzy to Richard Hughes' ball into the box.

With Nicky Palmer probing from mid-field Hughes and Walters raided down the right but the hosts almost levelled on the half hour when Tyrell Webbe’s angled lob glanced off the upright after Christopher’s header had fallen to the speedy forward.

Town played with pace and momentum and wing man Walters should have added a second just before the break when he lifted the ball over the diving keeper towards the open net. But, with little pace on the ball, Jarman managed to recover the situation with a covering goal line clearance.

The second period saw the Bluebirds start strongly. Mike Hartley produced a mesmerising run down the right and with Tom Ramasut influential in the middle Town were kept on the back foot for long periods. Then when Paul Fowler was dispossessed in mid-field Ramasut’s ball forward found Christopher whose diagonal finish across goal beat Thomas to level the score.

Town made changes just after the hour. Hudgell replaced Damon Searle and with Cotterrall dropping into the left back berth the Town regained momentum down the flank.

Craig Hanford replaced Paul Michael as the hosts adjusted their formation and with fifteen minutes remaining both sides made final changes. Nicky Woodrow replaced Webbe for the hosts and with Neil Smothers replaced the tiring Fowler, with specific instructions to police the mid-field threat; Town produced a final flourish with Hudgell and Cotterrall providing several dangerous crosses that just lacked a finishing touch for a winner.

Coach Mark Aizlewood was satisfied with the outcome. "I thought we were excellent in the first half but for some strange reason we stopped doing the things we were doing well, in the second".

"We gave them fifteen minutes of decent play after the break and then it got to the stage when we had to make substitutions, which tells you how the second half was going.

 Ironically I thought they had more chances first half when we were excellent. Yes second half they had better possession and balls into our box but when you analyse the chances I don’t think they had a clear cut chance".

"Having said all that we were very positive in a lot of the things we did. It’s early season, we’ve played three games and we’ve won two and drawn one. We’re undefeated and if we continue that over the next ten to fifteen games then I will be a very, very happy coach".

County : Idzi, Evans, Jarman, Gilderdale, Elliott, Michael (Hanford 65'), Pierce, Ramasut (Blain 88'), Webbe (Woodrow 76'), Christopher, Hartley.

Town : N Thomas, Hughes, Searle (Hudgell 62'), Palmer, Hancock, Dodds, D Thomas, Hicks, Fowler (Smothers 76'), Walters, Cotterrall. Sub not used: Roberts.

Referee: N Morgan Attendance: 382

19.08.08 Loosemores Cup Group Stage
HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY 1 CARMARTHEN TOWN 2

In mid-week Town travelled to the New Bridge Meadow for the first fixture in a group stage of the Loosemores Cup.

Young Keiran Davies made a memorable debut for Town when he netted a second half winner after Tim Hicks had put his name on the score sheet for the second successive game when he opened Town's account after only two minutes. A break down the left by Stuart Roberts saw Hicks capitalise on keeper Lee Idzi's mistake for the best possible start.

The Bluebirds were back on level terms on the half hour mark. Town could only manage to half clear a County corner and with the ball put back in Jack Christopher was on hand to net from close in and make it all square at the half way mark.

Nathan Cotterrall replaced Damon Searle after the break and with Town dominating Roberts was denied by Idzi and Hicks put a good effort over. Christopher went just wide of the mark for the hosts but with Sacha Walters replacing Lee Hudgell Town maintained the momentum on the flank.

Then with ten minutes remaining Davies replaced Neil Smothers and, with literally his first touch in senior football, stole in unmarked at the far post two minutes later to fire in Walters' cross before the hosts were reduced to ten men when sub Luke Bowen was dismissed on the stroke of full time.

Town: N Thomas, Hughes, Searle (Cotterrall 46'), Palmer, Cattlin, Dodds, D Thomas, Hicks, Roberts, Smothers (Davies 80'), Hudgell (Walters 76').

County : Idzi, Evans, Hanford, Jarman, Elliott, Gilderdale, Hartley, Michael, Webbe (Bowen 69'), Christopher (Robinson 76'), Blain (Ramasut 76'). Sub not used: Briers.

Referee: L James. Attendance 257

A solitary 40th minute goal from Tim Hicks was enough to settle this opening Welsh Premier League game at Richmond Park. Despite Town dominating most of the possession and creating numerous chances some solid defending by Ryan Davies and Rhys Roberts in the middle of the Porthmadog defence ensured that the visitors were always in with a chance of a break away.

Richard Harvey in the Porthmadog goal made several important saves to deny Town a second, especially from Sacha Walters who was in electrifying form down the right hand side. Hicks' score came from a scramble in the Porthmadog box following a Walters set piece that was partially cleared but crossed back in by Danny Thomas for his strike partner to tap the ball over the line for the decisive moment of the game.

Town: N Thomas, Hughes, Searle Palmer, Hancock, Dodds, Thomas, Hicks (Roberts 70'), Fowler, Walters, Cotterrall (Hudgell 66'). Sub not used: Brace.

Port: Harvey, Ogilvy, Foster (Hughes 85'), Roberts, Davies, Parry, Jones, M Thomas (I Thomas 75'), Rowley, Carl Jones (JPJones 73'), Owen.

Referee M Whitby. Attendance 295

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