03.12.04 CPD Porthmadog 3 Carmarthen Town 2

Carmarthen Town's visit to Porthmadog on Saturday was overshadowed as the club's young captain Rhodri Jones sustained serious injury and was rendered unconscious following a clash of heads with Porthmadog defender Ryan Davies.

With physios Gary Morris and Jordanna McCarley attending to Jones the game was held up for 15 minutes and with the sight of Jones being transferred to Ysbyty Gwynedd by Air Ambulance the atmosphere at the ground became appreciably subdued.

Earlier Town's poor defensive performance had gifted the hosts two goals in the first twenty-two minutes - one each for Ritchie Owen and Gareth Caughter. Then following resumption of play after the lengthy stoppage Owen grabbed a third just before the break to give Port a significant half time advantage.

But with Craig Lima bagging a brace, one in each half, to reduce the arrears the hosts had to withstand a late Town barrage before claiming their second home win of the season.

Manager Mark Jones' was naturally focused on the well being of his captain.

“In the circumstances the result was almost irrelevant. We're just happy that Rhodri is OK and hopefully will be back with us soon”.

“We were sloppy at the back and we gifted them three easy goals and that is something we will be working on during the week”, he added.

Porthmadog exposed Town's defensive frailties early on as Davies' lofted ball from the back was flicked on to Mark Williams who broke to the bye-line and squared a low ball that passed under Tony Pennock to give Owen the simplest of tap ins on 18 minutes.

Four minutes later Port doubled the advantage. Mike Foster dispossessed Mark Dodds and Owen became the provider with a ball over the defence for Caughter to run on to and beat Pennock with a low shot.

Town's best effort had come from a Gary Lloyd free kick that the home keeper could only parry but the defence managed to scramble away but Port's two-goal advantage did not last long.

A flick-on by Lima from a long clearance by Pennock found Chris Summers out on the right but with McGuigan blocking well to deny the striker the ball fell to Lima who found the corner of the net from 15 yards.

Williams and Owen's continued to harass Town but following Rhodri Jones' injury the game became a little muted. Nathan Cotterall came close for Carmarthen with a shot that curled over the bar but when Gareth Parry dispossessed substitute Kevin Evans and fed Owen, the midfielder fired a low shot on Pennock's narrow side to grab his second of the afternoon and make it 3-1 to Port.

The second period started quietly but found some life as the hour approached. Tony Williams and Caughter combined to test Pennock and a three-man move just failed to set up Mark Williams.

With Manager Jones making a double substitution just after the hour, new signing Jeff Aspell replaced Richard Kennedy and Neil Smothers came on for Eston Chiverton, Town stepped up a gear.

Aspell fired wide when well placed after a Lloyd corner had been played back across goal and then, with 77 minutes played, Town were rewarded for their endeavour.

A long range free-kick from Lloyd wide on the right saw Lima beat Davies and Lee Webber at the near post to head past McGuigan and set up an enthralling final period.

Lloyd's steady delivery from corners and free-kicks produced an aerial attack that tested the Port defence as Town kept the home goal under constant pressure. But the hosts were still dangerous on the break and Caughter came close when he put the ball narrowly wide having been set up by Mike Foster.

But with Town persisting to the end the final whistle brought relief for the hosts as Town could not quite convert their chances to claim a share of the spoils which, on balance, they deserved.

CPD Porthmadog: McGuigan, J.G.Jones, Foster, Davies, Webber, Roberts, Parry, T.Williams (Evans 85'), M.Williams (S.Jones 75'), Caughter, R.Owen. Sub not used: Reynolds

Carmarthen Town: Pennock, Hardy, Lloyd, Carter, Chiverton (Smothers 65'), Jones (Aherne-Evans 39'), Dodds, Kennedy (Aspell 65'), Lima, Summers, Cotterrall.

Attendance: 157 Referee: M A Jones

11.12.04 Carmarthen Town 3 Bangor City 3

Having made the best possible start when Chris Summers put Carmarthen Town ahead after only six minutes the hosts then gifted Bangor City two soft goals in a ten-minute spell to find themselves trailing 2-1 at the break.

Then with Summers levelling the score on the hour and Gary Lloyd's netted free kick putting Town ahead once again it remained for Tony Gray's providential late goal to level the score for the visitors with a share of the points being the reward for both sides following this six goal thriller.

With six wins and a draw to show from their last eight visits to Richmond Park a confident Bangor City were rocked early when Neil Smothers won possession in mid field and found Nathan Cotteral out wide. The wing-man's cross was chested down by Mark Dodds into the path of Summers who volleyed home to establish an early lead.

Bangor had started brightly with Mark Connolly bringing the best out of Tony Pennock following a cross by Simon Davies. But having been stunned by Town's early opener the Citizens regained their composure and Les Davies, enjoying unfettered freedom down the left, rocked Town's bar with a thunderous strike.

With Gray looking sharp and industrious Bangor threatened the equaliser that duly arrived on 18 minutes. A long throw in from Mark Connolly was headed-on by Owain Jones and the unmarked Gray converted with the easiest of finishes to put the visitors on equal terms.

With Town captain Rhodri Jones ruled out through injury Luke Hardy and Smothers fought hard for possession in mid field but it was the visitors who gained the edge as Town squandered their hard won gains and when Evans' headed clearance fell to Davies the powerful winger's curving left foot strike found the net to give the visitors the lead.

Prompted by Simon Davies' distribution the surging runs of Davies and Gray provided Town's back line with a constant headache and it was the hard working Giles was once again the cornerstone of Town's defence as they battled to deny any addition to the score.

With both teams giving little away it was a muted opening to the second period.

Cotterall continued to influence down the left and with Dodds making good ground on the right with his sporadic runs Town penned the visitors in their half.

Just after the hour Town got the equaliser they deserved. Acton was forced to punch clear a Lloyd free kick from the right and with Luke Hardy returning the ball to the edge of the box Lima's side footed lob found Dodds out right who tapped it back in to Summers, in acres of space, who side footed home from eight metres to bring EMC Services sponsored Carmarthen Town level.

Town, now playing with confidence, penetrated the Bangor defence. Cotteral whipped in a low ball to Summers who's shot flew off Acton's arm to safety. Then when Les Davies brought down Evans out wide Lloyd's powerful set piece found the corner of the net to give Town the lead on 68 minutes.

The game continued to excite and when Summers' shot from the left was blocked by the sliding Peter Hoy unsighted referee Ray Ellingham turned down a confident appeal for hand ball. Summers was close again a minute later as Hardy fed inside but Summers' light touch was held by Acton.

Then with seven minutes remaining an unfortunate collision gifted Gray his second equaliser. With both Giles and Lloyd looking to deal with a long ball a clash saw both players grounded and the ball fall to the grateful Gray who shot past Pennock to once again level the score for the visitors

The Citizens found a late lease of life and, orchestrated by the hitherto well-policed Paul Roberts, produced two late chances. With a minute remaining Simon Davies played in Roberts who's well hit strike was finger-tipped over by Pennock and right at the death, with City's top scorer twisting and turning in the box, his final strike eluded the defence and struck the outside of the post before rolling to safety with a draw a fair reflection of the game.

Carmarthen Town Pennock, Aherne-Evans, Lloyd, Giles, Chiverton, Smothers, Dodds (Aspell 87'), Hardy, Lima, Summers, Cotterrall. Subs not used: Burke, Kennedy.

Bangor City Acton, Blackmore, Short (E.Jones 81'), Hoy, Baker, S.Davies, Connolly, O.Jones, Roberts, Gray (Mottram 85'), L.Davies (Friel 74'). Sub not used: M.Jones.

Attendance: 401 Referee: R J Ellingham

15.12.04 Cwmbran Town 0 Carmarthen Town 2 (from the South Wales Argus 16.12.04)

POOR defending at set pieces within the first 30 minutes cost the Crows dear at Cwmbran Stadium last night, stretching their home Welsh Premier games-without-a-win sequence to five.

Visiting midfielder Martyn Giles benefited most from static nature of Cwmbran's rearguard by heading in first a free kick and then a corner taken by former Newport County left back Gary Lloyd.

The 35th-minute second effort from the former Cardiff City professional effectively killed the game and from that moment on, Carmarthen knew as long as they did nothing silly at the back then the three points they needed to move up to third was theirs.

Their task was made easier by the fact Cwmbran found difficulty in creating any genuine goalscoring opportunities for strikers Jason Welsh and Krist ian Hanbury and, later, substitute marksmen Andy Mainwaring and Kaid Mohamed.

Carmarthen goalkeeper Tony Pennock only had to make one noteworthy save, pushing away winger Richard Hurlin's long-range, first-half shot, as the visitors built a solid central defensive foundation based on former Crows Eston Chiverton and Neil Smothers.

Chiverton seems to have been around for ever and a day, but a check of the records prove the much-travelled defender is only 32.

At times, he had to use all his experience to keep the enthusiastic Hanbury at bay as the Percy Montgomery look-a-like stretched every sinew in an attempt to score for the third time in four games.

Later following substitutions, Hanbury showed up well in a ball-winning midfield role - food for thought ahead of Saturday's visit of struggling Caernarfon Town.

Cwmbran had enough possession to have done better, but often the distribution of the final ball thwarted many obvious possibilities.

As opposed to Pennock, Cwmbran stopper Gareth Wesson (pictured) was by far the busier and had he not saved from two other ex-Crows winger Nathan Cotterrall (twice) and prolific goalscorer Chris Summer, then this defeat could have been larger.

Cwmbran were unchanged for the third successive game and, having produced two fine displays in drawing 2-2 at home with unbeaten full-time league leaders Total Network Solutions and winning 1-0 at Aberystwyth Town, pre-match optimism was justifiably high.

But Cwmbran only served up enough evidence to prove what a frustratingly inconsistent side they are and why they remain 11th in the table.

They do have three very good opportunities to put matters right, home games against fourth-from-the-bottom Caernarfon on Saturday and basement outfit Llanelli on December 28 then a trip to face Llanelli on January 3.

Cwmbran Town: G Wesson, T Green, K James, J Perry (c), P Coughlin, M Fowler, S Heal (K Mohamed 78), K Thomas, J Welsh (A Mainwaring 65), K Hanbury (M Phillips 77), R Hurlin. Sub not used: L James. .

Carmarthen Town: T Pennock, L Hardy, G Lloyd (c), N Smothers, E Chiverton (R Kennedy 46), M Giles, M Dodds, N Burke, C Lima, C Summers (J Aspell 83), N Cotterrall. Sub not used: K Aherne-Evans.

Referee S.C. Hames Attendance 147.

18.12.04 Carmarthen Town 2 Connah's Quay Nomads 2

Despite never having won at Richmond Park Connah's Quay Nomads have escaped defeat on their last three visits and with a battling performance on Saturday they extended that record to four.

There was little pre Christmas joy for Carmarthen Town manager Mark Jones as his side took on the inconsistent Nomads. Despite dominating for long periods Town failed to convert numerous set pieces and chances into goals and were made to settle once again for a share of the points.

In a game played in gradually worsening weather conditions, Nomads should have gone ahead in the first minute when George Horan missed a sitter and headed over when well placed. Minutes later Gary Lloyd was forced to clear off his own line and with Tony Pennock saving a Stuart Rain snap shot the visitors made a bright start.

In the absence of Craig Lima, Rhodri Jones and defender Eston Chiverton new signing Jeff Aspell made his first start and settled Town's nerves when he put his side ahead in the 13th. minute with a gem of a glancing header at the near post following a cross from the right by Chris Summers.

Town then dominated most of the first period with Martyn Giles coming close from a Lloyd corner but poor defending allowed the visitors to get back on even terms.

Tommy Mutton, having taken the ball to the bye line and tied up his marker, got in a balloon of a cross from the right that found Gareth Owen at the back who made it one apiece and all square at the break.

EMC Services sponsored Carmarthen Town continue to dominate after the break but without really testing keeper Craig Bryan as the Nomads back line defended doggedly. Dean Tuft cleared a Lloyd ‘screamer' off the line and Chris Williams was lucky to survive on the hour after he scythed down Cotterall who was taunting the Nomads defence.

A double block saw Aspell, who linked well with Mark Dodds, denied. But despite numerous free kicks and corners Town failed to hammer home their advantage.

If Town's opener had been against the run of play so to was Mutton's effort when he grabbed Nomads' second goal to put the visitors ahead in the 76th. minute.

A long clearance set the prolific striker free down the right beyond Town's back line and once within striking distance he coolly lobbed the advancing Pennock to put Nomads back in the driving seat.

But the advantage didn't last long as Town were back on level terms within two minutes. Having once again corralled Nomads in their own area Aspell got above the defence to head home a Lloyd corner to grab his second of the afternoon.

With both sides looking for a winner the game finally came to life with action at both ends but the late resurgence did little to lift the gloom of the afternoon and a decidedly forgettable encounter.

Having had to share the points on the last four home occasions Town manager Mark Jones will be anxious to turn draws into victories if his side is to keep pace with the League's leaders.

We played really well and were sharp in midweek against Cwmbran. But we seem to be leaking goals at times with some sloppy defending”, said the disappointed boss.

“ When you score two and three goals at home you expect to win. If we'd taken our full quota of home points we'd be up there challenging TNS”, he added. “ Jeff Aspell was a big plus today. He deserved his chance and he was brave and did really well for me.

Carmarthen Town Pennock, Hardy, Lloyd, Giles, Carter, Smothers (Aherne-Evans 77'), Dodds, Burke, Aspell (Kennedy 77'), Summers, Cotterrall. Subs not used: Davies, James

Connahs Quay Nomads Bryan, Tuft, Heath, Griffiths, Horan, Jellicoe, C.Williams, Mutton, Rain, Kenworthy (Hutchinson 73'), Owen. Subs not used: Terry, Mazzarella, Cooke.

Attendance: 342 Referee: P R Southall

27.12.04 Haverfordwest 0 Carmarthen Town 0

The Christmas celebrations certainly looked to have had an effect on both sides as this usually keenly contested fixture had little of its usual derby atmosphere or competitive bite as an uninspiring first period produced little to enthuse the large holiday crowd.

With Town giving away free kicks in key areas the whistle of referee Dean John became a constant feature and, having turned down an ambitious penalty appeal from the hosts on the quarter hour, the game produced little in the form of entertainment until it found some life following the hour mark.

For the hosts Tim Hicks, Lee Brown and Richard Adams did well to breath life into the Bluebird attack and with the tenacious Nicky Palmer scrapping for possession the hosts looked the more inventive in a dour first half.

Following the break EMC Services sponsored Carmarthen Town replaced the injured Richard Carter with Kevin Evans and the visitor's attack had more edge and purpose with the substitute doing well down the right. As Town pressed forward Bluebirds' keeper Lee Kendall spilled several high balls with his defence having to scramble to clear the danger and relieve the mounting pressure.

The game finally came to life on the hour. Haverfordwests substitute Nico Algieri, who had replaced Brown, and the hard working Palmer both provided for Adams who sent one effort wide and saw the other well held by Pennock.

With Craig Lima and Richard Kennedy replacing Jeff Aspell and Nick Burke, Luke Hardy created space in midfield enabling Cotteral to make more of an impression on the flank.

Wayne Jones provided a steady stream of crosses from the left for the Bluebirds and with Hicks and Algieri continuously on the prowl Town had to be alert to police the danger despite considerable possession.

With fifteen minutes remaining both sides looked to break the deadlock. Hicks linked well with Algieri who's shot was blocked at the expense of a corner and with Jones' set piece providing a clear chance for Adams the former Town striker put the ball wide of the target.

A couple of minutes later the now prominent Hicks broke through the middle of Town's defensive line and, under pressure from Giles, was denied as Pennock blocked well with his legs to keep his goal intact.

At the other end Evans broke down the right and having put Cotteral into space the Bluebirds defence crowded the wing-man and scrambling the danger clear.

Pennock who was in fine form did well again as Algieri, who was now becoming a thorn in the side of the visiting defence, broke down the flank and having cut inside saw his rasping shot well parried by the keeper and with the rebound falling to Hicks the striker fired wide of the gaping goal when well placed -much to the relief of the large contingent of Town supporters.

With the tide now turning in favour of the hosts Adams put a great ball across goal that dissected the defence and also his own attack with no one on hand to take advantage. Town cleared quickly and with eight minutes remaining Hardy set up Mark Dodds who provided an excellent through ball for Summers who chipped wide over the advancing custodian with Town's best chance of a winner disappearing in the gathering twilight ensuring that a point apiece was the reward following a rather subdued encounter.

Carmarthen Town manager Mark Jones was content to maintain Town's narrow advantage over their near rivals.

“Haverfordwest are a good side and have not lost at home for about a year.

“They had several good chances at the end and Pennock did well with two great saves. I have to be happy with a point.

Haverfordwest County Kendall, Brace, W.Jones, Cattlin, R.Jones, Barnhouse, Blain, Hicks, Brown (Algieri 55'), Palmer, Adams. Subs not used: Rossiter, Hudgell.

Carmarthen Town Pennock, Carter (Evans 45'), Lloyd, Giles, Smothers, Dodds, Hardy, Burke (Kennedy 62'), Aspell (Lima 62'), Summers, Cotterrall. Sub not used: James

Attendance: 1012 Referee: D John