26.12.06 Haverfordwest 0 Carmarthen Town 1

In a game where both sides had chances Mark Dodds’ header from Nathan Cotterrall’s corner two minutes after the break proved the difference between the two sides as Town edged the first of the festive encounters with Haverfordwest County.

In an entertaining game both keepers proved influential. County's Lee Kendall saved well to deny Tom Ramasut in the first period and with the experienced keeper in good form he produced a string of saves just after the hour to deny Town a second as they looked to extend the lead.

But with Town defending periods of second half pressure well keeper Neil Thomas proved Scrooge like as he denied Chris O'Sullivan's penalty strike on 76 minutes. And when the experienced Jody Jenkins looked as if he had equalised on the stroke of full time an offside was flagged and it was Town who were filled with festive cheer as they claimed all three points to move back up into sixth position.

Haverfordwest County: Kendall, Heal, W.Jones (Christopher 57'), Gilderdale, Elliott, Durham, O'Sullivan, Coates, Jenkins, Adams, Hudgell. Subs not used: Hicks, Briers, McNabney.

Carmarthen Town: Thomas, Evans, Brace, Hancock, Dodds, K.Thomas, D.Thomas (Walters 68'), Ramasut, Fowler, Lima, Cotterall. Subs not used: Fleming, Loss, D.Davies.

Attendance: 382 Referee: Neil Morgan

16.12.06 Carmarthen Town 2 Newtown AFC 0

Danny Thomas’ exquisite finish to Paul Fowler’s determined run half way through the second half set the seal on a deserved win for Carmarthen Town over Newtown AFC at Richmond Park .

Kaid Mohamed had broken the deadlock ten minutes into the second period after Fowler’s strong header from Terry Evans’ chip into the box had been blocked by the keeper and the busy front man was on hand to finish well.

A pleased Mark Jones said, “It was a good win, a nice win and it was exactly what we needed.

Contrasting the two halves he added,

“We weren’t happy with the pace we were playing at in the first half, the urgency was missing and that was the exact word that was used at half time - urgency. I thought we produced it all through the second period.

“Ramasut and Terry Evans were outstanding in the second half. They are very experienced players. The two of them took responsibility and grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.

Reflecting on Town’s scoring form the Richmond Park boss was delighted with the quality.

“Kaid earned that first goal. He went looking for the ball and he took his chance well. He worked his socks off and he deserved to get something .

“The second goal was just a great, great goal. It came right from the back from Neil and through Dodds. Fowler played a lovely little ball to Danny who took it brilliant and went between the two players to finish well. A magnificent goal.

With Colin Loss returning from injury and Liam Hancock having completed his suspension Jones will have a full complement of players to choose from over the holiday period.

“Its competition for places and that’s the way it will be - competition all over. With players fighting for places it gives us different options and that’s a good thing, a healthy thing to have.

In a ragged first half both sides had chances. Evans’ scooped effort was palmed behind by Dave Jones and with Nathan Cotterrall and Mohamed forcing a series of corners the Robins’ custodian was clearly the busier of the two keepers.

Newtown did exploit the simple ball over the top on a several occasions but with Matthew Lewis drilling his effort wide and Gareth Hughes and Justin Wickham both having shots blocked Town’s defence proved watertight.

But it was Town’s two midfield Thomas’ who had the best of the chances. Kris saw his well struck half-volley glance the post to safety and Danny’s follow-up, after Fowler had the best of keeper from a set piece, lacked pace and was blocked and cleared as the visitors defended in numbers.

Whatever was said at half time certainly had an effect as the play became one-way traffic with Town showing better shape and more urgency in their play. Cotterrall’s cross across an open goal lacked a final touch but exposed Newtown’s vulnerability to pace.

Mohamed’s settled Town’s nerves with a well taken finish and it was no more than the striker deserved for his persistent endeavour. With Tom Ramasut influential in the middle and Evans’ raiding presence down the right the ‘Robins’ were penned in their own half for long periods.

Town’s second goal, twelve minutes later, was worthy of any ‘Goal of the Month’ competition. From Thomas' throw out Dodds fed Fowler who made a defence splitting run through the middle to feed a neat diagonal ball to Thomas who took one steadying touch before finding the net with a Christmas cracker of a shot.

Newtown dug in but when Brian Showdery was dismissed for a second yellow on 70’ effort alone was not going to be enough for the Robins. That said in rare breakouts Neil Thomas, who had been a spectator for most of the second half, was forced to tip over Adam Worton’s well struck free kick and Town’s well placed wall blocked a late Robins’ free kick after Dodds had transgressed on the edge of the box.

But with the three points secure Town manager Mark Jones will be delighted to have kept a clean sheet and made a positive start to an important holiday period.

Carmarthen Town N.Thomas, Evans, Brace, Lima, Dodds, K.Thomas, D.Thomas, Ramasut (Loss 80'), Fowler, Mohamed (Dragone 89'), Cotterrall (Walters 84'). Subs not used: Fleming, Williams.

Newtown AFC Jones, C.Williams, Worton, McPhee (Daniels 68'), R.Williams, Showdery, Hughes, Raven (Haynes 79'), Lewis, Wickham, Hooley. Subs not used: Reynolds, Evans, Foulkes.

Attendance: 241 Referee: Dean John

09.12.06 Rhyl FC 1 Carmarthen Town 0

With Carmarthen Town manager Mark Jones looking to get his side back into action with a positive result following an enforced two week layoff a single second half strike by Rhyl’s Dave Cameron proved the difference between the two sides at Belle Vue on Saturday.

With some doubt beforehand as to whether the weather would get the better of the fixture the game was played on a heavy and rain sodden pitch. In what proved to be a very entertaining match it was the hosts who had the better of the opening half hour.

Dave Cameron, who was preferred to Andy Moran in the heavy conditions, found himself in space early on following a defensive slip up in the Town back line but was denied by the in-form Town keeper Neil Thomas.

And despite the early pressure Town broke sharply on several occasions and captain Nathan Cotterall saw his effort go agonisingly wide of the Rhyl upright after combining well with Paul Fowler and Kaid Mohamed.

The pace of the Town breaks kept the home defence on their toes and with half time approaching Lee Hunt for the hosts also found Thomas a difficult man to beat as the game remained goalless at the break.

The decisive moment came four minutes into the second half. George Horan’s powerful header from a Mark Connolly free kick on the left was spilled by Thomas and Cameron got the better of the keeper as the big forward netted from close in.

Thomas was again in action shortly after tipping over Connelly’s powerfully struck effort but the remaining half hour was all Town as the visitors went in search of the equaliser.

With Cotterrall causing problems for the hosts down both flanks as he switched from one side to the other his steady supply across the face of the goal only needed that final crucial touch. And when Danny Thomas’ cross into the box caused problems Kris Thomas’ shot was blocked by Horan and Mohamed’s follow up was cleared by some desperate defending.

With the equaliser remaining elusive Town will consider themselves unlucky to returned empty handed having given a very positive account of themselves. The win sees the hosts re-claim top spot with the New Saints one point behind.

Reflecting on the game manager Mark Jones said:

“Rhyl are a good side. That is the reason they are top of the league. Belle Vue is always a difficult place to go to and I thought we were very unlucky not to have got something out of the game.

“Rhyl most probably had the better of the first half and we just wanted to be tight for the first couple of minutes of the second half.

“We gave a stupid goal away. We went too deep off of a free kick and Cameron got in there to tap it home. He was the difference between the two sides, he’s strong and physical. He was man of the match and a tough, hard man to mark.

Despite the narrow defeat Mark Jones drew a number of positives from Town’s performance.

“I was pleased with our attitude and commitment and we kept going to the final minute. I just think were really unlucky not to have got a point.

“Fowler was outstanding again. He’s just come in, but he looks as if he’s been playing there for ages.

“He gives us a little bit more strength in the middle, he has loads of energy and he’s just a little bit different to what we’ve had before.

Rhyl FC : Gann, Powell, Graves, Connolly, Horan, Moody, Hay (Roberts 75'), Cameron, Hunt (Moran 77'), Murtagh, Wilson. Sub not used: Brewerton

Carmarthen Town : N.Thomas, Evans, Brace, Lima, Dodds (Davies 71'), K.Thomas, D.Thomas (Walters 82'), Ramasut (Loss 71'), Fowler, Mohamed, Cotterrall. Subs not used: A.Williams, Dragone.

Attendance: 424 Referee: Dean John