26.12.08 Llanelli 5 Carmarthen Town 2

With Town manager Deryn Brace admitting ‘it was a day to forget’ a two goal unanswered salvo just after the hour set up a convincing score-line for Champions Llanelli on Boxing Day bringing  Town’s winning five game sequence to an unceremonious end.

Town should have gone ahead in the fifth minute. Danny Thomas did well to dispossess Lee Phillips and send Tim Hicks on his way and after Hicks had squared the ball back into the box Thomas somehow placed it wide from six yards. A minute later Palmer drove into the box only to be denied by Red’s keeper Ryan Lewis.

Having spurned two gift wrapped opportunities Town were then made to pay by the League’s top shot.  Antonio Corbisiero’s long ball into the box found Rhys Griffiths unmarked and despite a hint of offside the Red’s front man duly obliged to put the hosts ahead in the seventh minute.

But the Richmond Park outfit was soon back on level terms. Sacha Walters instigated a quick break down the middle and having seen Lee Hudgell’s fierce shot parried away by Lewis, Walters followed up to finish with aplomb on 24 minutes.

The initiative then swung back in favour of the Reds for a second time when Andy Legg crossed in and with Griffiths drawing the marker Jordan Follows found himself free behind and skilfully fired past Town keeper Neil Thomas on 36 minutes.

But the lead lasted only a minute when some quick thinking by Hicks saw E H Factors & Clothing sponsored Carmarthen Town cancel out the deficit once again when the striker took a short free kick to Thomas who netted comfortably after referee Neil Morgan had adjudged that Lewis had handled a back pass.

But two goals inside three second-half minutes settled the contest in favour of the Champions. Griffiths with a far post header from a Mark Pritchard cross four minutes past the hour and Follows with a scramble ball at the base of the post after Craig Jones had headed back across goal from the back upright.

With Town’s only chance of a reply coming when second half substitute Stuart Roberts neatly lobbed the home keeper only to see his effort just clear the bar the final nail in Town’s coffin came late on courtesy of Griffiths who completed his hat-trick, taking his season's tally to 20 goals.

Having been denied by a magnificent stop from Thomas the ball fell kindly to give the marksman a second bite of the cherry and the professional outfit collected all three points that puts them on level terms with leaders Rhyl.

With Town tenuously holding on to fourth place they will look to redress the balance when they entertain Llanelli in the return holiday fixture at Richmond Park on New Years Day.
Results elsewhere saw Haverfordwest leap frog Aberystwyth into fifth, setting up another mouth watering West Wales derby at Richmond Park on the first Saturday of January 03.01.09.

20.12.08 CPD Porthmadog 1 Carmarthen Town 3

Town scored an emphatic 3-1 win in difficult conditions at ‘Y Traeth’ to establish an impressive five win run that puts the Richmond Park outfit within touching distance of third paced TNS.

Coach Mark Aizlewood was delighted with the win. “We set ourselves a target after the TNS game. Could we win five games on the trot to take us into the Christmas period on a high? We’ve done that.

“Along the way we’ve had ups and downs and we’ve not performed well at certain times.  At other times we’ve performed great. Looking at the five games as a whole I think the players have been magnificent. The icing on the cake today was young Jamie Horwood getting his first senior goal for the football club.

“We’ve now got three tough games over the holiday period and obviously we want to keep our unbeaten record going. We’ve won five on the trot, it would be nice to make it six or seven or even eight.

But in extremely blustery conditions it was the hosts that drew first blood. Marcus Orlick, returning from long term injury, capitalising on Richard Hughes’ weak back header to his keeper after Mike Foster had pumped a long ball forward. Despite Hughes’ despairing efforts to repair the damage Orlick persevered to draw the keeper and find the net from an angle with just over ten minutes gone.

Stung by the early set back Town reacted positively, Lee Hudgell and Nicky Palmer creating well. But with the wind at his back Ryan Davies’ timely intervention turned defence into attack as Port broke dangerously with Steve Kehoe and the predatory MLW looking to exploit any weakness in the Town back line.

On the 20 minute mark Sacha Walters’ clever ball following a run put Nicky Palmer into space and after Danny Thomas had won possession Nathan Cotterrall’s cross lacked a final touch as the equaliser remained elusive.

Town persisted. Thomas just failing to convert Hudgell’s cross and the front man’s overhead effort from Richard Harvey’s punched clearance also went just wide of the target.

But with Walters’ finishing well Town were back on level terms with six minutes of the half remaining. Having gone on the overlap to collect Hicks’ weighted ball forward the wingman crossed to the far side before following up to get his foot to Hudgell’s return at the near post.

With Hudgell’s raking low shot flying wide and Mark Thomas’ deflected shot tipped over by Neil Thomas it remained all square at the break.

Following the resumption the wind remained an influencing factor but Town dealt with it well as Cotterrall’s ball across goal saw Danny Thomas get squeezed out at the expense of a corner. At the other end Chris Jones’ weaving run rounded the Town defence but blasted over when well placed and then shortly after he sent in another to keep the largely untroubled Neil Thomas on his toes.

It took a goal line clearance from Foster to save his keeper’s blushes after Harvey had spilled a cross and just after the hour Stuart Roberts replaced the tiring Hicks who was still feeling the effects of recent illness. Maintaining Town’s momentum Roberts found the Port keeper resilient, as did Walters, as Harvey won three one-on-ones to keep Porthmadog in contention.

Fowler saw his well struck effort from a Cotterrall cross go just wide of the post but his spectacular set piece minutes later found the mark as the influential mid fielder claimed his seventh strike of the season to put Town in front.

With the tireless Palmer pulled down 25 yards out following Cotterrall’s cross from the flank Fowler punished the hosts with a scorching, curling effort into the top corner of the net beyond the reach of the keeper to make it 2-1 with eleven minutes remaining.

Then, with five minutes left, Town broke up a Porthmadog attack and with Roberts’ short pass sending Palmer through the middle the ball found Cotterrall on the flank. With the low ball across the box cleverly stepped over by Roberts young substitute Jamie Horwood finished well on the far side to give Town a third and round off the win that puts them up to fourth two points behind third placed TNS.

With substitute Carl Jones firing narrowly over there was no late consolation for the hosts and following the game Town manager Deryn Brace felt that Town's win had been convincing. “Over the 90 minutes it was quite a convincing win. I felt we were always in control, even when we were one nil down. Again we’ve shown good character to bounce back and we did need to get to terms with the very windy weather conditions which probably hampered us a little bit.

“Whilst I felt we were always on top it was a case of getting in front. Once we got in front the boys didn’t look back and pushed on. The only slightly disappointing aspect was that we didn’t go on and win by more because we did have the opportunities. Deryn's comments in full...

Porthmadog: Harvey, Thomas, Davies, Owen, Foster: Kehoe (Carl Jones 80'), Parry, Roberts (Jon Peris Jones 88'), Orlik (Ogilvy 70'): Chris Jones, ML Williams.

Carmarthen: N Thomas, Hughes, Hudgell, Palmer, Smothers, Dodds, D Thomas (Horwood 85'), Hicks (Roberts 63'), Fowler, Walters, Cotterrall. Referee: Mark Whitby Attendance: 173.

13.12.08 Carmarthen Town 2 Caernarfon Town 1

Neil Thomas' spectacular penalty save in the second minute of injury time denied Caernarfon Town a share of the spoils following this intriguing and closely contested encounter. The result sees Town extend their winning sequence to four wins and will give Deryn Brace’s squad confidence ahead of a very busy Christmas schedule.

Manager Deryn Brace conceded that it had been a bit of a narrow escape. “It certainly was. At one-all mid way through the second half I would most probably settled for a point. It wasn’t our day. As much as we tried to make things happen it just didn’t materialise and I haven’t really got a reason for that.

" So for us to go on and find a winner and then have Neil Thomas save a penalty in the last minute I’m absolutely delighted with the win. It shows great character within the squad to try and do the right things and see a game through. On that side of things I’ve got nothing but praise for the boys”.

Danny Thomas had put Town ahead on the quarter hour, blasting into the top of the net, after Jamal Easter had chested down a clearance from a corner and his low drive across goal had found the busy striker free at the back post.

But it was the visitors who had started brightly probing the Town defence with Tom Grice's weaving run in particular causing problems. But on the ten minute mark as E H Factors and Clothing sponsored Carmarthen Town got to grips with the visitor’s pace it took a reaction save from visiting keeper Lee Guinion in front of a gaping goal to deny Thomas after hesitancy in the Caernarfon defence had let in the predatory striker. But with Town unable to add to the tally, despite considerable possession, it remained 1-0 at the break.

With Neil Smothers still feeling the effects of last week’s game Richard Hughes partnered Mark Dodds in the centre of the defence with Sacha Walters dropping into what is becoming a familiar right back berth. And following the late withdrawal of Tim Hicks through illness young Jamie Horwood was promoted to the bench.

Following the resumption the visitors reacted positively belying their lowly League position with some neat and often penetrating play. And within three minutes they were back on level terms.

Thomas denied Steve Johnson's drive with a finger tip save at the expense of a corner and with Town clearing the resulting set piece Lee Furlong’s follow up was blocked on the line before the influential No8 was bundled down under the attention of several defenders on the edge of the D to win the free kick that produced the equaliser. Johnson's curling kick rounding the wall beyond Thomas to settle in the back of the net.

Stung by the leveller Easter and Thomas linked well playing a neat on-two before Easter sent his final effort just wide of the mark whilst substitute Ian Dawes' acrobatic effort at the other end also missed the target.

With the goal giving the visitors momentum Johnson and Furlong continuing to trouble Town but Nathan Cotterrall escaped down the left and following his penetrating run Lee Hudgell's first time effort from six yards following his captain's low cross gave Town the advantage for the second time on 72 minutes.

With twelve minutes remaining Thomas denied Dawes brilliantly after the ball had fallen kindly to the substitute at point blank range. And the No 12 really should have done better minutes later when he blasted over when well placed and unmarked in front of goal.

Caernarfon were reduced to ten men when Paul Addo saw red for his unnecessary petulance following a collision with Town front man Thomas with eight minutes remaining and with Town pushing forward Andrew Jackson's block denied Town's young substitute Horwood after Hudgell had broken free.

Then came the dramatic conclusion. Deep into injury time, with Town looking to see the game out, Furlong latched on to a long clearance and with Dodds' clumsy effort bundling over the mid-fielder referee John Swindley pointed to the spot and the visitors looked to have salvaged a point.

But Town custodian Thomas had other thoughts. Diving superbly to his left his strong hand deflected Furlong's well taken effort wide of the post to safety and the game in Town's favour as the Richmond Park outfit survived the late scare to collect all three points and move up to fourth in the table.

Deryn Brace's comments

Town: N Thomas, Hughes, Hudgell, Palmer, Easter (Horwood79'), Dodds, D Thomas, Roberts, Fowler (Smothers 87'), Walters, Cotterrall Sub not used: Brace.

Caernarfon: Guinion, Addo, Jackson, Dermott, Brooks, Ojapah (Humphreys 45'), Grice, Furlong, Johnson, Garrity, Thomas (Dawes 68'). Referee John Swindley Attendance 288.

06.12.08 Newtown AFC 2 Carmarthen Town 3

In a five goal first half flurry Town came from behind twice before netting a winner and maintaining the narrow advantage through a goalless second half to record a third consecutive win and in the process bring to an end the host’s five game undefeated run.

Given that a victory for the hosts would have put them on the same points as Town coach Mark Aizlewood acknowledged the importance of the win.

“An absolutely vital win. We knew following Friday night’s results that that if we got a result here it would put us right in the frame – I think we’re joint fourth now. An important win as well because I thought we gave them two goals but managed to come in at half time 3-2”.

“I told the players at half time that a good team will put that 45 minutes, when we gave them two goals, behind them and the worst result we would get would be a 3-2 victory.

“I thought in the second half again our fitness levels were absolute credit to the players, they were magnificent. Everybody against us now is tiring the last 20 minutes. It would have been nice to get a goal in the last 20 minutes just to relax everybody, we didn’t get that, but we thoroughly deserved the victor”.

With Town dominating the opening exchanges Mark Griffiths put the ‘Robins’ ahead after Neil Thomas’ uncustomary hesitancy on the ball, following Paul Fowler’s hasty back pass, saw Griffiths pick pocket the keeper to strike into an empty net on 11 minutes. Earlier Fowler himself had netted but the Assistant had flagged the offside.

Three minutes later and Town were back on level terms. Nicky Palmer’s hard work and persistence saw the midfielder carry to the edge of the box before squaring the ball to Roberts who’s assured low shot found the back of the net having taken a slight deflection.

Nathan Cotterrall’s first time volley from a headed cleared corner was brilliantly saved by Newtown keeper Dave Jones on the twenty minute mark and experienced defender Hugh Clarke did well to block out Danny Thomas’ front of goal strike.

Six minutes later Town conceded a corner, the ball deflected behind off Mark Dodds. Adam Warton’s curling set piece found Daniel Jellico at the back post who headed in unopposed to put the hosts ahead once more. Warton also came close to extending the lead minutes later with a well struck set piece after Nathan Cotterrall had brought down Craig Williams.

Having earlier saved brilliantly from Cotterrall keeper Dave Jones went from hero to villain with a rash challenge that saw him bring down Thomas just inside the box.

With referee Wayne Tregonning pointing to the spot Jamal Easter’s confident penalty pulled Town level for the second time. The visitors continued to press with Rob James blocking out Thomas’ snap shot before Town finally took the lead when Fowler’s glancing back header from Roberts’ corner caught the hosts flat footed.

With the game having plenty of pace, excitement and momentum but lacking a little in real quality the hosts looked to take peg back the deficit after the when defender Neil Smothers was replaced due to injury.

But with substitute Lee Hudgell providing momentum down the left his pull back from the bye line found Cotterrall whose curling cross just needed the slightest of touches to supply a finish.

On the hour Richard Williams-Cooke’s header back across goal went just wide with the keeper beaten and with James rounding Town’s defence it took a last ditch tackle from Sacha Walters, coming in from right back, to clear the danger for the Old Gold as Town survived the post break pressure.

At the other end Jones saved well from Roberts after Thomas had outpaced the cover to win the ball out wide but with Roberts putting the rebound wide Town just failed to add to the tally.  

Substitute Tim Hicks’ mesmerising dribble through the Newtown box somehow lacked an end product and with the hosts also making changes, looking for a late equaliser, Gareth Mansell and Craig Moses caused problems down the right before Clarke put a good headed effort narrowly over.

With six minutes remaining Deryn Brace replaced Thomas, allowing Walters to push forward and relieve pressure on the back four. And with the game almost over Hicks’ persistence saw the forward dispossess the keeper, following a Newtown throw in, but his deep, angled shot rolled agonisingly along the goal-line to safety as Town collected all three points that puts them up to fifth, level on points with Bangor City.

Newtown AFC Jones, Williams, Worton, Clarke, Jellicoe, James, Cadwallader (Moses 54'), Hutchinson (Mansell 58'), Mitchell, Williams-Cooke, Griffiths. Subs not used: Thomas, Stokes.

Town N Thomas, Hughes, Easter (Hicks 61'), Palmer, Smothers (Hudgell 48'), Dodds, Roberts, D Thomas (Brace 84'), Fowler, Walters, Cotterrall.
Attendance: 184 Referee: W A Tregonning