04.12.09 CARMARTHEN TOWN 0 NEATH ATHLETIC 1

Town’s stop start season continued on Friday night against fourth placed Neath Athletic as some slack early marking saw Craig Steins punish Town. The strike, Steins’ ninth of the season, proved the only score of the game and despite several good opportunities and the lion’s share of second half possession Town were unable to find the back of the net.

With the highflying Eagles looking to extend their ten game unbeaten run it was important for Town to build on last week’s excellent win at Bala. But with the Richmond Park outfit left to rue a crucial first half penalty decision manager Deryn Brace was insistent that his side should have been awarded a spot kick and a chance to level after Tim Hicks was brought down in the penalty area by Neath keeper Wyn Walters.

" Yes big decisions can obviously change the course of games and this is one that's got away from us. The ref's made an honest decision but I think everyone else thought it was a cast iron penalty”.

“It’s not he first time we’ve not had a big decision go against us and of course the penalty has other consequences because had the referee given it he would have to send the keeper off. We’re going to have to look at it. What everyone has to realise is that these decisions are going to have a major influence on where clubs are going to be next season”.

With Town edging the early play Hicks forced a corner and Danny Thomas’s ball back in from the clearance found Mark Dodds who’s pile driver went narrowly over. But it was Neath who broke the deadlock against the run of play on thirteen minutes. The ball was played out of defence to Chris Llewellyn who found Dale Evans on the right. With the former Welsh International receiving the return he broke inside and having ridden two tackles he released Steins who netted from twelve yards.

Five minutes later came the contentious penalty shout. Nathan Cotterrall’s persistence saw the wing-man retain possession under pressure before crossing to Mark Pritchard who played in Hicks. With the front man breaking into the area Walters brought him down but with referee Mark Whitby waving away Town's clear penalty shout Richmond Park erupted in derision. Walters then made a crucial intervention, just after the half hour, to intercept Chris Thomas' low cross with Town forwards queuing up to pounce.

With little between the sides and the game competitive Llewellyn had several good runs through the middle as Neath broke with pace and some neat passing. But with half time approaching Hicks picked up on a long ball before weaving his way through the defence and unleashing a rocket that ricocheted off the underside of the bar leaving the Eagles with a slim lead at the break.

Town dominated the second half possession but failed to capitalise. Cotterrall weaved his magic on the left and Hicks sliding in on goal was inches away from connecting with Pritchard’s low cross. Town lost Dodds through injury and with Craig Hanford moving into the middle Cotterrall dropped to left back as Craig Hughes came off the bench to join Town’s attack.

Just after the hour Walters did well to keep out the substitute before doubling back onto his line to deny the follow up and Neath subs Andy Hill and Kieran Howard linked well on a break up-field. But with Town pushing forward in numbers Liam Hancock and Ian Hillier were strong in the centre of a determined Neath defence that saw the Eagles see out the game and leave Town empty handed as the Old Gold slipped one place to tenth.

Manager Deryn Brace felt his side deserved something out of the game. "Yes we should definitely have had something out of the game. That’s the difference between the clubs at the moment. Things are happening for them but we’re not making it happen for us. The boys very rarely let you down when it comes to competitiveness, they've got a great will to win, but at the moment we probably need a little bit of guidance".

"We weren't clinical enough. The damage was done when they got the goal and we were left chasing the game. That was hugely disappointing. The home form has got to get a lot better. At the moment we're just too easy to beat".

"Second half we did step it up, we were in their faces a little bit more and put them under pressure. But when you're losing one nil sides will tend to play deep. They changed it to five across the middle and one up front with only one other player allowed past the half way line so it was always going to be difficult".

How did Brace see the goal? "It was a scrappy ricochet that's fallen to Llewellyn he’s driven into the box and we've allowed him to dictate. We've dived in, we should have asked more questions. It was a horrible goal to concede although I think Neath will say it was good play. My side of it, being a defender, I thought we went to ground too easily. They hadn’t been in our box until then".

Are the panic bells ringing yet? "No there aren’t any panic bells but the concern is there. There is no point in saying things needlessly. The concern is there because we seem to be taking a step forward and then a step back every other week. We seem to be having the same routine and it is frustrating".

Town: N Thomas, R Hughes, Hanford, Smothers (Palmer 78’), Dodds (C Hughes 55’), C Thomas, D Thomas, Hicks, Fowler, Pritchard (Morris 81’), Cotterrall Sub not used Squires.

Neath: Walters, Castan, Folland, Hancock, A Evans, Pockett (Howard 64’), Steins (Hill 75’), Llewellyn, Ingram, D Evans (Davey 90’) Subs not used: Harris, Williams.

Referee Mark Whitby Attendance 520

12.12.09 Elements Cefn Druids 0 Carmarthen Town 1

Town bounced back to winning ways at Plaskynaston as Tim Hick’s close range header gave Town all three points and condemned the Druids to their sixth one-nil defeat of the season.

The on-form forward got above the Druid defence to head home Nathan Cotterrall’s flag kick in the thirteenth minute of the game.

Having seen his side squander several good first half opportunities Town manager Deryn Brace was pleased that his defence had held out a second half revival from the hosts to claim a deserved win.

“We got there in the end. We should have made the game safe in the first half, but we’ve said that a few times this season. The good thing today was that we didn’t rue the changes we missed in the first half by keeping a clean sheet.

“The football and the tempo we played at first half on a difficult pitch was good. We really took the game away from the Druids and didn’t allow them anything at all. The only thing that was lacking was that finishing touch.

Brace paired Chris Thomas and Neil Smothers in the middle of the Town defence and with Ben Morris making the starting line-up in mid-field Sacha Walters made a welcome return to the bench.

Earlier Town had started positively with some very good link play on what was a difficult surface. Then, just on the half hour mark, it could have been 2-0 as Craig Hughes got past Dan Barnett to run on to a through ball but former Town youngster Rob Thomas was able to block the weak shot with his foot.

A couple of minutes later Hughes, Morris and Nathan Cotterrall linked well but Cotterrall’s raking ball across goal just evaded a sliding final touch.

Richard Hughes and Cotterrall provided well for Danny Thomas who was denied at point blank range by his former team mate Thomas and the second goal remained elusive as Craig Hughes ‘s free header, following Hicks’ clever turn and cross, flashed inches wide of the upright.

But despite dominating Town did not have things all their own way. Former Wrexham youngster Josh Griffiths proved a thorn in Town’s side on several occasions with his weaving runs and, on the stroke of half time, Adam Hunter’s flick-on from Adam Hesp’s long throw into the box was clawed to safety over the bar by keeper Neil Thomas.

Following the break Druids found more impetus and penetration. Griffiths was just wide of the mark after Town were exposed at the back and sub Gary Pendleton, Craig Whitfield and Lee T Jones linked well before Thomas finally claimed the ball.

Hicks then had a really good opportunity to add to his tally before a Druids raid saw Andrew Edgar split the defence and then spurn his chance.

But with Mark Pritchard replacing the injured Morris on the hour Town moved to a 4-4-2 formation and regained momentum. Walters came off the bench and immediately produced some fresh drive down the right.

With the pressure mounting on the Ancients’ goal Richard Hughes carried well down the right and after his driven ball into the box somehow deflected off Hesp’s boot over the bar to safety the well placed Craig Hanford, who had provided several intelligent balls from the back, headed the flag kick narrowly over.

With Hicks’ placed shot just wide of the upright Town took a deserved win.

Brace added: “The pleasing thing is we created a good number of chances but we need to start finishing them off. The other side of it is, and we’ve always said this to the boys, if we can keep a clean sheet then we’ll probably win the game.

“First half we weren’t really troubled. Second half Neil Thomas has made a couple of decent stops and Druids did throw a little bit more impetus into their play. But we saw it through.

“I thought the back four stayed strong and without being over commanding we did what we had to do. As the game wore on I felt that if another goal was going to come it was going to come our way.

Elements Cefn Druids: Thomas, Hunter (Phillips 45'), Wright, Edgar, Barnett, Hesp, Griffiths, Quinn, Rush (Penlington 65'), Whitfield, L T Jones (Rowlands 72'). Subs not used: Buxton, Russell.

Carmarthen Town: N Thomas, R Hughes, Hanford, Morris (Pritchard 65'), Smothers, C Thomas, D Thomas, Hicks, Fowler, C Hughes, Cotterrall (Walters 76') Sub not used: Brace.

Attendance 51 Referee Mark Bridges.

26.12.09 CARMARTHEN TOWN 1 LLANELLI AFC 2

There was no festive cheer for manager Deryn Brace as his side conceded a very late injury time Lee Jarman goal. It had looked as if Town had won a deserved share of the points when a 85th. minute Tim Hicks penalty had cancelled out Chris Venables' second half strike.

The Reds had controlled the first half but without any reward for their efforts. A 13th. minute Rhys Griffiths free header was palmed away by Neil Thomas with Nathan Cotterrall making the final clearance.

A minute later Griffiths turned provider to set Jason Bowen through on goal before Town finally got a foothold in the game with Danny Thomas making an impression as he linked well with Cotterrall and Mark Pritchard.

But with the visitors pressing Town finished the half with their backs to the wall. Stuart Jones' header from a Venables flag kick needed three goal line clearances before Andrew Mumford headed over the resulting corner when unopposed.

Following the break Town were far more competitive . Craig Hughes was put through on goal but Ashley Morris just managed to fingertip the effort inches wide of the upright . Following the hour both sides made substitutions with Craig Frater making an impact down the left for the Reds.

On 72 minutes Town struggled to clear a bobbing ball in the box and with Venables finding the net he broke the deadlock. In response Brace rearranged. By dropping Smothers into the back four he allowed Cotterrall and Hicks more attacking freedom.

Morris cut out Craig Hanford's low cross and Wyn Thomas blocked out a goalbound shot after Cotterrall's run down the left had beaten the cover. But with Town pressing Jarman brought down Hughes in the box. Hicks fired in the spot kick and it looked as if Town would have some reward for their second half endeavour.

But deep into injury time Lee Phillips' cross into the box took several deflections as it bounced in the crowded area. Jarman scrambled the final touch to send his side back to the top of the Welsh Premier with Town once again left to rue defensive frailties.

Town: N Thomas, R Hughes, Hanford, Pritchard (Walters 65'), Smothers, C Thomas, D Thomas, Hicks, Fowler, C Hughes, Cotterrall. Subs not used: Brace, Squires.

Llanelli: Morris, Jarman, Phillips, Mumford (Holloway 62'), S Jones, Thomas, Bowen, Corbisiero, Griffiths, Venables, Moses (Frater 62'). Subs not used: C Jones, Legg, Batley. Attendance: 580 Referee: Darren Adie