Dragons slip in league but top Premier Cup

Carmarthen Town 2 Barry Town 1

Carmarthen Town’s new manager Tomi Morgan celebrated his first game in charge of the team with a notable win over League of Wales leaders Barry Town at Richmond Park last Saturday. This was undoubtedly RSU sponsored Carmarthen Town’s best win of the season and the delighted Morgan told the Journal: "What a way to start the ball rolling with such a great result. All I could ask from my lads was to give 100% against a team like Barry". Barry, already winners against Swansea City and Wrexham I the FAW Premier Cup this season, decided to relegate three key players Gary Lloyd, Andrew York and Danny Carter to the substitutes’ bench but received a rude awakening as Town displayed a degree of fire not hitherto seen this season. Although manager Gary Barnett eventually used all three substitutes, the team had no answer to Town’s resolute defence in which Steve Williams and Matthew Cable, at the heart of the defence, were outstanding.

Town’s largest crowd of the season were pleasantly surprised to see the home side take the game to their opponents in the early stages and a fine run by Richard Adams, who had been included in the team in place of the suspended Tony Rees, was thwarted at the last minute by ex Manchester City and Welsh goalkeeper Andrew Dibble. Paul Burrows, playing a very active role up-front, also laid on a chance for Adams but Dibble again came to the rescue. Burrows was also very much involved with Town’s first goal in the 22nd minute after a bad tackle by Barry full back Terry Evans on Stephen Evans, who subsequently had to leave the field with ankle ligament damage. His quick free kick found the onrushing Dean Rossiter, whose powerful shot from 20 yards flew into the bottom corner of the net, giving Dibble no change. With BBC team cameras in attendance, Rossiter’s goal must rank amongst the candidates for the December ‘Goal of the Month’. Town nearly increased their lead shortly after when Adams found the net only to be denied by a marginal off side decision.

The second half saw Barry showing more determination and with slick passing movements in the very heavy conditions started to wear down the Town defence and after just seven minutes of the second half Lee Barrow, Barry’s central defender, stole in at the far post to head Ian Mitchel’s corner kick firmly past keeper Robert Fitzgerald. Barry then showed why they are current league leaders by pressuring Town’s goal with some good build ups and Fitzgerald made two brilliant saves in quick succession to deny prolific scorer Eifion Williams, and Richard Jones. Town, however, were extremely effective in counter attacking and one superb run by left back Wayne Jones in which he outpaced Evans brought the crowd to its feet, but Jones’ final shot in the heavy conditions went astray. Jones’ all round performance must have pleased his new manager.

To the delight of the rain drenched crowd, with just 11 minutes remaining, Town took the lead, when Rossiter released Nigel Nicholas, substitute for the injured Stephen Evans, who put in a cross which eluded Dibble and Adams was on hand to turn the ball just inside the Barry post. The home supporters, now sensing victory, were on edge as Swansea referee John Collins played over six minutes of injury time, but Town were not to be denied a famous victory.

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CARMARTHEN Town's successful run under Tomi Morgan's new management continued at the New Bridge Meadow Stadium last Saturday as they returned home with the three points. Fortune however, smiled on Town on this occasion as they with-stood considerable pressure in the closing stages to hang on to their slender lead. The moment that put paid to Haverfordwest's chances came in the 85th. minute when Richard Gay's goal-bound shot was brilliantly headed off the line by Carmarthen's defender Steve Williams with keeper Roger Fitzgerald well beaten.

A large crowd attended this derby match, with a considerable number from Carmarthen swelling the ranks, and it was a native of the Pembrokeshire county, Dean Rossiter, who nearly drew first blood for Carmarthen when his powerful run saw him shoot well wide of the target. The home side then had a chance to take the lead but Paul Walker finding himself clear in the Town penalty area shot tamely past Fitzgerald's left hand post.

Carmarthen striker Paul Burrows, who played for Haverfordwest last season, was relishing the striker's role against his former team mates and on two occasions he worked him-self well into positions only to find the Bluebird's keeper well placed on both occasions. Town then were possibly denied a chance of taking the lead when Rossiter charging into the penalty area was sent sprawling, but referee Neil Morgan from Gorseinon adjudged the challenge to be legal.

Fitzgerald then produced a fine save to deny Richard Adams, but the same player, another Pembrokeshire product finally broke the deadlock in the 36th. minute to give Town the lead. Colin Loss' corner kick fell at the feet of Adams who promptly drove the ball through a crowd of defenders and beyond Fredrickson into the net.

The second half got under way with the home side applying considerable pressure but Fitzgerald in goal, who is proving to be one of the finds of the season for Town, produced a superb save to turn over David Burrows' diagonal shot. Town were unfortunate not to increase their lead when Rossiter's looping drive from the edge of the area beat Fredrickson but hit the woodwork whilst at the other end Fitzgerald again came to Town's rescue by saving well from Andy Jones. Town, however, conceded the equaliser when Cable misjudged a high cross into the penalty area and Gay, standing behind the player, chested the ball down to drive past Fitzgerald with the Carmarthen defenders anxiously looking for the offside flag.

Town regained the lead in the 81st. minute in controversial circumstances when after a scramble involving a number of players in the Haverfordwest penalty area the referee awarded a penalty kick after Fredrickson was adjudged to have pulled Burrows to the floor. Burrows then converted the penalty to the delight of the visiting supporters and then came Williams dramatic goal line save to end any ambition that the home side had of getting at least a point.

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