Despite a more positive approach, RSU Sponsored Carmarthen Town found it difficult to overcome some stern resistance from a much improved Rhyl side and it took a 51st minute goal by wing-back Gareth Rees to eventually break the deadlock in this League of Wales match at Richmond Park last Saturday.

Town Manager Tomi Morgan included himself in the starting line-up following his side’s disappointing performance at Caersws last week to form a three man strike force together with Ryan Nicholls and Richard Parker, and Morgan belying his years produced an energetic display by nearly finding himself on the score sheet on a number of occasions and then producing the precise cross for Rees to head Town into the lead.

The attacking formation, however, seemed to pay off on this occasion as Rhyl were pushed back on the defensive for long periods and certainly should have had a comfortable cushion of a lead as the match approached the final stages when the visitors, desperate to salvage something from the game. at last made their presence felt.

After surviving an anxious moment in the very first minute of the game when the Town defence were caught flat-footed when a cross from the left past invitingly across goal for the visiting forwards, the home side then took control of matters with Nigel Nicholas who had come in for the injured Wayne Jones for his first game for over a month produced some good deliveries into the penalty area and the Rhyl keeper Danny Emberton produced considerable alertness in denying Town’s forwards.

In an amazing sequence of events the Rhyl goal miraculously survived when Nicholls bursting into the box had his shot blocked by keeper Embleton and from the rebound Nicholl’s second shot was again blocked on the line by full back Gary Curtis who then produced a remarkable double save when Morgan, picking up the loose ball, fired in from 20 yards only for the gallant Curtis to produce another dramatic save on the goal-line. The good gathering of supporters at Richmond Park, on an extremely wet afternoon must have wondered how on earth the ball did not find the Rhyl net and with more chances gong abegging the visitors must have been extremely pleased at the 0-0 half-time scoreline.

The second half continued in similar vein and at last the deadlock was broken when Morgan on the far left did well to cross to Rees at the far post whose downward header found the net. In the final quarter, with the visitors rallying to save the match Town’s goal at last came under pressure but Fitzgerald’s impeccable handling of the greasy ball kept Rhyl at bay, although one occasion when the ball eluded the keeper’s grasp the home side were fortunate to survive when the Rhyl forwards missed the opportunity with the goal at their mercy. This was the only occasion, however, when Town were really troubled and the outcome of the match, narrow as the scoreline may have been, produced a well deserved three points for the home side who now move back into second place in the League of Wales table.

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Carmarthen Town, sponsored by RSU Windows, failed to adapt themselves to the extremely heavy conditions at the Recreation Ground, Caersws, and slumped to their first defeat in six games. A mid-morning pitch inspection proved positive although whether the game should have been played was questionable as both teams became bogged down in large areas of the field and their ability to keep their feet became a lottery as the game progressed.

Manager Tomi Morgan, however, refused to blame the conditions for his side's defeat and said : 'Our boys were not up to it today and full marks to Caersws who took their chances and deserved their win.'

The conditions certainly did not suit the likes of mid-field players Craig Evans, and strikers Ryan Nicholls and Richard Parker who are natural ball players and found the muddy areas of the field inhibiting.

The attacking potential of Wayne Jones from the wing back position was also sorely missed after tweaking a hamstring as early as the fifth minute to be replaced by Paul Walker who was playing his first game after a lengthy absence due to injury.

Town were indebted to goalkeeper Robert Fitzgeraid who came to his side's rescue on a number of occasions to deny the very alert striking force of Hugh Clarke and Andy Whitticase who seemed to revel in the conditions. After a series of saves early in the first half which the home side had dominated he was eventually beaten in the 32nd minute. A fine move by Caersws involving a number of players was ended in style when Clarke struck the ball beyond the reach of the advancing Fitzgeraid. Town's chances, on the other hand, were few and far between although Paul Evans in Caersws' goal did well to divert Parker's snap shot past his post.

It was a shock to the home supporters when Town gained the equaliser on the half time whistle when after Malcolm Vaughan had found Parker the latter player did well to elude the Caersws defence to fire home.

The second half saw Town come far more into the game and a good following of their supporters who had made the journey to Central Wales sensed that the three points could still be achieved. With the game heading for a draw, however, the vital goal came seven minutes from time when after Town had failed to clear Whitticase drove the ball powerfully past Fitzgeraid.

With other results going their way in the League of Wales last Saturday Town still hold second place but are now five points behind leaders Barry Town with a game in hand.

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CARMARTHEN TOWN’S WELSH CUP luck continued as they have again been drawn at home in the Quarter Finals against League of Wales championship contenders Cwmbran Town, following their convincing win against Aberystwyth Town at Richmond Park last Saturday.

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Carmarthen AFC 4 Aberystwyth Town 1 (Welsh Cup)

The crowd was lower than expected. That is all you can say to Carmarthen¹s detriment about this game. They may have had some kind of official bias, they may have had luck when it mattered but this was still a performance of brutal mercilessness - one which Aberystwyth, a sinking ship the rats will soon be leaving, hardly deserved.

But it could have been different. The early play seemed to show a different Aberystwyth Town to the one who came here in December and who played like they were caught in the oncoming Old Gold floodlights. Today with their Black and Green shining they began with assurance with Carmarthen in unfamiliar blue unable to dazzle to quite the same effect. The fact that the positive play around the box did not yield a single meaningful strike did not trouble the visiting faithful (a collection of familiar faces from that bygone age of Lampeter studenthood). It should have done. We had reckoned without Wyn Thomas.

The Aberystwyth Old Boy turned avenging angel as his free-kick deflected and bobbled its way past a suitably bemused but still culpable Martin Jones. The defence looked at each other with menacing stares - not for the last time - the Carmarthen players howled with glee and the Shed roared, laughter mixed with delight.

One-nil but Aber regrouped and came back and there was a certain end-to-end cup-tie feel to the whole thing. The faithful remained calm. There was still the whole match to play. Both sides and both sets of supporters sensed it. There was no triumphalism - not yet.

Still Aber had no shots, still they built well, still Carmarthen struck though lightening efficient breaks. Still ... a routine and then a ball played forward, surely offside, surely but the goal by Dean Rossiter stood and with it fell Aber¹s chances. Again laughter, again delight. The match won and lost on a linesman¹s flag.

Possibly. Two-nil was the half-time score. The Black and Greens probably had reason to be downcast, the locals reckoned the play was offside by anything for a couple of feet to four yards but the defining moment was still to come.

... the ball breaks to Glyndwr Hughes, a fluke after an age of build-up, he blasts, the ball can only end up in one place, it can only be a goal but the ball is bouncing back off the advertising hoarding it has hit at pace. Disbelief from Aberystwyth, a cheer from Carmarthen. The match is over.

Nothing is ever so simple though. On around 80 minutes it was 2-1 with Glyndwr making up for his miss with a scrambled effort. His celebrations in front of the Carmarthen Shed looked ridiculous at the time and seemed doubly so when the home team were awarded what looked like a harsh penalty a few minutes later. 3-1 became 4-1 when Martin Jones was bundled away from a driven shot. The match ended with Carmarthen jubilation as the players jumped for joy and punched the air at a job well done. By that time the Aberystwyth had noticeably thinned, the remaining few drifted away.

Some of us got a parking ticket and were stopped by the police shortly after passing Swansea but that¹s another story ...

Jon Smalldon 15-2-2000

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Carmarthen Town produced one of their best displays of the season to run out victorious in this League of Wales match at Richmond Park last Saturday. The game was highlighted by a magnificent strike by Town’s forward Ryan Nicholls in the 26th minute which rocked a fiercely competitive Connah’s Quay side who, after a splendid run recently of five successive games without defeat, were in confident mood after making the long journey from Deeside.

Town now find themselves in second place in the League of Wales Table, a mere two points behind leaders Barry Town, and with a game in hand. A delighted Town Chairman Jeff Thomas, enthused: ‘Back in August, I would never have thought that we would be in second position by February and what is a very pleasing feature which really excites the Club is that seven of the squad that played last Saturday were under 21 years of age which augurs well for the future.’

Indeed, Town with a determined display matched their committed opponents and none did better than the defensive trio of Wyn Thomas, David Barnhouse and Matthew Cable who kept a tight grip on matters, especially in the early stages of the match when the Connah’s Quay midfield spearheaded by Andrew Thomas and Jon Kenworthy threatened to take the game out of Carmarthen’s hands.

Barnhouse on one occasion came to Town’s rescue when he did well to block a goalmouth shot by Julian Pepper when all seemed lost and then came the turning point in the 26th minute which rocked the visitors. Gavin Rees, winning the ball after a strong tackle in midfield crossed into the penalty area where the energetic Siôn Meredith headed across to the onrushing Nicholls whose volley rocketed into the top corner of the net via the underside of the Connah’s Quay crossbar.

Even though midfield player Malcolm Vaughan cleared off his own line it was Town who were now buoyant and duly scored their second goal in the 43rd minute when Meredith, again in the thick of the action, headed on to Richard Parker who calmly carried the ball into the visiting penalty area before hooking it over the advancing Nomads’ goalkeeper Phil Collister into the net, despite protests by the visiting players that there was an offside infringement.

Play continued at a furious pace in the second half with the visitors continuing to make desperate attempts to get back into the game and Town may have been fortunate to escape when two gilt-edged chances went wide of the target and served as a sharp reminder that the game was not over. Town also had their chances however and after a good run by Parker the visitors were fortunate to survive as the ball was scrambled away.

The excitement continued even up to the dying minutes as keeper Robert Fitzgerald produced a brilliant one handed save to deny Carl Smyth and as the ball travelled rapidly to the other end of the field it was Carmarthen who could have increased the lead but substitute Matthew Delicate - who is training this week with Tranmere Rovers - saw his shot go narrowly past the post.

A worthy win indeed for Carmarthen with some honours at the end of the season now looking more of a likely possibility.

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