26.02.05 Carmarthen Town 1 Caernarfon Town 2

Carmarthen Town manager Mark Jones will clearly have to ask some serious questions of his squad following a mundane and lacklustre performance against a struggling Caernarfon Town that saw Town spurn an excellent opportunity to make inroads on the league's European placings.

Lacking commitment and the cutting edge to convert a number of gilt edged opportunities, Town were unable to build on Rhodri Jones' excellent first half strike and paid the price for their profligacy as Caernarfon Town struck twice in the second period to claim the points and ease their relegation worries.

Manager Mark Jones was at a loss to explain his team's performance.

“It was the worst performance since I've been here - terrible. We should have buried them by half time. When you don't take chances it rebounds on you and we really paid the price today.

With Lee Jones and Marcus Orlik providing the early initiative for the ‘Canaries' Town found it difficult to settle and it was a full twenty minutes before they tested the visitors with defender Kenny Irons forced to clear Gary Lloyd's well struck corner off his own goal line.

Town continued to press and with Caernarfon struggled to clear the pressure it was Lloyd's tackle that won the ball for Rhodri Jones to unleash a rocket of a shot from 25 yards that curled into the top corner of keeper David Walsh's net to give Town the lead on 26 minutes.

Luke Hardy replaced the injured Craig Lima just after the half hour and with Mark Dodds moving up front Town looked to have more urgency and penetration in their play. Lloyd's deliveries into the box continued to cause problems for the visitors with Giles just failing to get the final touch on one of his crosses to consolidate Town's slim lead.

Caernarfon were dangerous on the break. Mark Evans had several strong runs and when Michael Bond's shot flashed across Town's goal it came perilously close to being an equaliser.

Then just before the break Town really should have extended the lead. Dodds picked up on a long ball and following his determined run he provided a perfect cross into the box that eluded Chris Summers and fell to Hardy who blazed over with the goal at his mercy.

Following the break Dodds again troubled the defence with his strong running. But when Caernarfon's Jones eluded Town's defence with an incisive run it took an excellent save from Tony Pennock to deny the lively striker. With the rebound falling to Orlik the Caernarfon No8 blazed over and Town were fortunate to escape.

Dodds and Hardy combined well down the right and it took a sparkling one handed save from Walsh to deny Summers' header. But loose play saw the hosts concede a number of free kicks in vulnerable areas and when Gwyn Peters was brought down by Richard Kennedy on 72 minutes Irons' well struck free kick levelled the score.

With the visitors now galvanised Town found it increasingly difficult to break through. Then after Town had put the ball out of play for a Caernarfon player to receive treatment the visitors disregarded normal convention and pressed Town from the resulting ‘dropped' ball, forcing a throw in deep in Town's half. With substitute Paul Williams' long throw clearing Town's stationary back four fellow substitute Gareth Davies stole in behind and chipped Pennock ensuring it was the visitors who secured the win that was so badly needed by both sides.

Carmarthen Town Pennock, Carter,Lloyd, Giles, Chiverton (Burke 76'), Jones, Summers, Kennedy, Lima (Hardy 33'), Dodds, Devonald (Aherne-Evans 78'). Sub not used: Morris.

Caernarfon Town Walsh, W.Phillips, Roberts, Irons, March, Foligno, Peters (P.Williams 71'), Orlik (G.Davies 68'), L.Jones, Bird, Evans. Sub not used: M.Phillips

Attendance: 272 Referee: N L Morgan

18.02.05 Aberystwyth Town 0 Carmarthen Town 0

Draw specialists Carmarthen returned from a windswept Aberystwyth with another point in their quest for European qualification.

Town started strongly with the wind at their backs and Gary Lloyd was unfortunate to see two free kicks narrowly miss the target. The home side were made to defend during this opening period but did so effectively as home keeper Richard Morgan was not really tested until the half hour mark when Nathan Cotteral,l having switched wings, forced him into a good diving save.

Mark Dodds also went close for the visitors when he shot disappointingly wide after working very hard to create an opening for himself.

By now the home side were beginning to create a few opportunities and Lloyd was forced to clear a goal bound header off the line just before the break.

With the advantage of the strong wind the home side started the second half positively. Sion James was unfortunate to see his header form a corner fly inches over the bar.

With Town slightly disappointing as an attacking manager Mark Jones introduced Jeff Aspell and Chris Summers into the attack. With Cotterall lost through injury Kevin Evans joined the fray. In fact Evans nearly won the game for Town when an error by Morgan in the home goal nearly resulted in the substitute netting the winner.

Probably the main talking point of the second half was when Tony Pennock, a commanding figure in the visitng gaol was adjudged to have brought down home striker Gavin Allen and was punished by a yellow card when home fans were expecting to see red. Allen put the resulting free kick over the bar and was also unfortunate to see another shot miss its target.

Manager Jones will have been disappointed with another draw as it makes little impression in his quest for Europe but his squad are still competing strongly on a number of fronts.

Aberystwyth Town R.Morgan, Evans, Burrows, Mumford, James, Lewis, O.Thomas, B.Morgan, Moore , Allen, Coates. Subs not used: Gornall, R.Thomas, Roberts, Rees.

Carmarthen Town Pennock, Carter, Lloyd, Giles, Chiverton, Jones, Hardy, Kennedy, Burke (Summers 71'), Dodds (Aspell 71'), Cotterrall (Aherne-Evans 75'). Sub not used: James.

Attendance: 403 Referee: H Jones

15.02.05 Carmarthen Town 1 Porthmadog 0

A fourth minute Gary Lloyd goal separated the sides at the end of an entertaining, closely contested game. Lloyd struck from a free kick after Rhodri Jones was brought down on the edge of the box by Webber.

Port came close to equalising just before the break when a ball across goal eluded both Caughter and Steve Jones and Gile was inches wide for Town right on the stroke of half time when he connected with Evans' floated cross.

Both sides had second half chances. Port managed to scramble the ball clear after keeper Harvey had spilled Hardy's inswinging corner and Kennedy put the ball wide after an excellent individual run and cross by Dodds.

Pennock did well to beat Caughter and Webb to a long ball in front of goal and Steve Jones' cross after a strong run just stuck under Caughter's boot. With the tie finely balanced there is still everything to play for.

08.02.05 PORT TALBOT TOWN 0 CARMARTHEN TOWN 0

With Town's defence in an uncharacteristic generous mood on Tuesday evening Port Talbot failed to take advantage of numerous early opportunities. Both keepers were in good form as Tony Pennock tipped over Leigh de Vulgt's floating free kick whilst at the other end Neil Thomas denied Chris Summers' strike with an excellent save. Just before the break, with the hosts pressing, Lee John's chip into the box caused problems and with Pennock floored Rhys Griffiths just failed to get the final touch.

The second half saw the hosts once again dominate early on but it was Thomas' reaction save with his legs that denied Dodds' low drive after a Gary Lloyd's free kick was headed back in by Craig Lima. Just after the hour Kevin Evans replaced Lima and Jeff Aspell came on for Summers and both were immediately in action as Aspell came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock after Evans spread the ball wide to Lloyd who's cross back in was headed inches over by the bustling substitute.

Town continued to make things difficult for themselves with some loose defending and when Griffiths eluded his marker he brought the best out of Pennock who also made an excellent stop with his feet minutes later with the game all but over. Despite a disjointed display Town created some excellent strikes on goal and with Port Talbot unable to capitalise on their chances the game could easily have gone either way.

Town : Pennock, Lloyd, Hardy, Giles, Chiverton, Dodds, Summers (Aspell 65'), Smothers (Kennedy 46'), Burke, Jones, Lima (Evans 65').

05.02.05 Welsh Cup 4th. Round

Carmarthen Town 1 Cwmbran Town 0

Carmarthen Town edged into the final eight of the Welsh Cup courtesy of a first half goal from Nicky Burke. But the Richmond Park outfit had to withstand Cwmbran Town 's intense second half pressure before earning an away tie at the Recreation Ground Caersws in the quarter final stage of the competition.

Manager Mark Jones was delighted at his side's progression into the quarter final stages.

“It is a great achievement for the club. We are fourth in the Welsh Premier League, in the semi final of the League Cup and now we have booked our place in the final eight of the Welsh Cup.”

“I'm quite happy to take on Caersws as we won there earlier in the season. It would have been nice to have had a home game but we have avoided Rhyl and TNS. At this stage of the competition there are no easy draws.”

In a bright opening Town showed more invention and bite than they have of late. Bolstered by the return of influential captain Rhodri Jones and the tenacious Neil Smothers to midfield Town were rewarded after 19 minutes when Burke touched home Gary Lloyd's free kick for the only goal of the game after Richard Carter had been brought down out wide on the right.

Cwmbran's custodian Gareth Wesson made amends and kept his side in the hunt with two great saves. The first at point blank range from Mark Dodds and minutes later he tipped over Richard Carter's curling goal bound volley.

But as the break approached the visitors turned up the pressure in search of an equaliser but with Town defending resolutely, and Martyn Giles outstanding, to deny the visitors any real clear cut chances.

Following the break the hard work of Jamie Edwards and Kristian Diamond enabled Cwmbran to dominate possession for long periods. Kaid Mohamed put a good effort narrowly over and Town's Tony Pennock's denied Andrew Mainwaring and later Mohamed with some fine goalkeeping.

On the hour Town should have sealed the result. Nathan Cotteral broke from defence and following Burke's flick-on, Jones' low drive was turned away well by Wesson and the game remained on a knife edge.

But in the end the hosts held out and manager Mark Jones was clearly delighted that his side was in the hat for the next round of the competition.

“It was an important win for the club. The Cup is all about the result and we're into the last eight”, he added.

“Yes, they had a good spell in the second half but we expected them to come and have a go but they didn't really hurt us. They played football. We were quite comfortable in the middle but they did well out wide.

Cwmbran manager Brian Coyne reflected on the result: Over 90 minutes I don't know how we got beat. It was a poor defensive goal.

Cwmbran coach Sean Wharton praised his young team's effort , “I thought we bettered the second half but lacked a cutting edge up front. “ I thought we played the better football but Town were more direct and got the result.

Carmarthen Town : Pennock, Carter, Lloyd, Giles, Chiverton, Jones, Dodds, Smothers, Burke (Summers 80'), Lima , Cotterall (Hardy 80'). Sub not used Evans.

Cwmbran Town : Wesson, Thomas, James, Welsh, Coughlin, Fowler, Edwards, Diamond, Mohamed, Mainwaring, Hurlin (Plant 80'). Subs not used Green, Perry.

Attendance : 235. Referee S. Jones ( Swansea ).

The Quarter Final round of the competition will be played on 5 th . March 2005.