25.02.06 Caersws FC 1 Carmarthen Town 2

A rejuvenated Carmarthen Town produced a positive performance that saw them return to winning ways at Caersws on Saturday.

With Town including new signing Hayden Flemming in their mid field line-up a confident opening saw the visitors gain the initial momentum but needed to be alert to the hosts early raid from defence with Martyn Giles clearing Mark Williams' effort off his line.

Having settled in the blustery conditions Sasha Walters and Kaid Mohamed linked well to threaten and having gained the initiative Town went ahead on the quarter hour.

Neil Smother picked up on Craig Limas headed clearance and having fed the penetrating Mohamed, Town's new front man set Nathan Cotterall free on the left for the wing man to cut back inside and beat Andy Mulliner with a rifled shot to finish well.

Town had to be alert to Williams' threat as he linked with Chris Venables on the left but the visitors came agonisingly close to extending the lead when Mulliner's miss hit clearance fell to Mohamed and Sasha Walters blasted over when well placed.

Despite holding an advantage sloppy defending allowed the hosts back in to level the score. Having conceded a corner just before the half hour Town allowed the unmarked Williams to head home the set piece amidst defensive confusion in the box.

Following the goal Neil Mitchell become a thorn in Town's side and it took three point blank saves from keeper Andrew Delve to deny Stephens and the impressive Mitchell but with Walters firing just wide for Town it remained 1-1 at the break.

Following the resumption Mohamed had a couple of strong runs at goal and Cotterall's rocket of a shot ricocheted off Muliner's upright before being cleared to safety.

But with the hour approaching the hosts began to press but good covering by Martyn Giles kept the threat at bay whilst at the other end it took a fine double save from Mulliner to deny both Mohamed and Walters as Town looked to press home their chances.

The winner came with twenty minutes remaining. Cotterall was brought down on the edge of the box and Wayne Jones' curling free kick found the back of the net to give Town the advantage once again.

In the end Town could have made it three. Dodds hesitated fractionally having been fed from the wing by Flemming and Luke Hardy's strong run and shot deserved better as the ball went over but in the end manager Mark Jones was just delighted to have secured a win following recent disappointing performances.

Caersws FC Mulliner, Griffiths, Grist, Reynolds, Clarke, Venables, G.Jones (Bermingham 81'), Lewis, Mitchell, Stephens, Williams. Subs not used: Probert, S.Jones.

Carmarthen Town Delve, Hardy, W.Jones, Giles, Lima, Fleming, Walters (Loss 70'), Smothers, Dodds, Mohamed, Cotterrall. Subs not used: Thomas. Davies. Att: 215 Referee: N L Morgan

19.02.06 Carmarthen Town 0 Bangor City 2

Despite Carmarthen Town manager Mark Jones having made two new signings during the week in a bid to bolster his squad it was Bangor City that won Sunday’s televised clash at Richmond Park with some ease against a disappointing Carmarthen Town that have now gone four league games without a win and perhaps more importantly four league games without scoring.

Town will once again rue early missed opportunities that have ultimately cost them dearly as goals in each half from Bangor striker Paul Roberts sealed the victory for the visitors.

Town started full of promise with Sacha Walters and Wayne Jones a threat but when Martyn Giles was adjudged to have brought down Paul Roberts on the edge of the box on the quarter hour Town survived an early scare.

Walters’ long diagonal ball found Nathan Cotterall on the left and it needed a goal line clearance to deny Town’s wing man and with Town breaking well from defence Bangor’s keeper Andrew Parry could only parry Danny Thomas’ early effort.

But it was the Citizens who took the lead on the half hour. Mike Linnecar's left wing run ended with a fierce shot which Town keeper Andrew Delve could only parry to Roberts who made no mistake from close in to put the visitors ahead, somewhat against the run of play.

Jones and Cotteral continued to threaten down the left and new signing Kaid Mohamed’s strong run fed Danny Thomas who put his effort over, despite a three to one advantage, when well placed.

Some controversy surrounded the end of the half as referee Ray Ellingham blew for half time just as Paul Roberts’ effort from a Clayton Blackmore free kick found the back of the net.

Town readjusted after the break with Mark Dodds replacing the injured Richard Carter. Shortly after the hosts were further depleted with another influential defender Martyn Giles being withdrawn through injury.

The visitors turned up the heat and only hesitation by Roberts in front of goal allowed Cotteral to clear his line and minutes later the Citizens saw Michael Linnecar's shot rebounded off keeper Andrew Delve's legs.

The keeper was having an uncomfortable afternoon and on the hour he failed to deal with Clayton Blackmore's corner and an unmarked Roberts headed in from beyond the far post to give Bangor a two goal advantage.

Linnecar and Michael Walsh continued to link well for the visitors and with Christ Priest dominating the mid field area Bangor looked well organised and defended a sustained period of Town pressure well.

As the last quarter approached Town enjoyed their best spell of the half and when substitute Mattie Davies’ deft pass set Thomas free in front of goal the striker fired over and another opportunity passed.

Late on debutante Kaid Mohamed broke free but sent his shot straight at Price and with the final whistle Town were left to rue the early missed opportunities as they slipped into tenth position in the league with Bangor leap-frogging them into eighth.

Having seen his side do so well recently against League opposition Manager Mark Jones was bitterly disappointed.

"We didn’t play as we could. It’s alarming and we definitely have to do something about it.

Take Pennock, Lloyd, Kennedy and now the injury to Jones who’s going to be out for a while. Carter and Giles picked up injuries today. These are six top class players that are either injured or gone and it means we have to address the matter quickly.

We’re low on confidence at the moment and today simple errors have cost us dearly again and we have to do something about it".

11.02.06 Port Talbot Town 3 Carmarthen Town 0

Two goals early in the second half adding to Lee John’s opener after 32 minutes gave Port Talbot Town a comfortable win over Carmarthen Town last Saturday.

With Mark Jones fielding virtually the same line-up that had done so well against Swansea City in midweek there was little conviction or collective responsibility reflected in Town’s play as they failed to come to terms with a strong second half showing from the hosts.

New signing Wayne Jones filled the left back berth vacated by the departed Gary Lloyd but despite enjoying considerable first half possession Town failed to capitalise, lacking any edge or invention in the final quarter of the field.

With Dean Johnson coming close for the hosts and Town’s Sasha Walters providing the only threat to Neil Thomas’ goal in the early exchanges the first clear cut chance of the game fell to Nathan Cotterall after 25 minutes.

Having broken the ‘Steelmen’s’ defensive line Cotterall had the goal at his mercy but his weak, right footed, shot allowed Matthew Rees to recover and clear the ball off the line.

Leigh De Vulgt caused problems with a couple of free kick and when the former Town defender set Rhys Griffiths free with a deftly weighted pass Port Talbot’s front man Lee John finished the move perfectly putting the ball beyond Andrew Delve just after the half hour mark.

Town reacted positively. With Richard Carter’s strike from a difficult angle destined for the far corner, Thomas, at full stretch, just got his fingers to the ball to save the equaliser and maintain the slim advantage to the half time whistle.

Following the break Danny Thomas was introduced for Rhodri Jones who was struggling with a recurring injury. Then with barely two minutes gone Chris Pridham’s strong run and shot was blocked by Martyn Giles but with the ball falling kindly to Dean Johnson the experienced mid-fielder netted from 10 meters to make it two.

A couple of minutes later Thomas saw his effort cleared off the line by Chris Hanford but the hosts made the game safe in the 52 minute when Rhys Griffiths notched his 20th. strike of the season as he turned in John’s set piece after Port Talbot pressure had forced a corner.

With no way back for the visitors John and Griffiths continued to harass and it took a fine reaction save from Delve to turn Tom Hooper’s shot on to the bar before seeing it cleared to safety.

Manager Mark Jones and Coach Mark Aizlewood refuted any suggestion that Wednesday night’s exploits had been the cause of Town’s tired showing. “It’s got absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the game against Swansea city on Wednesday,” said Town's coach. “In the second half we were poor and Post Talbot had a game plan which they executed well. We had plenty of possession in the first half but we didn’t really threaten.”

Mark Jones agreed . “We played quite well in the first half but we lacked the hunger to put the ball in the back of the net. Once the first goal went in it seemed to sap us – but we’re not going to blame the Swansea game.

With little conviction on show except Luke Hardy’s positive performance in mid-field Town slip to seventh in the table but with games in hand over all those above them.

Port Talbot Town Thomas, de Vulgt, Jones, Hanford , Rees, Surman, Pridham, Hooper, Griffiths, John (Pearson 86'), Johnston (Dimond 89'). Sub not used: Cockings

Carmarthen Town Delve, Carter, W.Jones, Giles, Aherne-Evans, R.Jones (Thomas 46'), Hardy, Smothers, Dodds ( Lima 55'), Walters (Davies 77'), Cotterrall.

Attendance: 230 Referee: W A Tregonning

08.02.06 Carmarthen Town 2 Swansea City 3 (aet)

Town produced another excellent Premier Cup display at Richmond Park on Wednesday evening. It took an injury time equaliser from Andy Robinson to spare the League One outfit's blushes but Lee Trundle's extra time winner clinched the game for the Swans as Kenny Jacket's men were made to fight every inch of the way by a battling Town performance.

Leon Britton put the visitors ahead with a well-taken strike, but a deflected Kevin Ahern-Evans effort and a Nathan Cotteral strike within two minutes reversed it.

Town keeper Andrew Delve made two good saves from Trundle in the first period of extra time but one minute into the final period Trundle finally got his name on the scoresheet to put Swansea into the final against Wrexham.

Carmarthen Town 2 Swansea City 3 (BBC Wales)

Holders Swansea clawed their way into the final of the FAW Premier Cup with a comeback win over brave Welsh Premier side Carmarthen at Richmond Park .

Leon Britton put the visitors ahead with a well-taken strike, but a Sam Ricketts own goal and a Nathan Cotteral effort within two minutes reversed it.

With the game into injury time, Alan Tate's cross was met by substitute Andy Robinson's overhead shot to equalise.

As the part-timers tired, returnee Lee Trundle got the winner in extra time.

The Swans go on to meet Wrexham in the final at the Racecourse some time in March.

The best chance of a lacklustre first half fell to the home side in the first minute.

Sasha Walters found space on a fine run down the left and crossed into the box.

Mark Dodds got a clean head to the ball, but saw his effort fly over Swansea keeper Brian Murphy's bar from close range.

Shaun MacDonald forced a save from Andrew Delve at the other end, and the Carmarthen keeper dealt with a decent header from Rory Fallon.

With the game drifting, Britton looked to have secured an easy win for the Swans after 60 minutes.

Martyn Giles failed to clear Tate's through ball, Britton controlled well in the box and fired hard and low through the legs of the flapping Delve.

Then, with 20 minutes to go, an innocuous-looking Carmarthen free kick passed through a crowd of players in the Swansea box before rebounding off substitute Ricketts and into the net.

Welsh international Ricketts' nightmare worsened two minutes later as he clumsily chested a Carmarthen cross into the path of Cotteral.

He went for a chip over Murphy and the keeper - injured in a first-half clash with Walters - could only palm it over his head and into the goal.

Trundle, in his first game back from injury, blew three chances to equalise, hitting the post, firing over, and sending a free header from five yards over the bar.

after the Swans striker's skills gave him chances in the box.

But one minute into the final period, man-of-the-match Britton's battling freed Trundle in the box, and the Scouser calmly placed his shot into the far corner.

Carmarthen: A Delve, R Carter, G Lloyd, M Giles, K Aherne-Evans, R Jones, N Smothers, L Hardy, M Dodds, S Walters, N Cotterall .

Swansea : B Murphy, A Tate, T Williams, S Watt, G Monk, S MacDonald, A Akinfenwa, L Britton, A Forbes, L Trundle, R Fallon.

04.02.06 Prestatyn Town 1 Carmarthen Town 0

Carmarthen Town negotiated a tricky encounter at Prestatyn Town with a 2-1 win against the Welsh Alliance leaders that sees the Richmond Park outfit drawn away to Bangor City in the quarter final stages of the competition.

The hosts showed their resolve early on when Steve Hoult latched on to a cross from the right and put his effort back across goal and just wide of the upright after only ten minutes.

On the half hour Town made the breakthrough they were looking for when Nathan Cotterall's throw in was crossed into the box by Luke Hardy for Mark Dodds to head home and give the visitors a narrow first half advantage.

As the game opened up in the second period Town did create some half chances. But it was the hosts who struck back when Cameron Roberts broke well down flank and his ball from the bye line found Neil Gibson in front of goal who levelled on 70 minutes.

Three minutes later Town went ahead for the second time. Hardy's throw in was crossed to the back by Rhodri Jones and with Cotterall laying the ball off to the edge of the box Neil Smothers’ low drive found the net, having taken a slight deflection.

The hosts pushed forward in search of a second equaliser and it took a brilliant double save from keeper Andrew Delve, at point blank range, to preserve Town's advantage.

Then with time almost up and the game seemingly won Prestatyn came close to taking the game into extra time as Jack Lewis ’ well hit free kick from the edge of the box struck the cross bar. But having survived the late scare Town progress to the quarter final stages.

Prestatyn Town: Dunt, Fuller, Lewis, Hayes, McGuinness, Milne, Gibson, Jones, Evans, Hoult, Bowes. Subs not used: Roberts, White, Parker.

Carmarthen Town: Delve, Hardy, Lloyd, Carter, Aherne-Evans, Jones, Smothers, Giles, Dodds, Davies (Walters 63'), Cotterrall. Subs not used: Hughes, James. Attendance: 280 Referee: B Lawlor