28.02.09 WELSH CUP (Quarter Final)
CARMARTHEN TOWN 1 PORT TALBOT TOWN 1 (Town win 4-1 on penalties)

Player Manager Deryn Brace proved to be Town’s hero as Carmarthen Town triumphed in a dramatic Welsh Cup penalty shootout against Port Talbot Town that saw the Richmond Park outfit progress to the semi final draw and a tie against West Wales rivals Aberystwyth Town.

With Town’s manager forced to take over ‘between the sticks’ half way through the second half, to replace the injured Neil Thomas, he saved Port Talbot’s first two spot kicks in a dramatic finale after a 1-1 extra time draw.

Town coach Mark Aizlewood told 'Y Dre ar Y We',

"It was an eventful game, but it was always going to be a nip and tuck game. I have to be honest and say that in my own personal opinion perhaps the referee had too much of an influence on the game. Whilst he didn't influence the result I think he influenced the nature of the game with respect to some of the decisions he made. Having said all that I thought the spirit of the players and their mental attitude towards it was fantastic".

"They had a man sent off and you'd think then we're favourites. We then have a man sent off and lose a goal keeper and suddenly they are favourites at ten men and they get the goal which they never would have got if we had a normal goalkeeper in".

"But to be fair to the players I can't speak highly enough about the way they then dug in and got us back in the game at one 1-1 and subsequently had enough reserves of energy, determination and technique to then score four penalties".

“You just couldn't write the script. The manager then goes on and saves the first two spot kicks, which were two very good saves. You coudn't write it. So the bottom line is that when they make the draw for the semi final Carmarthen Town is in it. However you got there, whatever the circumstances, whatever decisions made that is the main thing in cup football."

Cup games can often be low on quality but high on drama and that's what was served up at Richmond on Saturday afternoon. With two red cards and seven bookings highlighting the tenseness and competitiveness of the game, goal scoring opportunities were few and far between.

Both managers made one change. Liam McCreesh returned for the ‘Steelmen’ and Lee Hudgell replaced Town's injured captain Nathan Cotterrall.

In a hard fought contest there was little flowing football on show and with the referee looking to exert his authority Neil Smothers and McCreesh both found their way into Mark Whitby's book early on.

The Steelmen showed good movement up front and for Town Paul Fowler hit his first time volley straight at the keeper.

Just after the half hour mark the Steelmen were reduced to ten men. Gareth Phillips red carded for a late challenge on Richard Hughes that saw Town's defender replaced by Tim Hicks at half time. Looking to capitalise Town forced a series of corners with Fowler again coming the closest to a score, rocking Talbot’s cross bar.

Following the resumption the visitors seemed to make more of an impression than the hosts. Martin Rose was denied by Neil Thomas following McCreesh's defence splitting ball whilst at the other end Lee Surman's last ditch block kept out Craig Hughes.

Then ten minutes after the break a controversial decision saw Hughes dismissed for allegedly head butting Scott Barrow who fell dramatically to the ground. And Town suffered a further setback shortly after when keeper Neil Thomas went off injured with Town’s player / manager the replacement. But with Brace doing well to save Drew Fahiya's angled drive and palming away McCreesh's effort before beating Rose to the follow up neither side was able to break the deadlock and extra time beckoned.

Town had a confident hand ball appeal waved away by Mr. Whitby and frustration at the decision saw Mark Aizlewood sent from his technical area into the stand. But two minutes before the extra time break Rose looked to have sealed the tie for the Steelmen when he chased a long through ball to nod it past the advancing Brace into the net.

The visitors came close to doubling the tally when Rose again beat Brace but was denied by the base of the post. But with Town showing considerable grit and determination more drama followed as Town threw everything forward. Good work by Kris Thomas on the right saw his ball into the box only half cleared by Lee Surman and with Fowler seizing his opportunity he lashed the ball from 20 meters, through a crowded box, to equalise and set up the dramatic ‘shoot out’.

With Town's shot stopping keeper Thomas a spectator on the sidelines Brace became the unlikely hero of the day, saving the first two Port Talbot spot kicks from Rose and Barrow before Darren Davies put the ‘Steelmen’ on the score sheet.  But with Danny Thomas, Sacha Walters and Fowler all coolly finding the target it was left to Stuart Roberts to net the winner and book a semi final appearance.

Read Deryn's Comments in full...

Town : N Thomas (Brace 74'), R Hughes (Hicks 46'), Smothers, Palmer (D Thomas), Dodds, K Thomas, Roberts, Fowler, C Hughes, Hudgell.

Port Talbot : Rogers, De-Vulgt (Thompson 110'), Barrow, Phillips, Rees, Surman, John, Davies, Rose, McCreesh (Evans 117), Fahiya ( Burgin 95'). Referee Mark Whitby.

21.02.09 CAERSWS FC 0 CARMARTHEN TOWN 2

Two first half goals were enough to give Town all three points that sees the Richmond Park outfit maintain momentum in the chase for a Europa League spot. With Town closing in on the Saints, five points behind with two games in hand, manager Deryn Brace was delighted with the win that sees Town enter next week’s Welsh Cup Quarter Final on the back of a five game undefeated series.

With Stuart Roberts switching to the left, to cover for the injured Lee Hudgell, Sacha Walters was restored to Town’s starting line-up on the right. But it was a Neil Smothers rarity, a second League goal for the club, that broke the deadlock on the ten minute mark.

Town had started with pace and penetration, penning the Bluebirds in and forcing a series of corners. With the hosts attempting to clear the ball fell to Smothers who's speculative drive from the 18 yard mark evaded the home defence to give the Richmond Park outfit an early lead.

Craig Hughes looked to have doubled the tally when Nicky Palmer's shot was parried by keeper Jon Rowley and the follow up from Mark Dodds had hit the bar and rebounded to the front man. But with the Assistant flagging the offside Hughes had to wait until three minutes before the break before adding the second. A long ball from defence was helped-on by Roberts and with Hughes breaking into the box he beat a static defence and rounded the keeper to net from an acute angle.

In between goals Neil Thomas made a point blank save to deny Chris Melia and despite Caersws making more of an impression on the game Town dominated maintaining the comfortable margin into the break.

Town should really have added to the tally in the second period. Following Sacha Walters’ break down the right his cross just needed a final touch but on a difficult surface and with the hosts defending doggedly any addition to the score-line remained elusive.

With Town celebrating their fifth consecutive win at the Recreation Ground they condemned the hosts to their fourth consecutive League defeat.

Read Deryn's comments on the game ...

Caersws FC: Rowley, Jones, Hopkins, Taylor, Holt, Haynes, D Hughes (S Hughes 77'), Edwards, Melia, Jones (Courtney 65'), Cookson (Davies 60').

Town: N Thomas, R Hughes, Smothers, Palmer (D Thomas 84'), Dodds, K Thomas, Walters (Hicks 82'), Roberts, Fowler, C Hughes (Brace 90'), Cotterrall.

Attendance: 178 Referee: Phil Southall

14.02.09 CARMARTHEN TOWN 3 BANGOR CITY 1

Three second half goals in the space of sixteen minutes saw Town redress a first half deficit to run out deserved winners in a game that was overshadowed by the hospitalisation of Bangor front man Chris Sharpe after he had put the Citizens in front on the quarter hour.

A delighted Town coach Mark Aizlewood said, "I'm absolutely delighted. I thought we got our just reward, we thoroughly deserved the win. Even when it was eleven v eleven I thought they were a little bit fortunate to be 1-0 up. They did have a threat from set plays so we had to mindful of the fact that even when you go down to ten men you still retain that threat from set plays".

“From our point of view we made a tactical change at half time which I thought was key. We sacrificed a midfield player as we felt we needed people further forward. We made a second change with 20 minutes to go moving Krisy Thomas into the middle of our defence giving him a free role and pushing Richard to the right to mark. That proved to be a crucial decision as well. We now need to get a result at Caersws next week otherwise its all for nothing".

With manager Deryn Brace retaining Mark Dodds in the middle of Town's defence and Stuart Roberts preferred to Sacha Walters on the wing Town had a decidedly attacking look about them. With City captain Mark Limbert and midfielder Keiran Killackey suspended Neville Powel gave Peter Hoy a run in midfield and re-instate Siôn Edwards on the left wing.

Following an even opening Bangor took the lead when Sharpe was fouled by Richard Hughes and the front man touched the ball home at the base of the far post after Christian Seargeant's free kick from the flank had evaded Town's defence.

Then on 27 minutes Sharpe went from hero to villain when he was red carded for a reckless two footed challenge on Richard Hughes resulting in the striker being taken to hospital with a suspected broken arm.

Following the long delay, whilst Sharpe was being treated by physios and ambulance personnel, Town keeper Neil Thomas' quickly taken cannon of a free kick dipped deceptively forcing Citizens’ custodian Paul Smith to touch it over his own bar.

And Town looked to have been thrown a lifeline when Hoy brought down Roberts in the box and referee Darren Adie had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. But with Cotterrall's weak penalty going wide of the mark Town were left in arrears as Bangor retained the advantage into the break.

Following the resumption Town made a tactical change to make the most of the numerical superiority. With Tim Hicks replacing Neil Smothers Town moved to a 4-4-2 formation and pushed up and wide to dominated possession and stretch the visiting defence.

Paul Fowler’s ball across the face of the Bangor goal just lacked a final touch.  But as the pressure mounted Les Davies was unable to deal with Kris Thomas’ surging pace and pulled the defender down before Nicky Palmer got above the defence to glance home Cotterrall's floated free kick and Town were deservedly level.

Front man Craig Hughes then sunk City with a well taken brace. The first when he chested down a rebound, after a Hicks effort had been blocked, before volleying home left footed on 68 minutes. The second, ten minutes later, when he beat the keeper to Lee Hudgell's headed ball following Neil Thomas’ booming clearance, put the game beyond the Citizens.

With twenty to go Town moved Kris Thomas to a free role at the back to drive the game forward and counter any late threat from the visitors. Smith denied Roberts at point blank range following Palmer’s perseverance and with Mike Johnston prominent the visitors battled hard to make things difficult for the hosts. But with the Richmond Park outfit taking all three points they leap-froged City back into fourth with a game in hand.

Deryn Brace's comments on the game...

Town: N Thomas, R Hughes, Hudgell, Palmer (D Thomas 84'), Dodds, K Thomas, Roberts (Walters 82'), Smothers (Hicks 46'), Fowler, C Hughes, Cotterrall.

Bangor: Smith, Swanick, Beattie (Cook 75'), Johnston, Brewerton, Seargeant, Hoy, Walsh, Davies, Sharpe, Edwards (McManus 68') Subs not used : Mitchell (Y), Lloyd.

Referee Darren Adie Attendance 349

06.02.09 PORT TALBOT TOWN 0 CARMARTHEN TOWN 0

Following significant cup wins for both sides the previous week it was honours shared at the GenQuip Stadium on Friday night. Despite plenty of action and edge defences were dominant and even though both sides had periods of domination a winner remained elusive.

Coach Mark Aizlewood told ' Y Dre ar Y We', "I thought we were off the pace a little in the first half but not enough to let them score. We were not as fluid as we were last week; maybe nine months ago we might have lost it.

"But we were better second half and I couldn't see us loosing, I thought we might just nick it. Both teams looked like sides on a good run and hard to beat".

Keeping faith with the side that had done so well the previous weekend at TNS manager Deryn Brace was forced to make a late change when Liam Hancock failed a fitness test and Mark Dodds was recalled to the starting line up.

Despite Craig Hughes forcing a good early stop from keeper Kristian Rogers it was the hosts that had the better of the opening exchanges.  Drew Fahiya showed his pace and alertness when he broke through dangerously on a couple of occasions and it took a brave save with his feet from keeper Neil Thomas to deny the speedy wing-man as he pounced on a stray defensive ball.

Lee John found the net only to be flagged offside but as Town made more of an impression on the game Lee Hudgell did well down the left and it took a great block from defender Matthew Rees to deny Town front man Hughes just before the break.

Town had clearly set themselves up to counter the Port Talbot danger men with Richard Hughes, Dodds and Nathan Cotterrall assigned man marking roles and Kris Thomas providing cover when necessary. Cotterrall in particular was effective in defence marking his man tightly and winning considerable ball in the air.

Following the resumption John and Liam McCreesh continued to probe, forcing Town to defend a series of corners. But having relieved the pressure the Richmond Park outfit came back strongly. Sacha Walters latched on to a long clearance and having played in Hughes the front man looked to pass to Nicky Palmer instead of pulling the trigger, a vital interception nullifying the chance. Minutes later Hughes was again denied, this time by Rogers, following good work by Neil Smothers who was comfortable and effective in the mid field battle.

With a quarter hour remaining Town conceded a number of free kicks in dangerous positions but despite firing several balls across the face of the goal the ‘Steelmen’ lacked a final touch. Looking for a late winner Town surged forward. Paul Fowler sent a strong header straight at Rogers who again denied Hughes' powerful shot at the death as both sides took a share of the spoils.

Despite taking only the second point in six attempts Brace was relatively happy with the outcome.

“It was a pretty tight affair, solid defences, no one wanted to give anything away and mistakes were at a minimum. I think we have to be fairly satisfied to go to one of the form teams of the League and getting a valuable point”. More Deryn comments

Port Talbot : Rogers, De-Vulgt, Barrow, Phillips, Rees, Surman, John, Davies, Rose, McCreesh, Fahiya (Burgin 68') Subs not used: Thompson, Bansor, Healey.

Town : N Thomas, R Hughes, Hudgell, Palmer, Dodds, K Thomas, Walters, Smothers, Fowler, C Hughes, Cotterrall Subs not used: D Thomas, Hicks, Roberts.

Attendance: 222 Referee: Ceri Richards