12.02.11 LLANELLI 4 CARMARTHEN TOWN 1
With a score line that tells its own story a Rhys Griffiths hat trick and a further strike by Craig Williams gave the reds a comfortable. With Nick Harry’s first half strike Town’s only reply there was no addition to the points tally for the Richmond Park outfit ahead of the mid season split.
With the Reds already assured of a super six spot Town proved generous in defence and gifted the Reds front man an opener on 19 minutes when a Chris Thomas cross to the far post was inexplicably headed across goal by Town midfielder, Nicky Palmer, into the path of Griffiths to net from point blank range.
Earlier
Griffiths glanced a header wide from a floated cross by Ashley Evans, and then fired a free kick into the wall which was denied by a defensive block before he broke the deadlock on 19 minutes.
The hosts continued to dictate with Williams and Owain Warlow both having half chances before Griffiths extended the lead on 32 minutes when, with a hint of offside, he found himself free on the edge of the box to turn in a cut-back from Antonio Corbisiero.
Town keeper Mike Lewis did well to turn clear away a Corbisiero drive and to their credit the Old Gold fought back with a surging run down the left hand side by Palmer who crossed the ball into the path of Nick Harrhy to score comfortably and halve the deficit with seven minutes remaining.
Indeed Town could have gone in level at half time as Kieran Howard broke through only to be thwarted by the legs of Ashley Morris in the Llanelli goal. But Griffiths could have extended the lead when a superb cross-field ball by Williams which set him free with only the goalkeeper to beat. But, with Lewis equal to the task, he denied the front man with a block.
Following the resumption the hosts extended their lead. With a corner only partially cleared the ball fell to fell to Williams, some twenty yards out, and he despatched a well struck volley beyond Lewis into the back of the net.
Corbisiero fired just wide of the near post when Griffiths laid on a chance, while at the other end Morris did well to prevent substitute Steffan Williams from scoring with Stuart Jones tidying up at the expense of a corner. A timely interception by Lee Bevan nicked the ball from the head of Griffiths who was poised to meet a Williams cross.
But the front man was not to be denied his hat trick on 74 minutes when he latched on to a Chris Venables through ball and, having brushed aside a Town defender, struck low underneath Lewis to put the game beyond Town.
Late on Town were reduced to ten men when Lee Jenkins was dismissed for a second yellow card. And, with the Reds comfortably in fourth, the Richmond Park outfit will rue their defensive frailties as they now look to challenge for a play off spot in the second half of the season.
Llanelli AFC: A Morris, C Thomas, A Evans, C Venables, S Jones, W Thomas (L Jones 83'), O Warlow, A Corbisiero (J Bowen 71'), R Griffiths, C Holloway (J Follows 62'), C Williams Subs not used: Andy Legg, Adam Orme
Town: M Lewis, L Jenkins, S Evans, R Hughes, L Bevan, K Howard, C Thomas (D Sheehan 46'), T Hicks, N Harrhy (S Williams 46'), N Palmer, S Pockett Subs not used: M Davies, T Harding, O Ardolino Attendance: 171 Referee: Dean John
19.02.11 CARMARTHEN TOWN 1 AIRBUS UK BROUGHTON 2
A disappointing start to the playoff conference for Town as a Gavin Cadwallader header, just after the hour, proved the difference between the two sides as the visitors opened up a five-point lead on the hosts to leap frog Aberystwyth into seventh.
A bitterly disappointed Tomi Morgan told Y Dre ar Y We, "Yes I'm very disappointed. Again we count the cost of defensive mistakes. When you don't mark and don't defend, your punished. Airbus punished us today”.
“It’s not just about the defence. It’s an equal responsibility. It's as much about the forwards and missed chances as it is poor defending. Forwards have to take their chances. We missed a few sitters today”.
“No I don’t think we lack confidence. We have plenty of belief. We created, we competed. I think we should have had something to show for our efforts today”.
Morgan was without suspended duo Darren Griffiths and Lee Jenkins and the unavailable Nicky Palmer but boosted by the return of Andy Evans and Geraint Passmore from injury. Airbus on the other hand paraded no less than five new signings that included former Manchester United and QPR youngster Niki-Lee Bulmer in goal.
In a bright start Town were denied by the bar after only four minutes. Richard Dorman brought down Geraint Passmore on the edge of the D and Leon Clowes just got a touch to deflect a Sacha Walters goal-bound free kick. Town then had two confident shouts for a penalty waved away by Mr. Jones before an Ian Sheridan strike and a Clowes free kick were fired straight at Town keeper Mike Lewis.
Airbus broke the deadlock on 16 minutes. Following a sharp break down the left Ryan Edwards and Sheridan played a neat one-two before Edwards curled the ball into the far top corner of the net, somewhat against the run of play.
Ten minutes later and Town were back on level terms. Dan Sheehan, playing on the right of midfield, broke down the flank before sending in a cross that debutant keeper Bulmer could only parry. But with Sacha Walters on hand to net the loose ball it was 1-1.
With chances at both ends Passmore and Walters came close for Town. But whilst a Sheridan effort was well blocked, Lewis had to quick off the mark to beat Eddie Hope to the rebound as it remained all square at the break.
Following the resumption Town saw their early pressure scrambled clear as the game became a little ragged. On the hour, as the Wingmakers struggled to clear a corner, Stephen Pockett’s powerful low drive was cleared off the line by Edwards and with Town continuing to press Passmore’s strike following a Walters break was well held by Bulmer.
Then with Airbus surging down the right Steve Evans was adjudged to have committed a foul and from Tom McCready’s curling free kick Cadwallader headed in unopposed for what proved to be the winner.
Airbus could well have added a third when McCreedy latched on to a defence splitting overhead kick before losing out to Lewis in a one-on-one. And it took a brave goal line block from the covering Richard Hughes to deny Sheridan after the former Colwyn Bay striker had broken through and rounded the keeper.
With Town pushing forward in search of an equaliser a corner ball from Walters got trapped under Kieran Howard’s foot before Tim Hicks chipped the ball over keeper and bar after a strike from substitute Andy Evans was blocked in a crowded area.
But it was Sheehan who spurned a golden chance for a late Town leveller when he inexplicably sent his effort, in front of an open goal, wide of the mark with ten minutes remaining. And with Lewis beating away an angled injury time volley from substitute Nick Rushton Town were left to rue the cost of missed chances and some slack defending.
Town: M Lewis, R Hughes, S Evans, L Hancock (D Griffiths 46'), L Bevan (C Thomas 85'), K Howard, S Pockett, T Hicks, D Sheehan, G Passmore (A Evans 71'), S Walters Subs not used: T Harding, S Williams
Airbus: N Bulmer, R Dorman, R Edwards, L Clowes, G Cadwallader, J Leah (N Rushton 85'), E Hope, D Desormeaux, I Sheridan, T McCready, P McManus Subs not used: M Allan, P Clarke, J Davies, R Nash Attendance: 282 Referee: Huw Jones
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