CARMARTHEN Town's League of Wales match against Caernarfon Town last Saturday was watched by Gordon brown, a former Scotland and British Lions second row forward, who must have been pleased with the fare provided by both sides on an extremely heavy and well-sanded pitch. Mr. Brown, a local rugby club guest later in the weekend, was a big hit with players and officials of both clubs with his conviviality in Town's clubhouse after the game.

The previous Wednesday's Afan Lido match was postponed due to the considerable rainfall endured in the Carmarthen area during the last month. But the ground staff of the Carmarthen Town Council, together with volunteers from within and outside the club, spearheaded by the club's operations manager Malcolm Williams, worked tirelessly on Friday and Saturday to ensure that the match was played.

However , the legacy of large deposits of sand on the pitch made conditions extremely difficult for players who nevertheless produced an entertaining match in which the visitors were extremely fortunate to return to their North Wales home with a point. The visitors started the game well, no doubt refreshed by their overnight stay at Llandeilo, and Carmarthen keeper Robert Fitzgerald did well to save at point blank range from Canaries' striker Robbie Tynan.

The home side, however, were having the slightly better of the exchanges and keeper Mark Deegan was forced to dive full length to keep out Richard Parker's 25 yard shot. Indeed Town's new signing had shown his aerial strength in the Caernarfon penalty area on a number of occasions and from one of his downwards header Paul Burrows' first time shot was brilliantly saved by Deegan. Town , however, suffered a setback in the first half when central defender Rhodri Thomas was forced to leave the field with a recurring hamsting problem, to be replaced by manager Tomi Morgan who was then forced to re-arrange the line-up.

The second half saw the home side grasping the initiative completely and some good defending by Nicky Brookman and Tynan kept their side in the game by blocking goal bound shots from Rossiter and Burrows on the line. Town also had another chance to seal the game when Richard Adams beat the off-side trap and after running half the length of the field found himself one-to-one with goalkeeper Deegan but placed his shot wide of the post. There was no doubt that the heavy conditions may have inhibited this fine young player's goal opportunity.

The visitors, however, were providing some anxious moments to Town's defence on the break but the ever reliable Mathew Cable and Stephen Evans, returning after suspension were determined not to give anything away. The final whistle came as Town rued their misfortune in not being able to find the net against a strong uncompromising side, who will provide an equally stern test when they return to Richmond Park a week on Saturday for a Welsh Cup 4th. round tie.

CARMARTHEN returned from the long trek to North Wales on Saturday more than satisfied with the three points after a most satisfactory performance. From the outset with the home side having the benefit of the strong winds Carmarthen took control of the game. As early as the tenth minute the first clear cut chance fell to the visitors' Tony Rees eho headed over from a Wyn Thomas corner.

In the 17th minute the Nomads were fortunate not to concede the first goal when Carmarthen's left wing back Wayne Jones picked up the ball close to the halfway line and outpaced the home side's defenders, his well struck left foot shot from 20 yards being tipped inches wide of the far post by keeper Phil Collister. From the resulting corner new signing Richard Parker's header was tipped over the bar and from the following corner Carmarthen defender Rhodri Thomas saw his header kicked off the line.

The home sides best opportunity of the half fell to Carl Smyth in the 19th. minute when a long through ball from Neil Fisher beat the Carmarthen defenders only for Smyth to fail to connect with only keeper Fitzgerald to beat. Carmarthen continued to dominate but were unfortunate to see Wayne Jones depart the game on half hour owing to a thigh injury. He was replaced by manager Tomi Morgan.

Morgan gave Carmarthen the lead in the 37th. minute when the Nomads keeper failed to hang on to a well struck 30yard free kick from Carmarthen defender Wyn Thomas and Morgan put the rebound into the net from close range. Connah's Quay picked up their game at the start of the second half and only a goal line clearance from Wyn Thomas prevented an equaliser. In the 80th. minute recent signing Sion Meredith replaced Tomi Morgan. Richard Adams was unlucky not to increase the lead for Carmarthen with eight minutes remaining when his shotfrom12 yards beat the keeper only to be cleared off the line.

It came as no surprise when Carmarthen scored their second two minutes from the end when new signings Richard Parker linked with Meredith for the latter to seal the victory when he tucked the ball away from six yards. Taking account of the fact that Carmarthen were without the services of regular first team players Stephen Evans Steve Williams, both through suspension, and leading goalscorer Paul Burrows having failed a fitness test an hour before kick off, the performance on the day was surely satisfying to team manager Morgan who has now seen his team pick up 10 points from five games in charge since taking over in early December.

Although all forteen Carmarthen players who took part performed admirably on the day, the pick of the team were Malcolm Vaughan, Wyn Thomas and the experienced Tony Rees who , dropping into midfield after the departure of Wayne Jones, kept control when the home side were pressing for an equalizer early in the second half.

BESET by injuries to three key defenders during last Saturday's match against Cwmbran Town, RSU sponsored Carmarthen Town's performance was the worthier as they hung in to gain a well deserved point against current second placed team in the League of Wales.

Carmarthen's first casualty was Stephen Evans who was forced to leave the field in the first half with a groin injury to be replaced by Wyn Thomas who slotted well to his unaccustomed position in the central defence. Evans was followed by Rhodri Thomas with a recurring ankle problem, and Matthew Cable who was carried from the field after being unceremoniously upended by a Crows defender who was fortunate to survive with just a yellow card from a more than lenient referee Gwilym Lewis from Caersws. Nigel Nicholas and Gethin Jones were further replacements, with Llanybydder based Jones, a product of Town's youth policy, making his League of Wales debut at the age of 17.

Town made the perfect start by scoring within three minutes when Tony Rees, making a welcome return following a three match suspension, picked up a lose ball and struck a looping shot over stranded Cwmbran keeper Pat O'Hagan to find the top corner of the net.

The home side then withstood some intense pressure from a side having been stung by this reverse and Carmarthen keeper Robert Fitzgerald was called into constant action and showed his potential with some immaculate handling of some difficult crosses beneath his bar, although this goal was fortunate to survive when Chris Summers turning on the penalty spot fired against the Carmarthen post.

The visitors however, then had O'Hagan to thank for keeping them in the game when he dramatically pulled off two successive saves from Richard Adams and Paul Burrows whose shots, if they had gone in, would surely have put the game beyond Cwmbran.

The second half continued with Town finding themselves pushed back on the defensive and in the 56th. minute Cwmbran gained an equaliser when following Chris Watkin's free kick at the edge of the box, Paul Giles found himself marked to put a fine header beyond Fitzgerald.

With Fitzgerald defiant in goal and aided by some good fortune when they forced to fanatically clear their lines the home side survived to regain their composure and could well have taken the lead when , after an almighty scramble in the Cwmbran goalmouth O'Hagan finally emerged with the ball to his side's relief. The crowd were then brought to their feet in the belief that Town had snatched the winner but Paul Burrows' half volley just cleared the bar.

Cwmbran ended the game on a high note but Town were not to be denied as they held out to gain a well deserved point against one of the stronger squads in the League of Wales.