29.01.05 Carmarthen Town 1 Cwmbran Town 1

A superb late strike from Carmarthen Town midfielder Richard Kennedy, cancelling out Kristian Hanbury's 54 minute acrobatic strike for Cwmbran Town, saw the hosts record their sixth home draw of the season in the first of two encounters with the Gwent side in the space of a week.

With neither side really dominating Carmarthen Town manager Mark Jones might be disappointed that having rattled the opposing woodwork on a couple of occasions and seen Craig Lima's header cleared off the line by Kristian James his only reward was, once again, a share of the points.

But with influential midfielder Rhodri Jones ruled out through injury and having lost the incisive Nathan Cotterall after only six minutes of play Town were unconvincing in mid-field and it was a cheeky back heal from Cwmbran's Andrew Mainwering that presented Kristian Diamond with a golden opportunity in front of goal. But with the striker somehow hitting wide Town enjoyed an early reprieve on the quarter hour.

Kristian Hanbury posed problems for Town with his strong running from mid field but it took desperate defending by the Crows, with Paul Coughlin in the middle of the back line in impressive form all afternoon, to clear Lima's header off the line on the half hour as the visitors struggled to deal with a Gary Lloyd free kick from wide out.

A minute later with Cwmbran's goalmouth still under siege Mark Dodds' looping header beat custodian Gareth Wesson but glanced off the upright following an excellent cross from Richard Carter. With the game being played mainly in the middle of the park it remained goalless at the break.

The second half saw Martyn Giles' header from a Lloyd free kick glance Wesson's bar whilst at the other end keeper Tony Pennock was forced to tip over Coughlin's header from Diamond's set piece for the visitors.

But it was the Crows who broke the deadlock. With Town struggling to clear a free kick from wide out on the right Simon Heal returned the ball back into the box and Hanbury's speculative overhead kick found the net to give the visitors the lead on 54 minutes

Town, with some urgency in their play, pushed forward. Lloyd's set pieces posed numerous problems for the visitors and with Giles unable to evade Lloyd's low, goal-bound bullet of a strike it looked ominously as if the visiting goal line would remain intact.

With fifteen minutes remaining Jeff Aspell was introduced for Chris Summers up front and with Luke Hardy replacing the struggling Carter at the back Town looked to maintain the momentum in search of an equaliser

Then with five minutes remaining Cwmbran lost the ball to Kennedy who carried through the middle and struck a swerving ball from 30 yards to deceive Wesson and find the net.

Despite finishing the stronger Town were unable to find a winner and will now look to put League considerations behind them as they focus on the Welsh Cup fourth round tie against the same opponents next Saturday.

Carmarthen Town ; Pennock, Carter (Hardy 80'), Lloyd, Giles, Chiverton, Kennedy, Summers (Aspell 75'), Burke, Lima, Dodds, Cotteral (Evans 6'). Subs not used : Morris, Carter.

Cwmbran Town : Wesson, Thomas, James, Welsh, Coughlin, Fowler, Heal, Diamond, Hanbury, Mainwaring, Hurlin. Subs not used : Mohamed, Perry, Edwards.

Attendance : 324. Referee Andy Woodthorpe.

15.01.05 Carmarthen Town 1 NEWI Cefn Druids 1

Despite a Chris Summers strike in the second minute of the game giving Carmarthen Town the best possible start the hosts failed to build on their early dominance to break down a vulnerable but battling NEWI Cefn Druids side.

With the Town spurning several opportunities the visitors gained in confidence and when Andrew Edgar was played through by Paul McDonnell the young mid-fielder took his chance well to strike past Tony Pennock and level the score with five minutes of the first half remaining.

Town manager Mark Jones was disappointed with his side's fifth home draw. “There are good draws and bad. The draws against Lido and Welshpool were good as we could easily have lost. But the others were bad as we should have won and today's was one of those.

Having seemingly started the New Year in good form Town struggled in the middle of the park. With Gary Lloyd and Craig Lima suspended and Rhodri Jones twisting his ankle during warm-up, withdraw minutes before kick off, Town lacked the drive and cohesion to impose themselves on the game.

Following his opener Summers struck again after ten minutes, netting Kevin Evans' blocked shot but with referee Ellingham signalling for offside there was no addition to the score sheet.

Nathan Cotteral on the left and Richard Carter on the right kept the visiting defence at full stretch and with Mark Dodds winning the aerial battle up-front Town dominated the opening half hour.

Druids foraged well for the loose ball and as the half progressed Sam Baker and Alec Stacey began to threaten on the break.

Dodds' screamer of a shot was parried for a corner but with Town a little complacent Edgar levelled the score against the run of play and suddenly the hosts had little to show for their considerable control.

Town continued to press and on the stroke of half time should have regained the initiative. Neat play by Summers put Evans through on goal but with the mid-fielder electing to play the ball back in to his provider rather than strike himself Town's marksman was crowded out as the defence hasty recovered.

The second half saw Druids make the most of their limited options as Stacey distributed well and Edgar headed inches wide when he picked up on Eston Chiverton' headed clearance following a Druids free kick.

But for Summers' it was to be a frustrating afternoon as he netted off the post to be ruled offside again and when both Richard Kennedy and Cotterall provided well from the bye-line the close marking of the visiting defence prevented him from turning closing out his strikes on gaol.

With Town's frustration mounting and Druids, with their extra man in mid field, picking up the loose ball the game lacked cohesion as both sides squandered possession.

Druids broke Town's stranglehold on the hour exploiting room on the right and the largely redundant Pennock did well to deny McDonnell's well driven shot from a narrow angle.

With twenty minutes remaining Luke Hardy and Jeff Aspell were introduced but with a sea of black and white shirts succeeding in keeping out several point blank shots, Dodds' header crashing off the bar and his excellent pass to Summers volleyed wide of the target the packed Druids defence held tight.

Then with the game into time added-on it was Druids' eighteen year old keeper Louis Mackin who frustrated Town's forward line one final time when he saved Summers' vicious shot at point blank range ensuring that the hosts were left to rue a string of missed opportunities.

Carmarthen Town Pennock,R.Carter, Giles, Smothers, Chiverton, Kennedy (Hardy 70'), Summers, Burke, Aherne-Evans (Aspell 72'), Dodds,Cotterrall. Subs not used: Jones, K.Carter, Morris.

NEWI Cefn Druids Mackin, McDonnell, Dabbs, Rowlands, Dunn, Baker, Edgar, Stacey, Hayder, McLean , A.Williams. Subs not used: Ward, Thompson, Beattie.

Attendance: 348 Referee: R J Ellingham

01.01.04 Carmarthen Town 4 Haverfordwest 2

With four goals, three points and the return of club captain Rhodri Jones Carmarthen Town made the best possible start to the New Year. And, with both sides contributing hugely to a derby game that provided plenty of entertainment and excitement, Town put behind them a run of drawn home games with a deserved and much needed win against near neighbours Haverfordwest County in the difficult weather conditions.

Haverfordwest settled first and Town's woeful early defending gifting the visitors a dream start when the unmarked Tim Hicks netted after only four minutes from a Richie Adams touchline cross to put the Bluebirds ahead.

With Town manager Mark Jones having made several changes to his line-up reputations were at stake and Town quickly regained momentum levelling the score just after the quarter hour when Craig Lima nodded home a Kevin Evan's corner.

Eston Chiverton's deft little chip kept visiting keeper Lee Kendall on his toes. But with a complete mix-up in defence Town were living dangerously as Hicks nearly exploited Town's disarray and when Richie Adams picked up on Tony Pennock's weak clearance it needed a goal line clearance from Richard Carter to steady the host's nerves.

Little quarter was asked or given as Town pushed forward. Kendall produced a fine double save from Evans' strike and a follow up snap shot and minutes later he palmed Cotteral's low strike superbly around the post with the wing man having produced a classy shimmy to beat Dylan Blain his marker. Then with the visiting defence at full stretch and under mounting pressure Martyn Giles' was denied by the cross bar following a cross from Gary Lloyd.

With the game finely balanced Haverfordwest defender Wyn Thomas, having retuned to the side following suspension, was red carded by referee Steve Hames for dissent. Having lost the influential Thomas the visitors faced a huge task and with Jones and Neil Smothers making Town tick in midfield, it was not long before the hosts exploited their numerical advantage.

Lima grabbed his brace to put Town ahead on 42 minutes. Jones played a neat little squared ball into the path of his fellow mid-fielder Smothers who's low drive rebounded off the post for the tall striker to net into a gaping goal with Kendall beaten.

But on the stroke of half time the Bluebirds were back in contention as Wayne Jones' in-swinging corner took a deflection off Lloyd to make it 2-2 at the break providing some impetus for the visitors.

Following the interval the game became a little disjointed for a period. But with Chris Summers replacing Aspell up front and Jones' drive and energy spurring his side on Town went ahead again on the hour.

A squared ball across the middle from Cotteral enabled right back Richard Carter, who had passed a late fitness test just before the game, to open up space down the middle and having played a neat one-two with Summers his low strike from 20 yards found the corner of Kendall's goal.

Lee Hudgell and Adams caused problems for the home defence with their pace and tenacity and when Hudgell out flanked the home defence his bullet of a low cross evaded the in-rushing Hicks by the narrowest of margins.

But when Wayne Jones brought down Town's captain on the edge of the box referee Hames awarded a penalty and with Lloyd burying the spot kick Town had a comfortable cushion with which to play out the remainder of this first ever New Year's day derby game.

Manager Mark Jones was delighted with his side's win. “ It was a very big win for us and the lads did really well, especially in mid-field. I thought we won all our individual battles . That for me was the big factor.”

Haverfordwest's manager Deryn Brace was naturally disappointed . “ I really thought that we would get something out of today's game. I couldn't ask for more from my lads”.

Carmarthen Town: Pennock, Carter, Lloyd, giles, Chiverton, Jones(Burke 77'), Evans, Smothers, Lima (Dodds 77'), Aspell (Summers 58'), Cotterall.

Haverfordwest County: Kendall, Brace, Jones, Cattlin, Thomas, Barnhouse, Blain, Hicks, Adams (Jones 86'), Palmer (Woodrow 86'), Hudgell (Rossiter 74).

Attendance : 619Referee: S.C. Hames