26.03.04
Carmarthen Town 2 Afan Lido FC 1

Two stunning first half goals by Mark Evans and Owen Thomas gave a resurgent and resilient Carmarthen Town a full quota of points against a strong and well-organised Afan Lido side last Friday night.

With Chris Pridham pulling one back for the visitors just before the break the game remained finally balanced throughout but Town’s commitment and determination saw the Richmond Park outfit record their third win of the season.

Town manager Andrew York was delighted with the result.

“Recent results have been very promising and tonight we built on that. We scored two great goals and when Lido came at us our commitment and determination was first class.

“We readjusted after half time. We sacrificed Dale Price and used him to mark their winger who had caused a few problems. It worked and we were quite comfortable”.

Following a frantic opening quarter defender Mark Evans put Town ahead on 16 minutes when, following a Nick Burke throw-in, Michael Hayward’s pinpoint cross found Evans unmarked at the back of the box for the defender to head home powerfully to give Town the start they needed.

Fifteen minutes later Town went further ahead when Dale Price picked up on a Leigh de Vulgt free kick out wide and having laid the ball off to Owen Thomas the young midfielder blasted a ‘screamer’ past keeper Brian Thomas’ from a full 25 yards to make it two nil to the hosts.

Lido were stung into action as they looked to reduce the deficit. With Shaun O’Leary, and Sacha Walters ensuring that Town did not sit comfortably on their lead and with Andrew Pearson a constant threat Town were forced to defend for long periods.

Steve Parry was denied by a point blank save from Town keeper Tony Pennock on 37 minuets. The visitors continued to press before Pridham finally pulled one back with five minutes of the half remaining. Having seen his initial shot blocked by the commanding Pennock, Pridham quickly latched on to the rebound and with his drive taking a cruel deflection forced the ball home past the stranded keeper.

Following the break Town readjusted to limit Pearson’s effectiveness. The momentum of the game slowed but with Walters always an option out wide Lido were still capable of some dangerous breaks and it was Pennock’s fearless save at the feet of substitute John Felton that denied Lido an equaliser on 68 minutes.

Chances were few and far between. Then with ten minutes remaining the alarm bells rang as Pennock was adjudged to have held on to the ball too long and referee Nigel Richards awarded the visitors a free kick inside the area.

With Pennock having mustered the whole of his team behind him on the goal line the shot was blocked and moments later Price’s well-taken corner was cleared off the Afan Lido line and Town maintained their advantage to collect all three very valuable points.

This important win sees Town now within touching distance of Welshpool Town and manager Andrew York will be looking to close the gap further when Town visit Maes Y Dre in a fortnight’s time (10.04.04).

Carmarthen Town : Pennock, Evans, Hayward, de Vulgt, York, Barnhouse, Thomas, Jones, Burke, Price, Moore. Subs not used: Lewis, Fayers, Reid.

20.03.04

CARMARTHEN TOWN 0 RHYL FC 0

Having gone 24 games undefeated Rhyl FC came up against a resurgent and defiant Carmarthen Town who battled every inch of the way to gain a deserved share of the spoils against one of the League's title contenders.

Once again Town showed character and determination and with Andrew York policing the League’s top scorer Andy Moran with considerable success Town rarely let their illustrious opponents gain the upper hand despite some considerable possession.

“I asked for a committed performance and that is exactly what I got. The players were fully committed to the task, we won a lot of second ball, and in the end I thought we had the better chances. That was all I could ask of the boys.

“I think we now look like a team and we work well as an unit. Our record speaks for itself. We have only dropped one of our last seven games and today we kept a clean sheet against the League’s top scoring side.

In a wind affected game both sides had to adapt to the difficult conditions. The visitors enjoyed the early possession and with the wind adding pace to the ball Town keeper Tony Pennock had to deal with some early stinging shots as Marc Limbert pumped powerful crosses into the Town box.

Town’s back line proved effective in limiting Rhyl’s formidable strike force of Moran, Gareth Powell and Chris Adamson but when the visitors were awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area just before the half hour mark it was a superb save from the in-form Pennock that denied Limbert an opener as the free-kick specialist bent the ball around Town’s defensive line-up.

Town gained confidence and Dale Price became more influential, providing an effective link between Town’s mid-field and attack as he, Owen Thomas and Nick Burke conjured up several opportunities of their own.

With half time beckoning Rhyl again applied pressure but it remained goalless at the break.

Following some early possession to the visitors Town’s Adam Moore became prominent with his quality distribution and on 57 minutes came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock.

With Burke having taken a quick throw-in Price found Moore in front of goal but his effort inexplicably went over.

Town were having the best of the exchanges. Substitute Rhys Jones produced a couple of weaving runs through the Rhyl defence and a Burke free kick curled just wide of the upright.

On the 65-minute mark Town had a golden chance denied as following a quickly taken corner Price’s cross to the far post found York whose powerful, goal-bound, header was cleared off the line by the covering Limbert.

At the other end Town survived a goal-mouth scramble with Leigh de Vulgt getting the final clearance and moments later Rhyl’s Robbie Wood hit a cross cum shot that went across the face of the goal and just wide of Pennock’s upright under the influence of the swirling wind.

With the game ending goalless the clean sheet and hard won point will give Town confidence that they are able to compete with the best. The visitors too will be content with the result having come through a difficult game to reclaim the League leadership.

Carmarthen Town : Pennock, de Vulgt, Hayward (Jones 64’), Barnhouse, York, Evans, Thomas, Rossiter, Burke, Price, Moore. Subs: Fayers, Davies.

13.03.04

Connah’s Quay Nomads 1 Carmarthen Town 1

With Town having taken the lead courtesy of a Dale Price goal just before the half hour mark it was a late strike by seasoned Welsh Premier campaigner Stuart Rain that levelled the score for Connah’s Quay Nomads with only six minutes remaining.

Whilst Town came tantalisingly close to a full quota of points the draw sees Town gain another valuable point in their efforts to widen the gap between themselves and bottom placed Barry Town who were without a game last weekend.

Town made the long journey to North Wales in the knowledge that they would face two of the League’s top scorers in Tommy Mutton and the experienced Rain and with Town’s defence ensuring that there was no farewell celebration for Mutton, on what may well have been his final game for the Nomads, it was his veteran partner Rain who produced the equaliser for the Deeside based outfit.

Despite the hosts having the best of the early exchanges Town went ahead against the run of play after 29 minutes. Price latched on to a through ball and seeing Nomads keeper Andy Hughes off his line the young striker hit a well judged 25-yard effort over the advancing keeper’s head to find the net and give Town the lead.

This gave RSU sponsored Carmarthen Town confidence and although Connah’s Quay Nomads continued to press, making the most of the wind at their backs, Andrew York and David Barnhouse ensured that the hosts did not profit from their possession.

Following the break Jon Keaveny withdrew due to an ankle injury but with Owen Thomas slotting into midfield and the strong wind now in their favour Town were able to take the game to the hosts.

On the hour Manager York replaced Michael Hayward with Town debutant Rhys Jones and with Nomads throwing caution to the wind they introduced Rain as a third option up front in an effort to level the score.

The late equaliser when it came rewarded the host’s enterprise. Rain’s strong run forced a corner and from the resulting set piece it was Rain once again who timed his run perfectly to head home Alan Evans’ curling cross snatching a share of the spoils for the hosts.

Despite having come within a whisker of a full tally of points Town boss Andrew York was very up beat.

“Yes it was disappointing to concede so late but it was a great performance by the lads. They showed great determination and commitment.

“It was certainly a well deserved point and had we been offered it before hand we would undoubtedly have taken it.

“We are now far more organised. We have a better shape, the lads up front are gelling and our mid field now works as a unit. The team has some confidence and that’s very pleasing.

Town’s line-up: Pennock, de Vulgt, Hayward (Jones 58'), Barnhouse, York, Evans, Moore, Rossiter, Burke, D. Price, Keaveny (Thomas 46'). Subs not used: W. Price, T. Lewis.

06.03.04

LOOSEMORES OF CARDIFF CHALLEGE CUP - SEMI FINAL

Carmarthen Town 1 Caersws FC 0

A seventieth minute strike by substitute Owen Thomas was enough to ensure Carmarthen Town’s progression to the final of the Loosemores of Cardiff Challenge Cup at the expense of Caersws FC, double winners of the competition.

Having held the high flying ‘Bluebird’s to a goalless draw at the Recreation Ground Town had everything to play for and manager Andrew York was delighted at the outcome.

“I thought we deserved the result. We held them at their place in the first leg and I thought we did a great job today.

“The win will give everyone at the club a lift and the lads a great deal of confidence. The effort was excellent. We will look to build on this win and I’m confident it will give us some momentum for the remainder of our League campaign.

Following an uneventful and evenly balanced opening quarter that saw both teams probing cautiously the game came to life on the twenty-minute mark as Caersws’ Chris Venables rounded Town’s defence only to see his deft lob over the committed Tony Pennock cleared off the line by Andrew York.

A long range effort from Andrew Davies minutes later drew the best out of Pennock and with Thomas’ speculative shot at the other end going narrowly over there were few clear cut chances for either side.

Town’s unfamiliar line up of five across the middle proved effective as Dale Price, Nick Burke and new signing Michael Hayward conspired to weave a way through the visiting defence but there was little to separate the sides at the break.

The second half saw the visitors take the early initiative and although they enjoyed the majority of the possession they rarely threatened Pennock’s goal.

Geraint Lewis produced some strong runs down the middle but with Town’s back line in commanding form the threat was contained and Town began to exert themselves on the game.

Burke was in the thick of the action and when Hayward forced a corner with twenty-five minutes remaining the visitors looked less assured as they found difficulty in clearing Town’s mounting pressure.

The tie was settled in the 70th. minute. John Keaveny, who had played in an unaccustomed role at right wingback, broke down the flank. His stinging shot was excellently parried by ‘Bluebird’ keeper Andy Mulliner at full stretch but the rebound fell to Thomas who’s deflected shot found the back of the net to give Town the all important advantage.

Town’s confidence became visible. Another strike from Thomas’ flew agonisingly wide and then when Price, who had been influential all afternoon, trapped a neat pass and turned his marker his shot was deflected wide of the open goal.

But with Caersws looking for the equaliser that would win them the tie Geraint Lewis fought tenaciously for possession and Graham Evans caused a moment or two of anxiety amongst Town’s packed defence. Then with referee Steve Hames playing an agonising five minutes of extra time Town fans endured a fraught final quarter.

With the final whistle providing a rare moment to savour for the Richmond Park faithful as a place in this year’s League Cup Final against Bangor or Rhyl was secured.