08.03.08 Carmarthen Town 0 Aberystwyth Town 3

A double save by Aberystwyth Town keeper David Jones on 24 minutes proved a defining moment in this Welsh Premier league encounter.

Having been rocked by a third minute opener from the visitors Town were just about getting a toehold in the game when Jones first denied Gregg Coombes and then Danny Thomas before Aber broke to add a second and with it got a stranglehold on the game that Town never really looked like breaking.

Aber’s third, just on the stroke of half time, all but finished the game as a contest and with Town failing to find any inventiveness or momentum the visitors maintained control to extend their recent run of good form.

The lacklustre performance seesTown's European aspirations all but evaporate as Brace’s men suffered a disappointing second League defeat that the manager found embarrassing.

“We have to put it down to a very, very embarrassing night. Not just for individuals, the performance, everything about it was not what is expected of each and every player.

“The most disappointing game of the season. Even after the two games against Brann when we conceded a lot of goals the heart was still there, the passion was there to stay in games but tonight it was a complete switch off,” he added.

Without the suspended trio of Jamal Easter, Neil and Chris Thomas Town clearly missed the influence of key players. And with Town’s backline continually harassed by an in-form Geoff Kellaway the visitors held the initiative from the off.

Having pick pocketed possession from a Town throw in Matthew Roberts' run down the left provided for the unmarked Andy Evans to head back in beyond the keeper to set the game up for the visitors.

Town struggled to contain a sharp Aber outfit with Roberts playing out well from deep. Typical early exchanges saw the visitors better at passing and moving, better at defending and sharper to the ball.

But following the opening quarter Town showed some signs of a fight back. Nathan Cotterrall’s volley from a cleared Paul Keddle free kick flew just wide and Paul Fowler’s strong runs produced some momentum down the middle.

Then on 24 minutes with Town eying a leveller Jones denied Coombes' volley then dived to his left to block Danny Thomas' follow up. Having snuffed out the threat Aber broke to double the tally.

Indecision in Town's back line saw a ball-in only half cleared and with the keeper committed on the edge of the box Gareth Hughes had the simplest of tasks in front of an empty goal to make it 2-0 and stamp the visitor’s authority on the game.

With the break approaching Danny Thomas broke down the middle and, having played in Tim Hicks on the left, Sacha Walters somehow failed to connect with the striker's cross when well placed and a clear cut chance to reduce the deficit passed.

Again the visitors broke in numbers from deep. And with Kellaway once again turning the defence he played in Geraint Passmore who fired passed Mark Poole to give Aber a commanding half time advantage.

Lacking cohesion and conceding possession far too frequently Town failed to make any real impression on the game as the Seasiders continued to control proceedings following the break.

With fifteen minutes remaining Aber were reduced to ten men when Matthew Roberts was dismissed for a second yellow. But with the game more or less won, it made little difference as Aberystwyth reprised their Loosemore’s Cup score line over Town.

The Park Avenue outfit are now four games undefeated and with Town condemned to a disappointing second consecutive league defeat Brace is determined that everyone, including the suspended players, have to take collective responsibility. Did having three players unavailable make a difference?

“It’s the easy excuse. We would have liked for them to have been available and had they been available they would have played. In that respect they have to take as much of the responsibility as those that played. I’d like to think that had they been involved we wouldn’t have had his result, which makes it worse.

Brace felt that the second goal signalled the likely course of the outcome. “Had we managed to get back in there things weren’t looking too bad at that stage. The second goal went in and it was a case of - we need character, we need people to dig trenches because you could see number three, number four and number five going in.

Brace’s priority now is clearly next Saturday’s visit to Caersws.

“I think there are a few bruised egos in there in terms of football character. We need to have that strong will to win. We need to see that against Caersws where it will be a huge battle. They’re one place off the relegation places so obviously they’re looking for every point because it’s getting very close down there at the bottom.

“Every game now is important because the last performance wasn’t good enough. We’ve got to get the basics and the attitude right to maintain our League position.”

Town: Poole, Hughes (Cattlin 77'), Smothers, Coombes (Morris 62'), Hancock, Keddle, D Thomas, Hicks, Fowler, Walters, Cotterrall Sub not used: Brace.

Aberystwyth: Jones, James, M Roberts, Thomas, Edwards, Cadwallader, Kellaway, Passmoe (S Roberts 84'), A Evans, Sherbon, Hughes Subs not used: Morgan, R Evans

Referee D Adie Attendance 354


Birthday Boy Brace Breaks Caersws Bogie

15.03.08 Caersws FC 1 Carmarthen Town 2

Birthday boy Deryn Brace broke his Caersws bogie with a well taken win that will restore confidence following two straight defeats.

In very difficult conditions both teams entertained and despite having the edge in quality throughout Town conceded a number of set pieces in the closing quarter as the hosts rallied for a late equaliser.

But with stand-in keeper Mark Poole in commanding form under the high ball Town’s defence held firm and the Richmond Park outfit took a well deserved win. Brace, who has never been on a winning side at the Recreation Ground, was more than happy to unwrap a birthday win.

“Today was pleasing because of the result, the result was everything. To win away at Caersws we’ve had to scrap it out. We knew it was going to be very, very difficult and we managed to do it. I think the manner in which we did it gives us encouragement to take on to the next few games.”

“Although the game was tight I think we were the side that was a little bit more dominant and purposeful in terms of looking for that victory and on that I thought we fully deserved it.” He added.

Brace felt that his side had shown character, “To go a goal down early on being fairly comfortable in the game is a setback. But they showed a lot of character to get it back on level terms, come up with a great winner and then to hold out for the three points.”

Town started brightly. But against the run of play Graham Evans put the Bluebirds ahead on 9 minutes after Mark Griffiths dispossessed Chris Thomas and then won a 50-50 with Neil Smothers on the edge of the box before playing in Caersws’ trump card.

Brace handed youth player Ben Morris a starting debut and the youngster had a hand in both Town goals. Having won possession in midfield he released Chris Thomas down the flank. Making up for his earlier error he provided a well-weighted cross for Danny Thomas to volley home his 16th strike of the season and bring Town level on 18 minutes.

Despite Caersws’ Andy Mulliner being the busiest of the keepers Poole was forced to make a point blank save from Aaron Edwards, with Liam Hancock clearing the line, and just before the break he touched over Evans’ diagonal shot after a penetrating run from Andy Davies.

With Sacha Walters replacing Phil Cattlin just after the break Town took the lead half way through the second period. A short five metre pass from Morris to the surging Paul Fowler provided momentum and with Danny Thomas playing back to Paul Keddle on the edge of the box the midfielder fired a glorious curling shot into the top corner of the net. A worthy winner for any game.

Despite deteriorating conditions there was no lack of effort or endeavour as Fowler produced a strong run through the middle with Mulliner pushing the shot wide. But with Evans and Edwards orchestrating the Bluebirds attack Town conceded a string of worrying set pieces late on.

Poole handled the high ball with confidence and with an Evans free kick rebounding off Town’s defensive wall he did well to hold the front man’s follow up volley. But with Town regaining the initiative they got back on track with a deserved win condemning the hosts, who are hovering perilously just above the relegation places, to a fifth straight defeat.

Brace was satisfied that his squad had learnt lessons from recent setbacks. “The result against Aberystwyth hurt very, very much. You can’t get it back and the boys accepted that it was totally unacceptable. They knew that they had to go out today and prove themselves again. “

“We were in a little bit of a ‘no win’ situation. Caersws are fighting for their lives; the pitch wasn’t what we’d want to play the free flowing football that we’re used to on. It was a case of scrapping it out and the players responded.”

What pleased the manager most? Obviously Ben Morris’ first start, he has deserved an opportunity and he can take a lot of encouragement from what was a steady, positive performance. We asked him to do a certain job and he didn’t let us down. He did everything we asked of him.

“He kept it simple; he broke up play when he needed to. We had a simple game plan of play forward as often as we possibly could and he did it to a tee. When players come in like he did it’s a positive situation. It gives us positives for the rest of the season and obviously next season.

But Brace was happy that all his players had contributed fully to the win. “Overall everybody did a job. It wasn’t going to be a day when players were absolutely fantastic because of the conditions but what we said was we have to cut out the mistakes, get the basics right, keep possession and play the game in the right areas in terms of their territory and that’s what we did for long periods.

“Mark Poole pulled off one crucial save when it was 1-1. It wasn’t pretty but we got the job done.”

As to the remainder of the season Brace said: I’d like to say that every game is going to be a win. We know that every one of them is winnable and we have a base to work from.

Caersws FC: Mulliner, Jones, A Davies, Reynolds, Thomas, Towers, Lewis (Slater 81'), Edwards, Evans, Griffiths, M Davies (Meredith 73') Subs: not used: Haynes, Prodger, Williams.

Carmarthen Town: Poole, Smothers, Keddle, Morris (Coombes 81'), Hancock, C Thomas, D Thomas, Hicks, Fowler, Cattlin (Walters 55'), Cotterrall Sub not used: Brace.
Attendance: 137 Referee: John Roberts

22.03.08 Carmarthen Town 2 Bangor City 1

A Danny Thomas brace, one in each half, set Town on course for the points. But with Bangor showing some late form  it took a great Neil Thomas save to deny Karl Noon’s penalty after Marc Limbert had been fouled in the box by Chris Thomas.

But the Citizens had some consolation for their late awakening when Limbert halved the deficit late on to set up a hectic finale with Town holding out to claim all three points to leap frog Bangor to regain fourth spot in the table. Manager Deryn Brace was delighted with the outcome

“Absolutely delighted with the result. Yes the result was everything but the bonus was that we played well. I thought that we controlled the game for long periods. For a good 70-75 minutes we were on top, we were well worthy of our 2-0 advantage.

“Yes they did have a couple of opportunities but so did we. And then of course we hung on for the last 15 minutes. Neil Thomas made another penalty save which was absolutely fantastic. His record speaks for itself and we know what he’s worth to us. But after they scored I was pleased with the way we saw the game out as we kept them to scrappy kind of opportunities instead of clear cut chances”.

Brace conceded that Marc Limbert had caused Town some problems.

“Limbert is a very wise player. You don’t play for top clubs as he has without being able to do something. Because we controlled the game we didn’t see him for the first good hour then all of a sudden he picked his little hole of where he was going to do the damage and Bangor managed to get the ball to him and he started to pull the strings.

With the wind destined to be an influencing factor throughout Town had the perfect opening When Thomas picked up on Gregg Coombes diagonal, floated ball to cut inside and fire past the static keeper.

To add to the visitor’s woes midfielder Siôn Edwards was stretchered off after twelve minutes with a suspected back injury to be replaced by Les Davies.

Paul Fowler and Gregg Coombes looked in control the mid-field action but with the game lacking cohesion in the strong wind, maintaining possession proved difficult at times.

Having shown little early initiative or inventiveness Bangor beginning to establish a presence in the game as the break approached. Davies produced a powerful, mesmerising run down the length of the field only to lose out in the one-on-one with the Neil Thomas who had returned from suspension.

At the other end Paul Smith did well to block out Thomas after good work by both Coombes and Paul Keddle but Peter Hoy also began to have an influence on the right with his long throw-ins and crosses from the flank.

On the stroke of half time Town had a timely let off when Bangor’s best chance to level went begging. Limbert rounded Town’s cover and his driven ball across the face of the goal was missed by the outstretched Ashley Stott and Karl Noon as Town maintained the slim lead to the break.

Following the resumption the wind continued to be a factor but a point blank save at the expense of a corner by Smith denied Danny Thomas after Chris Thomas and Phil Cattlin had combined well down the right.

But in a crowded box Thomas glanced home Coombes’ set piece to give Town some daylight equalling Richard Parker’s long standing 18 goals in a season record with five minutes of the half gone.

On the hour Keddle’s weaving run down the left was denied by Smith as Town looked to kill the game off. But with Sacha Walters replacing Cattlin with a quarter of the game remaining Limbert became more influential having switched to the left hand side.

With pressure mounting Chris Thomas was adjudged to have fouled Limbert but Noon’s penalty was well saved by Thomas and Town, thankfully, maintained the two goal tally.

Dave Swanick replaced Lee Webber and with Town somewhat under the cosh Bangor had some consolation for their efforts when a great through ball from Davies saw Limbert penetrate the cover and fire past Thomas to halve the deficit with four minutes of time remaining.

In a tense and hectic closing period Town held out for a full quota of points that sees them leap frog the visitors to regain fourth spot and keep some hopes of a European showing alive.

Whilst Thomas will be happy to have equalled Parker’s long standing tally and Ryan Nicholls’ 34 goal total Brace will look to maintain Town’s momentum for the remaining three games.

“Hopefully it will go right down to the wire. Obviously we still need favours. We need Rhyl to do us a favour in the cup. Importantly we need to finish fourth but the other teams will want to get there themselves and I’m pretty sure that as far down as Aberystwyth haven’t written off anything”.

“Port Talbot in our next game and is going to be vital. It’s going to be the same as tonight with both sides knowing that the win is going to be precious to them but obviously we know that we certainly can’t loose it”.

At this stage people start to compare the different run-ins. Did the manager think there was any point?

“To be honest I think with the last few games everything goes out the window. Everyone is planning for next season; everyone is trying to get momentum going to take into next season, and some teams are fighting to survive”.

“Where we are concerned you look at Port Talbot and then you might say, because where the other teams are in the league, get through Port Talbot and we’ll be OK but I think we’ve found to our cost that the teams at the bottom have hindered us most this season”.

Who pleased the manager most on Saturday night?

“Overall the two centre halves Liam and Smudger stood up to a lot of long balls very direct. Les Davies is one of the better centre forwards in the division and they coped with him very, very well. I think they only let him out of their sight once and they were very good”.

“We needed that to give us any chance because the backbone has to be good. Paul Fowler and Gregg played as well as they have for a long time and in the first half particularly Danny and Tim worked tirelessly and won a lot of second balls. Our game plan can then move on once you get the basics right”.

The manager’s MOTM? “Overall I would probably give it to Neil Smothers for his work rate and commitment. For Bangor for that last 20 minute spell Marc Limbert.

Town: N Thomas, Smothers, Keddle, Coombes, Hancock, C Thomas, D Thomas (Easter 79'), Hicks, Fowler, Cattlin (Walters 67'), Cotterrall. Subs not used: Brace, Morris.

Bangor City: Smith, Hoy, Beattie, Johnston, Webber (Swanick 84'), Seargeant, Limbert, Walsh, Noon, Stott, Edwards (Davies 12').Subs not used: Killackey, McGinness.

Attendance: 360                   Referee: Mark Whitby