06.03.10 Port Talbot Town 0 Carmarthen Town 1

A Neil Smothers driven volley from the edge of the 18-yard line on sixty-five minutes gave Town all three points as the Richmond Park outfit extended their on-the-road form to nine games undefeated. Having ridden their luck a couple of times in the first half Town pressed after the break and maintaining possession for considerable periods they inflicted only the second home defeat on the GenQuip Stadium outfit.

Manager Deryn Brace was pleased with his side’s disciplined performance. “Every game is massive every point is crucial. It doesn’t matter who we play we have to play to our maximum and take as many points as possible. Today we can take heart from a good performance and a great result.

“The team discipline pleased me. It had to be spot on for ninety minutes. Port Talbot’s record of seven clean sheets in twelve home games says it all. They do not give goals away. Rhyl, Bangor and TNS have gone there and lost. Llanelli couldn’t win there. It’s a very difficult place to go and get a result”.

With Liam McCreesh suspended Neil Thomas returned for the hosts. Sacha Walters was given a start for Town on the right and with Craig Hanford injured Nathan Cotterrall took up the left back berth with Dyfan Pierce playing forward on the left side of mid-field. Defending a series of free kicks and Daniel Thomas long throws Town were put under some early pressure. Walters had a good effort on target from the edge of the D after Richard Hughes had provided from the flank, but it was the host who created the better opportunities.

Martin Rose was denied by the bar on thirteen minutes after Scott Barrow had pulled the ball back from the bye line. And Town keeper Neil Thomas was forced to finger tip a second effort over as Lee John and Barrow broke dangerously down the flank on a couple of occasions. But with Dale Griffiths and Chris Thomas getting to grips with the Port Talbot forward threat Town competed well and it remained goalless at the break.

Following the resumption Walters fired on target and Craig Hughes became influential. Just before the hour Hughes played in Pierce whose side footed effort was anticipated well by Lee Kendall going down to his right. Town continued to press and Kendall did well to claw away Hughes' well-placed diagonal shot at the expense of a corner after the front man had beaten Matthew Rees and Lee Surman. From the resulting flag kick Town corralled the hosts before Smothers found the net after Hughes had played the ball back from the box.

With the Steelmen stung they went looking for the equaliser but Town stood firm maintaining momentum. With fifteen minutes remaining the Steelmen forced a series of corners and when the ball was played-in with pace from the flank for Rose the front man’s diving header flew across an open goal and beyond the back post to safety Then with five minutes left on the clock and Port Talbot pushing forward in a last gasp effort Neil Thomas did well to get his hand to his namesake’s deflected goal bound ball as Town closed out six minutes of injury time to register a deserved double over the high flying Steelmen.

Brace added, “I thought the back four were immense especially the two centre halves. We can’t underestimate the role that Richard Hughes and Nathan Cotterrall played. Nathan most probably produced his most disciplined performance of the season in dealing with one of their better players”.

“The mid field three won their battles and they all shone through. It was nice to see Sacha (Walters) back in the side because he gave us a fresh impetus. Dyfan Pierce on the left is a good ball player and when he got the ball he used it wisely. Craig Hughes is getting fitter and fitter, stronger and stronger and I think it showed”.

“We knew it was going to be difficult and we worked on options in training. They can set up an attack through one ball because of Lee Kendall’s kicking. He’s got such a good strike. I think he threw the ball out once, every other time it was box to box and we knew we would have to cope with it”.

“Of course it was also about what we did on the ball. We didn’t want to get into the same routine as them because they would be better at it. It was key that we used the ball wisely when we had it and we had to get it into Craig Hughes’ feet or we had to get it wide to Sacha or Dyfan and not give the ball away carelessly. We had a big performance from Craig”.

Town: N Thomas, R Hughes, D Pierce (N Palmer 63’), N Smothers, D Griffiths, C Thomas, S Walters, T Hicks, P Fowler, C Hughes (D Thomas 85’), N Cotterrall Sub not used: D Brace.

Port Talbot: L Kendall, L De-Vulgt, L Grist, S Barrow, M Rees, L Surman, L John (G Bonsor 71’), N Thomas, M Rose, D Thomas (M Thompson 62’), D Fahiya (N Holland 53’). Referee: Wayne Stephens Attendance: 197

09.03.10 CARMARTHEN TOWN 1 THE NEW SAINTS 2

Following a positive and competitive performance Town will be disappointed not have anything to show for their considerable contribution to an entertaining and closely contested game. Chris Sharp broke his duck for the Saints with a second half brace and with Tim Hicks getting Town back on terms in a matter of minutes following the TNS opener Sharp broke Town’s resistance eight minutes from time to claim all three points.

Saints had the best of the opening exchanges with Craig Jones denied by Neil Thomas in a third minute one-on-one and Nathan Cotterrall forced to make a crucial clearance on the quarter hour following a series of Saint corners. Just before the half hour Town made more of an impression playing out well from the back.

Cotterrall raided both flanks and a clever side step from Hicks played in Craig Hughes who put over from a narrow angle. With the break approaching Saints penned Town in. But with Scott Roscoe's shot blocked and Chris Sharp's follow up going wide Town broke well with Hicks scooping the ball narrowly over to leave it goalless at the break.

In a pulsating second half a six-minute period just after the break saw both sides score. With Town clearing, the ball fell to Sharp out on the 18-yard line. With the striker's rolling shot across goal looking as if it was going wide it curled inside the far post at the last moment to give Saints the lead. Having been stung Town were soon back level. A Neil Thomas clearance was fumbled by opposite number Paul Harrison and with Hicks following up well he pick-pocketed the keeper to net from a narrow angle.

On the hour Hughes was put through on goal but fired straight at the keeper whilst at the other end Sharp beat the cover and having rounded the keeper put his finish wide of the far post with Cotterrall and Dale Griffiths covering. Hughes looked as if he had scored following a goalmouth scramble but with Danny Homes hooking the ball away and the officials unsighted the effort was ruled out.

Then with eight minutes remaining Sharp fired the winner after a free kick had fallen to the striker who fed Alex Darlington before netting the return ball. In a frantic final minute Homes saw yellow for a tackle on Smothers who was then red carded for reacting to the challenge.

Town: N Thomas, R Hughes, N Smothers, N Palmer, D Griffiths, C Thomas, S Walters (D Thomas 77), T Hicks, P Fowler, C Hughes (M Pritchard 70’), N Cotterrall Subs not used: B Morris, B Soal (Y).

TNS: P Harrison, D Holmes, C Marriott, P Baker, S Evans, B Hogan, S Ruscoe, A Edwards (M Berkeley 69’), C Sharp (J McKenna 86’), S Abbott (A Darlington 61’), C Jones. Attendance 293 Referee Mark Whitby.

13.03.10 GAP CONNAH'S QUAY 0 CARMARTHEN TOWN 0

Battling against the elements and the very difficult surface Town played out a goalless stalemate at the Deeside Stadium on Saturday. With the game lacking momentum any attempt to play quality football was severely restricted by the conditions.

With the history books showing that there was very little between the sides Town manager Deryn Brace felt it had been a lacklustre performance following two very positive performances during the week.

"The game never really got going and maybe it was a little bit of us. We were a little lethargic and maybe the last few games had taken something out of us".

"We never really looked like scoring but having said that we never looked like conceding either. I don’t think Tomo had a save to make all game. There were no real chances at either end".

Determined not to lose, both sides focused firmly on containment and certainly any clear-cut chances were few and far between. For Quay defenders, brothers Andy and Ben Alston, helped the dogged Deeside outfit make it three matches unbeaten with a second consecutive clean sheet and a Michael Hayes first half effort was denied by keeper Neil Thomas.

With the conditions difficult Town’s only real opportunities came from set pieces. A Danny Thomas effort from 25 yards midway through the second half proved Town’s only real effort on target. With Thomas’ free kick striking the base of the post Hicks put the follow-up wide of the target as Town failed to break the deadlock.

But with Town’s back four again proving resolute Brace added, "We're looking far more competitive defensively but we needed to show more going forward". Town remain in eleventh position four points ahead of Haverfordwest County with a game in hand but five points behind Bala Town in tenth place.

Gap: McCormick, Alston, Baker, McGregor, Alston, C Jones, Petrie, Scheuber (Auty 78'), Burns (McNutt 68'), Hayes, R Jones. Subs not used: Herbert, Glover, Pinch.

Town: N Thomas, R Hughes, Pierce (Pritchard 64'), Walters, Griffiths, C Thomas (capt), D Thomas (Hanford 74'), Hicks, Fowler, C Hughes, Cotterrall. Sub not used: Brace. Attendance: 104 Referee: Andy Harms.

20.03.10 BANGOR CITY 3 CARMARTHEN TOWN 2

In an all action affair goals from Lee Hunt, Sion Edwards and Jamie Reed gave the hosts a comfortable first half lead. But with Town reducing the deficit through Sacha Walters just before the break an outstanding second half performance saw Town stage a gutsy comeback.

Tim Hicks headed home a second goal on the hour and the hosts survived a confident Town penalty shout with ten minutes remaining. But the Citizens were indebted to keeper Paul Smith who made a string of fine saves in a hectic last half hour to see out the game and bring to an end Town’s impressive away record of twelve games undefeated.

“From a game that started very disappointingly to a game we could have fashioned out an amazing come back. Unfortunately we came up short as we gave ourselves too much work to do.

“As good as we’ve been at the back for a number of weeks we were poor today. There are very few positives in our defensive performance. I know they are hurting but the ones that we’ve heaped praise on over the last six or seven weeks have unfortunately got to take the blame as an unit for today”.

“Yes we battled back second half but the damage was already done. We knew we’d score goals but the question was could we keep it tight at the back? How we didn’t score more goals we’ll have to ask the players who had the opportunities because we’ve missed a glut of very easy goal scoring chances. Unfortunately today we have been undone because our back four did not play well. We gave them a task to do and they didn’t do it”.

“There were a couple of performances that were encouraging. Again Neil Thomas in goal had to. He had that much work to do he was always going to have to make important saves for us. Paul Fowler did well but probably our stand out player was Tim Hicks who has been outstanding all season”.

Despite Town having the better of the opening exchanges Bangor struck first when Nicky Ward broke down the left and his low cross across goal was missed by the Town defence for Hunt to have the simplest of tap-ins unchallenged at the back post on sixteen minutes.

Neil Thomas tipped a second Hunt effort to safety after Eddie Jebb had provided well from the right before Bangor extended the lead eight minutes later. With Town pressing and Craig Hughes' diving header denied by Smith Bangor broke with pace and Hunt beat the cover before crossing in behind the defence for Edwards to finish.

Twice Town had looked like scoring and twice the hosts had broken well to finish clinically and control the game. But in truth it was Town's dismal defensive display that allowed the hosts to capitalise. Four minutes later it could well have been three nil when Edwards shot against the bar and with the ball rebounding down and then out he somehow put the follow-up over.

Following the let-off Town continued to retain a fair share of possession with Paul Fowler’s stinging strike blocked by the keeper and minutes later Smith held a Hughes shot well.

With eight minutes of the half remaining Bangor looked to have put the game beyond Town. Reed picked up Peter Hoy's long throw and having turned his marker finished brilliantly by lobbing the keeper from the edge of the eighteen-yard line. Thomas was again in action to deny Edwards a second before Walters reduced the arrears a minute before the break after Nathan Cotterrall had outpaced the cover down the left.

Whatever Manager Deryn Brace said at half time had the desired effect and looking to redress the balance he substituted Mark Pritchard for Dyfan Pierce. With Cotterrall dropping to left back the sub had an immediate impact on the left and Town looked revitalised.

Reed continued to cause problems for the visitors on the break when he put one raking effort beyond the far post and a second was cleared off the line by the covering Craig Hanford. Town were then rewarded for their considerable endeavour when a Pritchard flag kick was headed on by Fowler at the front post for Hicks to finish at the back a minute after the hour.
With twenty minutes remaining Thomas made point blank saves from Reed and then Hunt before Walters pick-pocketed the Citizens' defence only to send his effort across the face of the goal and inches beyond the far post with the keeper committed. Hicks was bundled over from behind in the box but referee Lee Evans waved play on. Then in a frantic finale Town forced a series of corners only to be denied by Smith who produced a fine double save from Walters and then Hicks.

With Town throwing everything forward it was the keeper again who denied Town a deserved share of the spoils with a superb triple save denying Pritchard’s header, Hughes’ follow up and a rebound off one of his own defenders.

Having surrendered an impressive away record Town remain in eleventh place with a game in hand and now face a vital week when they entertain tenth placed Bala Town on Tuesday night and twelfth placed Newtown at the weekend.

City: Smith, Morley, Roberts, Johnston, Brewerton (Hoy 11'), Garside (Smyth 73'), Reed, Ward, Hunt, Jebb (Stott 86'), Edwards. Subs not used: Hurdman, Owen

Town: N Thomas, R Hughes, Pierce (Pritchard 46'), Hicks, Griffiths, Hanford, D Thomas (Palmer 68'), Walters, Fowler, C Hughes, Cotterrall Sub not used: Brace. Referee Lee Evans.

23.03.10 CARMARTHEN TOWN 2 BALA TOWN 1

A Danny Thomas brace, one in each half, gave Town a well deserved but hard earned win against a side competing for a coveted top ten placing.

In wet and windy conditions the hosts had the best of the opening exchanges as Mark Pritchard headed narrowly over on eight minutes and shortly after his well-struck free kick glanced to safety off the upright.

But it was the visitors who broke the deadlock. A deep cross from John Irving cleared the Town defence and with Ross Jeffries following-in he got his foot to the ball at the back post to give the Lakesiders the lead on twenty minutes.

Town swept forward in response. A Bala clearance struck Danny Thomas and just looped over the bar before a Tim Hicks glancing header off Nathan Cotterrall's deep cross went inches wide. But just after the half hour Town found the leveller they had threatened.

Thomas crossed to the persistent Mark Pritchard in front of goal. Having received the return Thomas saw his shot blocked by the keeper before coolly netting the rebound from an angle on thirty two minutes to leave it all square at the break.

Four minutes after the resumption Town added, what proved to be, the winner. A ball into the box evaded Pritchard but fell to Thomas who netted his second of the evening from twelve yards out.

Keeper Leon Bimpson denied Hicks and Owain Roberts and Ricky Evans found space in midfield as the visitors pushed forward. On the hour Town lost Paul Fowler through injury and some momentum, which saw Town defending in numbers for a period.

Evans' long range effort from 25 yards for Bala went narrowly over and with Walters breaking brilliantly for Town he played in Craig Hughes who blasted a very good chance to finish the game over the bar.

Right at the death, having seen the keeper off his line, Hughes' late lob was denied by the base of the post but it was Town who took all three valuable points to close the gap on the visitors and record their 100th. WPL win.

Town: N Thomas, R Hughes, D Pierce, N Palmer, D Griffiths, C Hanford, D Thomas, T Hicks, P Fowler (S Walters 61’), M Pritchard (C Hughes 80’), N Cotterrall Subs not used: D Brace, B Soal, S James.

Bala: L Bampton, J Irving, M Harris (J Toner76’), Mark Powell, D Jellicoe, D Williams, O Roberts, R Jeffries, S Morrison (W Duckett 55’), R Evans, O Jones (N Fisher 76’). Referee Kevin Morgan.

27.03.10 CARMARTHEN TOWN 0 NEWTOWN AFC 2

A first half brace for mid fielder Callum Wright saw Newtown claim all three points and dent Town’s Super twelve aspirations. One again Town's lack of finishing proved costly as the Richmond Park outfit spurned several chances to remain rooted in eleventh place.

With the influential Paul Fowler ruled out in a pre-match fitness test and Town also without Chris Thomas and Neil Smothers the hosts made a nervous start. A short back pass to Neil Thomas caused problems for the keeper and Danny Thomas did well to head Daniel Dawson’s header off Adam Worton's flag kick off the line.

Neil Mitchell and Andrew Thomas linked well before the Robins broke the deadlock. Mitchell crossed into the box and with Thomas parrying a Paul Roberts angled shot Wright came from deep to net the rebound, his first ever goal for Newtown, on sixteen minutes.

Two minutes later Wright doubled the advantage. A scrambled ball in the box came off the covering Nathan Cotterrall for the young mid fielder to have the simplest of tap ins. Craig Hughes lost out in a one on one with Robins keeper Dave Roberts on twenty minutes and a couple of minutes later Danny Thomas elected to pass instead of striking for goal.

Just after the half hour Thomas did well to get his hand to Ross Stephens’ shot off Warton's diagonal cross. With two minutes of the half remaining Town looked to have scored when Richard Hughes pulled the ball back from the bye line for Craig Hughes to find the net with a low header that was controversially ruled off side by the Assistant.

Following the break Town immediately put themselves back in contention. Mid fielder Nicky Palmer picked up on Craig Hanford’s ball over the defence to slot the ball underneath the keeper and reduce the deficit.

But with the game lacking any real quality Newtown survived a period of pressure, some of which was self-inflicted. Cotterrall's excellent low cross was squandered and Walters' incisive run went without reward and with Town lacking composure in front of goal several efforts were put high and wide. At the other end Daniel Dawson got between the Town defenders but could only fire straight at Thomas.

In the closing minutes Town threw everyone forward as they corralled the visitors and it took a superb covering tackle from Craig Williams to deny Walters. But the Robins saw out the considerable late pressure determinedly to claim a valuable win.

Town: N Thomas, R Hughes, D Pierce, N Palmer, D Griffiths, C Hanford, D Thomas (S Walters63'), T Hicks, M Pritchard, C Hughes,N Cotterrall Subs not used : D Brace, S James.

Newtown: D Roberts, C Williams, J Hughes, D Dawson, D Blain, A Thomas, N Mitchell (A Webb 85'), C Wright (J Russell 63'), P Roberts, R Stephens, A Worton Sub not used :T McFadden. Referee Wayne Tregonning.