02.05.05 Loosemores Cup Final - Latham Park Newtown
Carmarthen Town 2 Rhyl FC 0 (aet)

CARMARTHEN Town were deserved winners of the Loosemores Challenge Cup after an extra-time victory over holders Rhyl at Newtown on Monday afternoon.

With the game finishing goalless after ninety minutes a superb curling strike from the edge of the box by midfielder Richard Kennedy gave Town the vital lead 11 minutes into extra time.

And when young substitute Omar Abdillahi converted Nathan Cotterall’s shot come cross at the far post three minutes later the Richmond Park outfit were able to celebrate their first ever League Cup following a performance that reflected everything that they have strived to achieve throughout the season.

An uninspiring first half had seen Town gain the better of the early play but with Rhyl beginning to threaten following the half hour mark two stunning saves by Town keeper Tony Pennock denied first Andy Moran and then Lee Hunt to keep it all square at the break.

Following the break Rhyl continued to threaten for a period with Mark Limbert evident with his long across field ball that found Moran in space and minutes later his well struck free kick that was comfortably tipped over by Pennock.

On the hour strong running by Mark Dodds saw Town regain the initiative as they forced a number of corners with captain Rhodri Jones volleying narrowly over.

Minutes later it was again the influential Dodds who caught Rhyl captain Tim Edwards in possession in front of goal but the wing man’s snap shot went straight to the keeper.

At the other end a floated pass to Hunt in front of goal caused panic in the Town defence. And with Pennock beaten the striker’s acrobatic overhead effort was cleared off the line by defender Richard Carter who’s covering play throughout was outstanding.

But with substitute Nathan Cotterall beginning to have an impact down the left, linking well with Nick Burke and Gary Lloyd, and Dodds and Jones threatening down the right Town stretched the Rhyl defence as they pressed for the breakthrough.

Then with five minutes of normal time remaining came the turning point of the game when Rhyl’s Lee Hunt was dismissed for his second bookable offence. With the opposition reduced to ten men and Cotterall pushing further forward Town kept the Lillywhites’ corralled in defence. But with the game remaining goalless an extra thirty minutes was needed to decide the outcome.

Extra time saw Town firmly in control. Dodds’ strong run down the right found Kevin Aherne Evan’s in support and when the ball was squared to Kennedy on the edge of the box his neatly placed strike curled into the corner of Paul Smith’s goal and Town had gained the breakthrough they had threatened.

With the Richmond Park outfit now sensing that victory was within their grasp substitutes Cotterall and Abdullahi combined well to put the game beyond doubt as the former Blackburn Rover professional guided home the pacey wing-man’s ball to ensure that it was Carmarthen Town’s colours that were tied onto the afternoon’s silverware.

Manager Mark Jones was naturally delighted at his team’s success.

"It’s been a great, great win not just for the team but for the club as a whole. We’ve all worked hard throughout the season and today we had our reward.”

"We set out our game plan and we stuck to it and all the players worked their socks off from start to finish”.

"We knew that if we did not concede we could turn the game in our favour. Yes the sending off did matter but overall I thought we fully deserved our win.

Carmarthen Town Pennock, Hardy, Lloyd, Carter, Chiverton (Abdullahi 94'), Jones, Smothers (Cotterrall 77'), Kennedy (James 114'), Burke, Dodds, Aherne-Evans. Sub not used: Davies

Rhyl FC Paul Smith, M.Powell (Atherton 66'), Graves (Peter Smith 110'), Stones, Edwards, Brewerton (G.Powell 106'), McGinn, Limbert, Hunt, Moran, Adamson.

Attendance: 750 Referee: N L Morgan


08.05.05 Welsh Cup Final – Stebonheath Llanelli
Carmarthen Town 0 Total Network Solutions 1

In a season that saw Carmarthen Town win the League Cup and record their highest placing in four campaigns Town’s hopes and aspirations of also lifting the prestigious Welsh Cup were shattered in the 75th.minute by TNS’ John Lawless at Stebonheath on Sunday.

As Martyn Naylor’s speculative long ball bounced cruelly over the Town defence the pacey Lawless pounced on the loose ball and struck home underneath keeper Tony Pennock to record the only score of the afternoon’s encounter.

With EMC Services sponsored Carmarthen Town having more than held their own against the League’s only fully professional side it was a cruel end to a highly successful campaign.

On an unpredictable pitch Town had the better of the opening exchanges. Rhodri Jones and Richard Kennedy stifled the TNS mid field effectively and as Town peppered the TNS goal with a series of corners from Gary Lloyd and Luke Hardy Jones saw one effort held by Doherty and another fly narrowly wide.

Lawless and Michael Wild combined well for the Champions but without any final product and with Town’s Neil Smothers working tirelessly to pick up on possession Nick Burke and Mark Dodds became constant thorns in the side of the TNS back line.

On the stroke of half time Town lived a little dangerously as top scorer Mark Lloyd Williams was brought down on the edge of the box. But with the danger passed and chances at a premier it finished goalless at the break.

With John Leah and Martyn Naylor providing the momentum the second half began with TNS pressing Town for a period as Lloyd-Williams forced a corner having almost lifted over Pennock.

Town soon redressed the balance with Jones stealing the ball for Hardy and Kevin Aherne-Evans to combine well on the right. Evans then became provider with a neat chip into the box for Burke at the far post.

But with the game opening a little TNS’ Jamie Wood played in well and Wilde’s diving header went narrowly wide just after the hour.

Then as the game entered its final quarter Burke blasted high and wide having beaten Naylor with a strong run and from the clearance the defender’s speculative punt up-field found Lawler for the wing man to make the most of very limited chances and strike the all important breakthrough.

Nathan Cotteral and Omar Abdillahi were introduced with some twelve minutes remaining but TNS closed ranks, replacing Lloyd-Williams with defender Chris King, to protect their slim advantage.

In the final minutes Cotterall’s ball across goal was deflected by Taylor, just out of reach of Abdillahi. But with Doherty finally gathering the ball the Llansantffraid outfit recorded a notable League and Cup double.

Despite being able to reflect on a very successful season Town manager Mark Jones was naturally disappointed.

“We had our chances but conditions were such that I always felt that one goal was going to be enough to win the match.

“I’m proud of what the lads have achieved”, he added. We were caught out by the long ball but that does not detract from a magnificent season. We intend to build on this years success”.

Following the game Town captain Rhodri Jones received the Man of the Match Award.

Carmarthen Town Pennock, Hardy, Lloyd, Giles, Carter, Jones, Smothers (Cotterrall 78'), Kennedy (Abdillahi 78'), Burke (James 89'), Dodds, Aherne-Evans.

Total Network Solutions FC Doherty, Naylor, Holmes, Leah, Evans, Taylor, Ruscoe, Lloyd-Williams (King 83'), Wilde, Wood, Lawless (Toner 89'). Sub not used: Beck

Attendance: 1126 Referee: S Jones