Carmarthen Town slumped to their third successive league defeat at the hand of a rejuvenated Bangor City side at Richmond Park last Saturday and manager Tomi Morgan must be anxious to halt the trend and get back on winning ways.

Other results, however, in the League of Wales during the last three weeks have gone Carmarthen’s way and they still find themselves in fourth place, well in touch with leaders Barry Town.

At the commencement of the game, Carmarthen striker Matthew Delicate was presented with a bottle of champagne by S4C presenter Dylan Llewelyn in recognition of his being chosen as League of Wales Player of the Month for October in conjunction with the Radio Cymru programme Ar y Marc.

The prospect of former club colleagues Tomi Morgan and Meirion Appleton, who were both together at Aberystwyth, facing each other last Saturday in a managerial capacity attracted more than usual interest and a sizeable crowd attended Richmond Park for this North v South confrontation, and Town supporters were in high hopes of a positive result after their side dominated the early stages.

As early as the fifth minute, a good run by Richard Parker down the right resulted in his cross just eluding the leaping Matthew Delicate and then Parker had another powerful shot parried by Andy Mulliner, the very competent City goalkeeper.

Bangor’s Lewis Coady troubled Carmarthen keeper Robert Fitzgerald on one of the few occasions that Bangor made inroads into Town’s penalty area, whilst at the other end Mulliner denied Gavin Rees and, as half time approached an almighty scramble in the City goalmouth resulted in Ryan Nicholls driving wide from in front of goal.

Town were to rue these chances as the second half saw a complete turn around in fortunes with the North Wales side now with the wind at their backs playing some neat football to stretch Town’s defence. The visitors were rewarded as early as the 50th minute when Scott Williams, playing a one-two with Paul Roberts near the corner flag, deceived Town’s defence and his precise cross into the six yard box found Gavin Allen completely unmarked to head past the stranded Fitzgerald.

Spurned on by this success, City continued to pressurise and after Fitzgerald had made a full length save from Roberts, central defender Wyn Thomas did well to block the goal bound shot following the rebound.

Central defender Wayne Jones, playing in the unfamiliar position from his normal wing back role, slotting in for the unavailable David Barnhouse, was producing an energetic performance and when Town regained the initiative it the last 15 minutes Jones’ free kick was brilliantly parried by Mulliner at full length. When Nigel Nicholas delivered the loose ball back in the box the equaliser seemed on the cards but Siôn Meredith who had come on as substitute misjudged his header and the ball went wide.

Manager Tomi Morgan was left to contemplate on a number of missed chances by his side against a team that Town have never beaten in their short spell in the League of Wales.

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Despite his side’s colourless display in this Welsh Cup Round 3, RSU Windows sponsored Carmarthen Town manager Tomi Morgan was delighted to see his side progress to Round 4 when they ground out a 1-0 victory against CC Sports Welsh League Division 1 leaders Port Talbot at the Victoria Ground last Saturday.

With the prospect of extra time and the dreaded penalty shoot-out looming, visiting striker Paul Burrows scored the decisive goal in the 85th minute of this match. Town now have the mouth watering prospect of playing Aberystwyth Town at home in Round 4 next February.

Town had welcomed back mid-field player Paul Walker for the tie but were still without the services of the suspended David Barnhouse and the injured Dean Rossiter, and manager Morgan decided to include Gavin Rees at right back with Wayne Jones taking up an unfamiliar position in Carmarthen’s central defence.

Town dominated the early stages but with former Cardiff City goalkeeper Ian Loveless in excellent form Carmarthen’s striking partnership of Paul Burrows and Richard Parker were finding it difficult to break down a well organised defence in which central defender Phil Holmes was also in fine form for the home side.

Early chances went begging for Town as firstly Burrows’ header struck the crossbar and Parker, after making inroads into the Port Talbot penalty area shot wide on two occasions.

In the second half, with time rapidly running out, Town supporters feared extra time and a possible penalty shoot-out, as their strike force was still failing to make any impression on Loveless’ goal who excelled himself particularly when he made a brilliant save from Siôn Meredith. A succession of corners expertly taken by Port Talbot’s former Afan Lido striker Carl Glover momentarily troubled the visitors but keeper Robert Fitzgerald was equal to the occasion with some fine catches and deflections under his own bar.

But it was Town who ended on a strong note when Rees’ firm cross into the six yard box was headed powerfully past Loveless by the diving Burrows to settle what had been a tight and difficult game for the visiting team who had lacked a considerable amount of cohesion throughout - a trait which tense cup ties always creates.

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Carmarthen Town came within a hair’s breadth of gaining a hard earned draw against League of Wales leaders Barry Town at Jenner Park last Saturday, but a double strike in the 89th minute and then in injury time brought to an end a brave effort by the visitors who now slip to third in the League of Wales table.

Manager Tomi Morgan in his post match TV interview said ‘The sheer professionalism of the Barry side forced us to defend in depth at times which my players undertook superbly. Nevertheless chances were created by us and with a little bit of more luck we could well have got a result.’

Town had been forced to make three changes due to the suspension of David Barnhouse and injuries to Paul Walker and Dean Rossiter, resulting in 18 year old Llanybydder product Gethin Jones and Gavin Rees being drafted into the squad.

The superior fitness of the full-time professional Barry squad proved to be Town’s undoing as incessant pressure by the home side in the last ten minutes eventually paid off with these two dramatic late brace of goals.

Town had had their good moments during the game and a turning point may have occurred in the 50th minute when with Town holding a 1-0 lead striker Matthew Delicate was presented with a good chance by fellow striker Richard Parker but Barry keeper Dave Wells produced a superb save to deny the young Carmarthen striker. Almost immediately Barry counter attacked and gained the equaliser.

Town however had made the perfect start by shocking the Barry faithful in a crowd which had been affected by the televised Scotland v England international, by taking the lead as early as the third minute when Nigel Nicholas’ free kick across the Barry goal area was headed back to the near post by Matthew Cable and Siôn Meredith was on hand to slot the ball past keeper Wells.

This set-back spurred the home side who were playing some delightful football, with some powerful moves built up from the back and keeper Robert Fitzgerald was called into frequent action to keep his goal intact, especially when he brilliantly saved at full stretch a powerful free kick from Lee Barrow and from a well-placed header by player / manager Richard Jones.

Town held their1-0 to the half-time interval lead and with the wind at their backs in the second half the large contingent of Town supporters present at Jenner Park must have held high hopes for an unlikely victory. Following Delicate’s near miss Barry equalised two minutes later when the home side’s best player Terry Evans broke down the right and his well-placed cross was headed home by Lawrence Davies, much to the relief of the Dragons whose obvious delight was shown in their celebrations.

The visitors kept their heads and still posed problems to the Barry defence when first Parker blazed over, and then Delicate shot wide from outside the box. Fitzgerald then produced a brilliant save from Jenkin’s header after Jones had earlier clipped the Carmarthen crossbar in a game which was full of action, whilst at the other end Carmarthen still striving for the winner saw Malcolm Vaughan’s drive go straight to the keeper.

With Town in the final minutes beginning to wilt under some considerable pressure, Barry took the lead with just one minute of ordinary time left when a along throw-in was headed against his own bar by Cable and Jenkins slammed home the rebound. And to rub salt into Town’s wounds, following a tricky move down the right Jenkins volleyed home in bicycle kick fashion to give Fitzgerald no chance and to leave a scoreline which might have flattered the defending champions in a splendid match which did much credit to the League of Wales.

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