03.11.07 WELSH CUP
Newport YMCA 2 Carmarthen Town 1
Yafai, Lynch (p) / Hancock

Cup holders Carmarthen Town were unceremoniously dumped out of this year's Welsh Cup competition by 10 man MacWhirter League 1 outfit Newport YMCA.

Town enjoyed early possession with Danny Thomas and Coombes both firing narrowly over but were rocked on 8' when a Aaron Stewart break caught Town napping and his ball into the box was swept home by Yafai to give YMCA the early advantage.

The Welsh Premier side was back level on 22' when a Town corner caused problems in the box and in the ensuing goalmouth scramble and Hancock applied the final touch to steady the Town nerves. But with Stewart causing problems and Town looking casual in front of goal it remained one apiece at the break.

Early in the second period a Walters cross hit the woodwork but with Stewart remaining a threat Town were unable to take control of proceedings.

With about twenty minutes remaining YMCA keeper Wesson was dismissed and with Sommer taking over the gloves it could have been expected that Town would now be able to capitalise against a side that has leaked thirteen goals in their last two games. But with Town unable to press their advantage the stand-in keeper remained largely untroubled

Then with the clock ticking towards extra time Town keeper Thomas was adjudged to have felled YMCA front man Stewart. Lynch fired home the spot kick and the Richmond Park outfit went from the sublime of Tuesday's win to the ignominy of a disappointing performance that saw them crash out of Wales' premier competition.

Newport YMCA: Wesson, Spargo, Ford, Borg (Egitto 80'), Drew, Lynch, Aaron Stewart, Edwards, Sommers, Pardue (Capt), Yafai (Palmer 68') Sub not used: Alex Stewart.

Town: N Thomas, Smothers, Hughes, Coombes, Hancock, C Thomas, Walters, Hicks (D Thomas 62'), Fowler, Easter Cotterrall Subs not used: Davies, Brace. Referee: Dean John

Jamal Easter's goal in the second minute of injury time saw Town cancel out Port Talbot’s first half strike to take the tie into extra time.

Martin Rose had put the Steelmen ahead on 33 minutes when he squeezed between two defenders to fire home Dylan Blain’s deft flick-on.

Earlier Gregg Coombes and Sasha Walters had seen efforts turned over by Port Talbot keeper Kristian Rogers but the Steelmen retained their slim lead to the end of normal time despite considerable second half pressure with Danny Thomas and Walters both putting efforts wide of the target when well placed.

Then in the second minute of injury time Cotterrall’s diagonal run to the right outflanked the defence and with Town’s captain pulling the ball back through the crowded area Easter side footed home to give Town just reward for their second half endeavour.

With the game into extra time Danny Thomas played in Easter but the young forward’s effort was blocked by Rogers with the rebound fired wide.

And it was Thomas who was the provider for the all important winner when having received the ball from Cotterall played it back into his captain’s path for the wing man to fire home from an angle.

At the death Danny Thomas came close when his deft lob hit the upright and Chad Bond almost took the tie to penalties with the last kick of the game when his low strike was well saved by Thomas.

Town: N Thomas, Brace, Smothers, Coombes, Hancock, C Thomas, D Thomas, Hicks (Easter), Fowler, Walters (Davies), Cotterrall. Subs not used: Hughes, Morris.

Port Talbot: Rogers, Burrows (De-Vulgt), Hanford, Barrow, Rees, Surman, McCreesh, Blain, Rose, Morgan (Bond), Thompson (John). Subs not used Lancey, Pennock.

Referee Steve Hames Attendance 214

10.11.07 Carmarthen Town 1 Caersws FC 3

A topsy turvy week saw Town overturn a deficit to emerge convincing victors against Port Talbot Town in a mid-week FAW Premier Cup competition and then in complete contrast concede a 3-1 deficit against lowly Caersws FC at the weekend.

Having shown guts and determination to book a home tie against one of Wales’ top four professional teams in the Premier Cup, Town lacked a cutting edge against Caersws and coach Mark Aizlewood felt that is side looked a little jaded following their mid week exertions.

“I think we looked a little jaded mentally. It’s not only the physical aspect that can let you down but it’s the mental aspect as well.

“I thought we were good enough to score two goals in the second half and I think we had enough opportunities to have got something out of the game.

“But players, when they are a couple of goals down, get a little anxious because they are chasing the game and that influences their decision making”.

Andrew Davies' first minute strike for Caersws from the edge of the box gave the Bluebirds the best possible start in their quest to escape the relegation zone.

But it was all level six minutes later when Nathan Cotterrall’s cross evaded both forwards and defenders in front of goal and fell to Chris Thomas at the back who fired across goal to find the corner of the net.

On the quarter hour Caersws restored the lead after Siôn Meredith picked up on Neil Thomas’ deep clearance and with Mark Griffiths latching onto Aaron Edwards' through ball hesitancy in the cover saw Griffiths take his chance to make it two.

Deryn Brace looked to have restored parity on 20 minutes but the assistant referee thought otherwise and flagged the offside and a minute later Caersws were saved by the woodwork as Sasha Walters' powerful header rocked Andy Mulliner's cross bar.

Then, having looked to have felled Cotterall in the box, Griffiths extended Caersws' lead with a well taken goal. Played in by Graham Evans off Andy Davies' throw in Griffiths had the best of his marker before cutting back inside and finding the bottom corner of the net to make it 3-1 at the break.

Following the resumption EMC Services sponsored Carmarthen Town had the lion’s share of the possession with Walters continuing to cause problems down the right. His goal bound shot was blocked by some desperate defending and Danny Thomas saw his header cleared off the line before playing in Cotterrall who fired wide as Town threatened but, frustratingly, failed to find the net.

Neil Mitchell looked dangerous when Caersws broke but despite several good opportunities Town's final effort in front of goal lacked a cutting edge; possibly a hangover from their mid week exertions. Late on referee Ceri Richards turned down a third confident penalty shout and with the Bluebirds defending in numbers they celebrated Andy Thomas' 400 appearance for the club with a well taken win.

Aizlewood added, “If you defend as we defended in the first half then you are always going to have a mountain to climb. The challenge I set was to keep a clean sheet. I felt if we kept a clean sheet we would win the game. But that’s where we left our selves down.

“I thought the referee influenced the game. At 2-1 we had a solid penalty shout and then within a couple of minutes we were 3-1 down.

“He was not the reason we lost the game but he did have an influence.

Manager Deryn Brace agreed with his coach that his side looked a little jaded. “We have to have a rest and with four or five players carrying knocks from Tuesday night I think it showed it a little today.

“We created chances, but we have to take them. We need to be clinical. Caersws only had a few chances but they took them. That was the difference.

“Teams will come here to defend and we have to be wise to it. It will be great not to have a midweek game this week. Hopefully we can rest up and it should help our sharpness at the weekend.

Town: Thomas, Smothers, Brace, Hughes (Davies 84'), Hancock, Thomas (Hicks 74'), Thomas, Walters, Fowler, Easter, Cotterrall Sub not used: Morris.

Caersws: Mulliner, Towers, Davies, Reynolds, Thomas, Haynes, Meredith, Edwards, Evans, Mitchell (Prodger 89'), Griffiths (Jones 47') Sub not used: Smout.

Referee C Richards. Attendance 272

18.11.07 BANGOR CITY 1 CARMARTHEN TOWN 1

A Tim Hicks strike six minutes before the break to cancel out Ashley Stott’s opener on the half hour gave Town an excellent away point at an in-form Bangor City on Sunday. More...

Nathan Cotterall played an unaccustomed role on the left of defence in the absence of Brace and in an even first half there was little to separate the sides.

Stott pounced after a couple of ricochets gifted Bangor the ball and as Town cleared Cotterrall’s clearance came off Hancock for Davies to play in Stott who placed the ball past Thomas from six yards.

Hoy denied Town an immediate reply with a goal line clearance but nine minutes later Town were level when Hicks chased what looked like a lost cause. But his perseverance was rewarded when he latched onto a poor back header to strike past Smith from a tight angle.

Following the break Town survived a Bangor bombardment and having weathered the storm showed excellent fitness levels and considerable determination as they came back strongly to dominate the final quarter.

Both sides had chances to settle the outcome. Smith did well to deny Walters’ 18 yard volley and tip round Hick’s header. And with a Bangor effort finding the top of Town’s bar Davies had the best chance for the Citizens when he controlled a high ball well but his finish went wide of the mark.

The point sees Town maintain fourth place and Town manager Deryn Brace told ‘Y Dre ar Y We’, “It was a very good point and an excellent display by the boys against an in-form City side.

“It was important to bounce back after an indifferent performance last week. I’m happy with the performance it was tough and solid ”.

Bangor: Smith, Hoy, Beattie, Johnson, Webber, Seargeant, Limbert, Walsh, Davies, Stott, Edwards ( Killackey 85') Subs not used: Hutchinson, Ogilvey, McGinness, Roberts (gk).

Town: Thomas, Easter, Smothers, Coombes, Hancock, Thomas, Thomas, Hicks, Fowler, Walters, Cotterrall. Subs not used: Brace, Morris, Davies. Attendance: 387 Referee: Rob Duncan

23.11.07 Carmarthen Town 0 Port Talbot Town 0

With the outcome finally balanced throughout both sides seemed happy to share the points.

Following the early ping-pong both sides played entertaining football with Martin Rose prominent for the visitors and Sacha Walters’ strong running testing the visiting defence.

On the 20 minute mark Danny Thomas played in Jamal Easter and with the wing man’s lob clearing both keeper and bar a drive might have been more profitable option.

Port Talbot raided both flanks and should have broken the deadlock when Dylan Blain took advantage of a Town slip but Scott Barrow lost out in a one on one with the keeper. Barrow continued to penetrate and a minute later it took a saving tackle from Chris Thomas and a double save from Neil Thomas to spare Town’s blushes.

As the game swung from end to end Danny Thomas’ effort, following a corner, was cleared off the line and the Steelmen’s keeper Kristian Rogers produced a strong two handed save to deny Gregg Coombes’ powerful 20 yard angled drive.

Walter’s ball in was pilfered off Danny Thomas’ head as it looked to have found the net and Rose was denied by a sliding tackle from Town keeper Thomas to keep it goalless at the break.

The second half saw Town corral the visitors for long periods but without a final finish. Rogers again saved well from Danny Thomas and ten minutes into the half Town fans celebrated as Thomas found the back of the net, after Easter had blocked a clearance, but the Assistant flagged an offside to disappoint the Richmond faithful.

With Port Talbot proving resilient as Town dominated Chad Bond replaced Barrow on 76 minutes and the substitution had an immediate effect as Bond and Rose combined well but McCreesh blazed over when well placed.

A saving interception from Lee Surman denied Town but at the other end Thomas, who was determined to keep a clean sheet, produced a double save from Bond and Craig Hanford and a minute later steered away Blain’s fierce drive.

But with the outcome in doubt until the final whistle both management teams seemed satisfied with the result.

Town coach Mark Aizlewood thought it was an excellent game and a fair result.

“Yes we were looking for three points but the game could have gone either way and sometimes over a season you mustn’t underestimate the value of a home point in a game like that because we could have lost it.

“We had most of the possession - they had the best chances. We created good opportunities but without creating good chances and the reason was our final ball was poor

“We needed to be careful that in trying to win the game we didn’t expose ourselves to lose it. They had their best chances on the break. On reflection the game was a good Welsh Premier derby. It could have gone either way.

Port Talbot’s newly appointed manager Nicky Turner agreed. “Yes very happy. Obviously we didn’t want to loose the game. One point is always, away from home and especially at Carmarthen, very satisfactory”.

“On chances we probably edged it and maybe we should have put one of them away”.

Carmarthen Town : N Thomas, Easter, Smothers, Coombes, Hancock, C Thomas, D Thomas, Hicks, Fowler, Walters, Cotterrall. Subs not used: Brace, Morris, Davies.

Port Talbot Town : Rogers, de Vulgt, Hanford, Phillips, Rees, Surman, John, Blain, Rose, McCreesh, Barrow (Bond 75') . Subs not used: Burrows, Thompson, Lancey, Baker.

Attendance: 260 Referee: Paul Thomas

27.11.07 Carmarthen Town 0 Aberystwyth Town 3

Aberystwyth Town gained some revenge for recent defeats at the hands of the Old Gold as they dumped Town out of the Loosemores Cup at Richmond Park on Tuesday night.

Having had the best of the early exchanges Town found themselves in arrears just after the half hour when Jamie Reed turned well in the box to fire past Thomas on 34 minutes.

Two minutes later the visitors doubled the advantage. A harsh decision from referee Simon Jones saw Neil Thomas penalised and Sherbon convert the spot kick.

The second period saw Morgan in the Aber goal remain largely untroubled as Town lacked a cutting edge.

Then with Evans extending Aber’s lead ten minutes into the half the convincing scoreline proved too big a gap for Town to bridge despite the visitors being reduced to ten men when Roberts was dismissed with a quarter hour remaining following a tackle on Chris Thomas.

Carmarthen Town: Thomas, Brace, Smothers, Coombes, Hancock (Davies 66'), C Thomas, D Thomas, Hicks, Fowler, Walters, Cotterall. Subs not used: Williams, Morris

Aberystwyth Town : Morgan, James, Roberts, Thomas, Edwards, Kellaway (Da Silva 88'), Passmore, Evans, Reed (Evans 86'), Sherbon (Evans 84'), Roberts.

Attendance: 152 Referee: Simon Jones