04.10.03
WELSH CUP SECOND ROUND

UWIC Inter Cardiff 2 Carmarthen Town 1

In what had been billed as one of the possible upsets of the second round of the Welsh Cup the game between UWIC Inter Cardiff and Welsh Premier club Carmarthen Town lived up to its billing as the Welsh League outfit progressed to the third round courtesy of a first half penalty by Lloyd Bridgeman and a Ryan Jenkins goal just after the break.

Throughout the game Town failed to convert numerous opportunities into goals and despite considerable pressure in the final quarter Town’s only reply was a well-struck free kick from young defender Marc Jones in the dying minutes of the game.

Disappointed Town manager Andrew York felt that his team lacked self-belief,

“It took us 60 to 70 minutes to believe in ourselves. We played some good football in the last twenty minutes but in and around the final third we need to be more direct instead of trying to play the final pass through.

“Today could have been a good boost away from the normal pressures of the League but we couldn’t make it happen and all credit to UWIC they were well organised, especially at the back and broke quickly.

In an evenly contested opening period Town had an early escape when UWIC’s captain Luke Hardy put top scorer Lee Bridgeman into space with a quickly taken free kick but the strikers fifth minute effort hit the post.

Then on the quarter hour the influential Hardy was brought down in the box following a strong run and Bridgeman made no mistake from the spot to give the hosts an early advantage.

Town came back strongly with Steffan Davies providing a string of well-placed crosses from the right hand side. Nick Burk saw his header go narrowly over and Dale Price’ strong run and shot was denied by some desperate defending.

RSU sponsored Carmarthen Town’s best chance of an equaliser came mid way through the half when a quickly taken free kick put Keaveny clear on goal but the striker’s effort was blasted over under pressure from keeper Robbie Hallam.

On the stroke of half time Davies again provided excellent service for Burke but once again the header went narrowly over.

A disastrous start to the second half saw Town concede a second early goal as UWIC took advantage of a defensive mix and Ryan Jenkins pounced to give the hosts a two-goal cushion.

Town were far from finished. The introduction of Shaun Chapple, David Moss and Tristan Lewis gave the visitors fresh impetus and the hosts were finding it difficult to contain the Town attack as they looked to reduce the deficit.

With ten minutes remaining the game was still in the balance as Chapple, Gavin Allen and Price all come close but in the end Town’s only reply was Jones’ excellent 25 yard free kick but that was too little too late and UWIC held out for the win despite intense pressure from the visitors.

Manager Andrew York will want to move quickly to restore his team’s confidence and focus his attention on the club’s League campaign ahead of Friday evening’s home encounter with Caersws FC. KO 7.30 pm.

Carmarthen Town : Collins, De Vulgt, Jones, York (Moss 60’), Keaveny (Lewis 72’), Thomas (Chapple 72’), Davies, Rossiter, Burke, Allen, Price. Referee : P R Southall.

10.10.04 (Friday evening)
Carmarthen Town 1 Caersws FC 7

Carmarthen Town suffered their heaviest loss in the Welsh Premier League as Caersws FC fired home three first half goals and added a further four in the second period to give the home side an object lesson in ‘finishing’.

With Town competing well and enjoying at least an equal share of the exchanges the score sheet did not truly reflect the nature of the game. But once again an inability to convert chances and some woeful defending at set pieces saw the visitors take a commanding lead before the break and pile on the misery for the home team and its supporters in the second half.

Town opened brightly with Gavin Allen looking lively and coming close on the quarter hour. But Town’s optimism was soon dampened as having conceded a free kick on the edge of the box Graham Jones volleyed home Kevin Scott’s set piece to put the visitors ahead.

With Town’s debutant Leigh Pratt causing problems for the Caersws defence down the flank David Moss came close to equalising as his header went narrowly over.

However, having conceded another corner just after the half hour Mark Howells headed home a second for the visitors and Town’s task became even harder when Graham Jones made it three from an Andrew Davies corner with minutes of the half remaining.

Shortly after the break Caersws but the result beyond doubt. Kevin Scott and Andy Marfell combined well to force a corner and Mark Howells grabbed his second with a free header at the back post to make 4-0 to the visitors and all from set pieces.

To their credit Town continued to battle and should have pulled one back when Dean Rossiter fed a great ball into the box but Nick Burke in his attempt to outwit the keeper managed to put the ball over.

Just after the hour RSU sponsored Carmarthen Town finally manage to reduce the deficit. Leigh De Vulgt worked well down the left and his cross found the well-placed Moss for the former Swan to head home at the far post.

Any thoughts of a comeback were short lived. Graham Evans was put through by his captain Colin Reynolds to add his name to the score sheet and following Marfell’s spectacular volley on 71’ Evans added a second to his tally with ten minutes remaining.

Manager Andrew York was devastated. “I’m actually shell shocked. I thought we had played some decent football and created more chances from open play than Caersws. But we have to put our chances away and that’s exactly what Caersws did tonight.

“To concede three first half goals in the way we did is inexcusable. We have to be alive on set pieces. We lacked concentration and we were punished for it.

“At this stage of the season it’s very difficult to plug gaps in your squad. I’ve asked David Moss to come in along side me. His experience will be invaluable and hopefully we can get some points on the board to restore confidence”.

18.10.04
Rhyl FC 4 Carmarthen Town 0

Despite the glorious weather Carmarthen Town’s visit to Rhyl proved anything but ‘sunny’ as the fourth placed Belle Vue outfit earned a comfortable win over a depleted Carmarthen Town.

Despite Jon Keaveny and Nick Burke combining well early on the Lillywhites’ attack looking both slicker and quicker than the visitor’s. With the injured Andrew York confined to the ‘dug out’ Town’s back division found it difficult to keep the Rhyl forward line in check and the hosts forged an early lead when the influential Any Moran provided a well placed cross for Rhyl’s utility man Garry Powell to find the net after only ten minutes.

With Town’s forwards posing little threat Rhyl looked to build on their thirteen match unbeaten run as the effective pairing of Powell and Moran extended the home advantage on 27 minutes. Town were caught struggling to clear Moran’s cross into the box allowing Powell to grab his second of the afternoon.

Provider then became receiver as Moran and Powell reversed their roles only for Rhyl’s top scorer to chip the keeper and the crossbar and with Town surviving an appeal for a penalty it remained 2-0 at the break.

Following the break RSU sponsored Carmarthen Town looked to reduce the arrears. Burke saw his volleyed effort go over and Town’s afternoon was summed up when substitute Gavin Allen was put through for his strike to beat the keeper but ricochet off the post to safety.

Any hopes that Town had of getting anything out of the game were quashed when Dean Rossiter was adjudged to have handled in the box and Moran converted the spot kick to make it three for the hosts and bring his personal tally for the season to nine.

With 15 minutes left on the clock Rhyl put the outcome beyond doubt. Town lost possession in midfield and Marc Limbert capped a fine run with a strike from 25 yards to keep Rhyl well in contention with the League’s top placed teams.

David Moss who is acting as assistant to manager Andrew York felt that simple errors had proven costly,

“We gave away three soft goals and you just cannot afford to do that when you are not scoring yourself.

“I thought that Moran and Powell made the difference with their intelligent play and movement off the ball. They showed their experience and had some very good touches”.

“We need to restore some of the lost confidence and are looking at several options to get things back on track.”

Carmarthen Town: Collins, Chapple, De Vulgt (Jones 80’), Barnhouse, A Thomas, Moss, (Price 80’), Keaveny, Rossiter, Burke, O Thomas, Pratt (Allen 66’).

25.10.04
CARMARTHEN TOWN 2 CQN 2

Despite the disappointment of seeing three valuable points slip from his grasp Carmarthen Town manager Andrew York remained positive regarding his teams performance against Connah’s Quay Nomads.

“We looked like a team today, we had a better shape. We competed well and created plenty of chances.

“Our indecision gave away the second goal. It cost us the full three points that I thought we fully deserved.

“I’m hopeful that Tony Pennock and Paul Reid will be back with us shortly. We have missed their experience. We now have a break and time to work on things and look at strengthening the squad with a couple of players.

Two second half goals by Nicky Burke and Jonathan Keaveny in reply to Tommy Mutton’s first half effort for the visitors should have seen town record a confidence boosting win but a defensive laps contributed to George Horan heading home an equaliser to give the Nomads an fortunate share of the spoils.

Town went on the attack from the outset. Keaveny looked dangerous and with Dale Price and Lee Pratt creating problems down the flanks Town fashioned a number of early opportunities.

Then having had a lucky escape when Nomads’ Stuart Rain failed to capitalise on a defensive mix up in the Town goalmouth on 20 minutes the hosts were not so fortunate a couple of minutes later as the experienced Mutton was released down the right and broke Town’s defensive cover to fire past Neil Collins for an unexpected lead.

Town remained on the offensive but were unable to break down a stubborn visiting defence. With Nomads producing their best period just before half time and Mutton a constant threat it remained 1-0 to the visitors at the break.

The second half began brightly for Town with Burke producing an excellent equaliser in the 49th. minute. Having got in front of his marker he flicked home Dale Price’s well struck low cross at the near post.

This gave RSU sponsored Carmarthen Town added impetus and ten minutes later Jon Keaveny was put through into space. Having dummied the keeper he slid the ball into the back of the net and Town enjoyed a deserved lead with the home supporters anticipating a full quota of points from the encounter.

Town continued to press. Burke saw his back header skim off the top of the bar and with Dean Rossiter playing a captains role, substitute Owen Thomas, Keaveny and David Moss combined well to keep the Nomads defence at full stretch.

Then on 74 minutes Jon Kenworthy dispossessed Town in midfield and made ground up the right. With Town’s defence a little hesitant his long cross to the far post was met by George Horan who headed home to deny Town the victory they worked so hard for.

In the final minutes Town very nearly found themselves in arrears. An excellent save by Collins and some desperate defending kept out a rejuvenated Nomads attack but with chances at both ends it was a nail-biting conclusion with Town having to settle for a share of the points.

Carmarthen Town : Collins, De Vulgt, Pratt (Carter 80’), Barnhouse, York, Moss, Keaveny, Rossiter, Burke, Chapple (Thomas 46’), Price.