02.10.04 CARMARTHEN TOWN 3 BRIDGEND TOWN 0

TWO WELL-TAKEN GOALS from substitute Mattie Davies adding to a 36th. minute, 30 yard screamer from Gary Lloyd gave Town a comfortable victory over Bridgend Town last Saturday in the second round of the Welsh Cup competition

With visiting keeper Ross Hooper-Nash producing a string of outstanding saves and the woodwork denying Nathan Cotteral, Richard Kennedy, Rhys Griffiths and Mattie Davies Town's win should, in reality, have been far more comprehensive. However Manager Mark Jones was satisfied that Town were through to the next round.

“I thought that in the first half we didn't do things quickly enough. Our tempo was to slow to open them up.

“We had a chat at half time and we upped the pace and I think it showed straightaway.

“I brought on Mattie Davies after an hour and he looked really sharp and did what I asked of him. We could have had ten”.

With Cotteral and Craig Lima getting early shots on target and Rhys Griffiths' persistence causing problems for the visitors Town started brightly and with Bridgend's right back Steven Hughes forced to clear Martyn Giles' goal bound effort off the line Town looked to impose themselves on the game.

Although in control Town didn't get things all their own way as Alan Hughes came close to chipping Pennock after twenty minutes and Matthew Williams squandered a golden opportunity in front of an open goal following excellent work by striker Nana Baah on the half hour.

Bridgend looked dangerous on the break. Baah caused Town problems on several occasions but when Rhodri Jones stretched the visiting defence and Hughes was again forced to head off his own line Bridgend had difficulty in clearing the ball and the sure-footed Lloyd buried the ball in the back of the net with a low drive to give Town a deserved lead.

Following the break it was one-way traffic as Town upped the pace and Lima, Lloyd and Mark Dodds all had efforts turned away. On 52 minutes Giles looked to have netted a Lloyd free kick but referee Neil Morgan disallowed it signalling an infringement. With Town captain Jones outstanding the visitors were firmly corralled in their own half but dogged defending and the woodwork conspired to deny the hosts that vital second gaol that would snuff out the visitor's resistance.

Just after the hour Kennedy was brought down heavily and was carried off. Mark Jones introduced returnee Richard Carter at right back and moved Hardy to fill the midfield berth. With Davies replacing Lima Town maintained the game's high tempo.

Cotteral taunted the Bridgend defence with a series of penetrating runs but with Town's forward line constantly denied despite domination of the game with only a slim goal advantage to show for their efforts.

Then with eleven minutes remaining the lively Davies saw one of his efforts hit the bar and ricochet out but he coolly buried the rebound with a superb strike to extend Town's lead and break Bridgend's gritty resistance.

A couple of minutes later another incisive run by Cotterall saw the wing-man round the defence and his low rocket of a cross across the goal-mouth was hit home by Davies to make it 3-0 and ensure that it was Carmarthen Town's name that went into the hat for the next round of the competition.

Carmarthen Town : Pennock, Hardy, Lloyd, Giles, Smothers, Jones, Dodds (S Davies 80'), Kennedy (Carter 65'), Griffiths (M Davies 65'), Lima , Cotteral.

Bridgend Town : Hooper-Nash, Hughes S, Jones, Brown, Williams N, Daniels, Hughes A, Driscoll (Jones 21'), Baah, Bannon, Williams M. Subs: Robinson, Ford.

Referee Neil Morgan (Gorseinon).

08.10.04 (Fri) Carmarthen Town 4 Aberystwyth Town 1

Having come on as a substitute in the 83rd. minute Carmarthen Town striker Craig Lima wrote his name in the history books when he scored a sensational hat-trick in the last three minutes of the game to give Town an emphatic 4-1 score line over near rivals Aberystwyth Town last Friday evening.

The hat-trick is the fastest ever scored in the Welsh Premier League and mirrors that of Bournemouth striker James Hayter who came on against Wrexham with six minutes remaining and struck three times in 2minutes 20 seconds to set an English League record last February.

Town manager Mark Jones has long promoted the belief that a successful team is based on a fourteen-man squad:

“I'm delighted for Craig he took his goals well and it showed that the quality of our bench was a key factor. We've shown it time and time again this season and Craig proved it again tonight”.

In front of the season's largest crowd a keenly contested opening period saw Gary Lloyd deliver several quality balls that tested the Aberystwyth defence. But with Bari Morgan and David Bridgewater industrious and combative in midfield for the visitors there was an expectant edge about this derby encounter.

Just before the half hour Aber striker Richard Ryan missed a glorious opportunity to put the visitors ahead. Having beaten defender Neil Smothers he chipped over Town keeper Tony Pennock but saw his effort go wide of the mark.

The visitors did go ahead in the 39th. minute. With Town struggling to clear their lines Gavin Allen picked up on the loose ball and found former Town favourite Siôn Meredith unmarked at the back of the box for the wing-man to slot home with the simplest of touches.

On the stroke of half time Town grabbed the equaliser as a Gary Lloyd free kick ricocheted off the wall and looped in over debutant keeper Lewis Solly's head to level the score and make it 1-1 at the break.

The second half was a scrappy affair with neither side really dominating. Town started brightly but free kicks from the ‘Seasider's' new signing Andrew Mumford were always a threat.

Pennock saved well just after the hour from Gavin Allen whilst at the other end Lloyd brought the best out of Solly on a couple of occasions - including an excellent stop at the base of the post on 74 minutes. With the ball spending considerable time aloft chances were few and far between.

Richard Carter replaced the struggling Richard Kennedy on the hour and with the final quarter approaching Town began to make more of an impact. Lima came on for Rhys Griffiths on 83 minutes and the incisive running of Cotterall became a telling factor.

With three minutes remaining a defence splitting pass from Luke Hardy put Cotteral into space and the wing-man's ball across the face of the goal found the on-rushing Lima who netted well to make it two for Town.

Then, with barely a minute remaining and referee Southall playing the advantage, Cotteral again rounded the defence to supply Lima for the striker to grab his second of the evening and make it 3-1 to Town.

With the game won and the home fans celebrating Town forced a series of corners and with Aberystwyth struggling to clear the danger Lloyd became the provider as Lima headed home his third to notch up his record breaking hat-trick and three valuable points for Town.

Carmarthen Town Pennock, Hardy, Lloyd, Giles, Smothers, Jones, Dodds, Kennedy (Carter 60'), Griffiths (Lima 83'), M.Davies (S.Davies90'), Cotterall.

Aberystwyth Town Solly,March, James, A.Thomas, Mumford, Bridgewater (Evans 89'), O.Thomas, Morgan, Ryan, Allen, Meredith (Davies83'). Sub not used: Burrows.

Attendance: 594 Referee: P R Southall

16.10.04 Caernarfon Town 0 Carmarthen Town 5

Carmarthen Town manager Mark Jones described his team's win against Caernarfon Town last Saturday as “a footballing performance” .

“I thought the way we knocked the ball around was great and I think the score reflected our dominance of the game” .

A brace of goals by debutant Chris Summers, who also had a hand in two others, and one each for Nathan Cotterall, Rhys Griffiths and Mark Dodds saw Town record one of their biggest away wins in their league history and that against a side brimming with Football League experience.

Richard Carter returned to the centre of Town's defence to partner the in-form Martyn Giles and after former Liverpool and Wales U21 forward Lee Jones exploited a little hesitancy in the Town defence early on the back line quickly adjusted to ensure that keeper Tony Pennock was largely untroubled for most of the match.

Following the early exchanges Town attacked constantly down both flanks and with captain Rhodri Jones probing down the middle Town soon dominated, exerting considerable pressure on the hosts.

Griffiths linked well to feed Cotterall on the twenty-minute mark but the busy wingman's effort went just wide of the post. Griffiths did net a couple of minutes later, having been set up by Dodds and Summers, only to be ruled offside by referee Mark Whitby.

Town maintained the pressure and when Caernarfon defender Jim McNulty's clearance fell to Cotterall he quickly linked inside with Giles and continued his run to receive a deft flick on from Summers to strike home Town's opener on the half hour.

Griffiths was denied by a fine block from the former Wales U21 keeper David Walsh and with Jones producing several strong runs Town looked to extend the advantage.

On the stroke of half time a Gary Lloyd throw-in found the ever-present Cotterall who was tackled by Canaries manager Wayne Phillips on the edge of the box. But with Jones picking up on the loose ball Summers' cross eluded the keeper for Griffiths to head home unopposed and make it two for Town at the break.

The second half saw the hosts produce a brief flurry with Gwyn Peters and Osian Jones taking on the Town defence. But with Carter in commanding form at the back there was no way through and Town once again exerted their grip on the game.

Town gave very little away and with some immaculate passing on a slippery surface retained possession well. Just after the hour Luke Hardy set Dodds free and following a strong run the midfielder's shot was turned behind at the expense of a corner.

Lloyd's set piece was headed goalwards by Jones and with Caernarfon struggling to clear the ball fell to Summers who stroked it home through a crowded box on 64 minutes to give Town a commanding lead.

Craig Lima replaced the tiring Griffiths with fifteen minutes remaining and with returnee Eston Chiverton replacing Richard Kennedy, Hardy moved into midfield. It was Hardy's well-taken corner on 75 minutes that found Lima who headed back across the box for Dodds to bundle home and give Town an unassailable advantage.

With Town having survived a penalty appeal and the game all but wrapped Summers grabbed his second of the afternoon with eight minutes remaining. A long clearance downfield from Pennock cleared the Caernarfon defence for the striker to run onto and place his shot wide of the approaching keeper to make it five for the visitors and a comprehensive win for Town.

Caernarfon Town Walsh, O.Jones, McNulty, Chalk, Hogg, Hobson (Roberts 8'), Peters (Williams 70'), Phillips, L.Jones (Quirke 46'), Evans,Campbell.

Carmarthen Town Pennock, Hardy, Lloyd, Giles (Smothers 78'), Carter, Jones, Dodds, Kennedy (Chiverton 71'), Griffiths (Lima 66'), Summers, Cotterrall.

Attendance: 185 Referee: M S Whitby

23.10.04 Carmarthen Town 0 Rhyl FC 1

With the chants of Sunny Rhyl, Sunny Rhyl, Sunny Rhyl…. from the Rhyl supporters seemingly a little out of place given the atrocious weather experienced at Richmond Park on Saturday Mark Jones' resurgent Carmarthen Town took on champions Rhyl FC in a game that would give Town's new manager a measure of how far his team has come this season.

400 plus fans braved the elements and in a pulsating and totally committed game the difference between the two sides proved to be a first half goal from Lee Hunt that saw the visitors take the three points and glean some sunshine in the result that keeps up the pressure on league leaders TNS.

With the second half played almost exclusively in the visitors half of the field Town came up against a watertight Rhyl back line. With Lee Atherton and Tim Edwards in commanding form at the heart of the defence it took several goal line clearances and some excellent work from keeper Paul Smith, turning away efforts from Chris Summers and Craig Lima, to deny a strike force that had scored twelve goals in their last three outings.

Marc Limbert missed an opportunity to put the visitors further ahead when he put his spot kick wide after Chris Adamson had been fouled in the box with twenty minutes remaining but despite the relentless Town pressure the Lilliwhites held out by the slimmest of margins.

Whilst disappointed with the result manager Mark Jones was upbeat and positive with his team's performance:

“I told the lads at the end if we give as much in every game as we gave today we will definitely win more that we will lose.

“We let them just get the upper hand after about 25 minutes and I think they are the best side in the League at holding on to a lead. And that is exactly what they did to us today.

“The ground staff did a fantastic job to get the game on but I thought the conditions suited them better than us. The ball was held up considerably which helped their defence and slowed down our attack.

“The boys were magnificent but I was disappointed in as much as that we held them in their own half virtually throughout the second half but we could not just get that goal.

“I think we should have had a point, that would have held Rhyl back. Now they are four ahead of us so we have to win the two games that we have in hand, starting with Caersws next week.

Carmarthen Town: Pennock, Hardy, Lloyd, Giles, Carter, Jones, Dodds (Griffiths 85'), Kennedy, Lima (Davies 76'), Summers, Cotterrall. Sub not used: Smothers.

Rhyl FC: Paul Smith, M.Powell, Stones, Atherton, Edwards, Graves, Wilson, Limbert (Brewerton 80'), Hunt (G.Powell 76'),McGinn, Adamson (Peter Smith 76').

Referee : S. P. Cavanaugh (Wrexham) Attendance : 425

30.10.04 Caersws FC 1 Carmarthen Town 2

Despite Caersws being a popular venue for Carmarthen Town fans, with only one win to show for the last six visits the Recreation Ground has not been a happy hunting ground for Town teams over recent years.

With the ‘Bluebirds' well placed in third position and Town looking to get back to winning ways the game looked a formidable challenge for both sides eager to maintain their early season form.

A well-taken goal from Craig Lima just before the half hour and a deflected free kick from Gary Lloyd just before half time gave Town a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break.

But four minutes into the second half top striker Graham Evans capitalised on a defensive error to pull one back for the hosts keeping the game a delicately balanced throughout the second period.

In the end Town withstood intense late pressure to hold out for the win that manager Mark Jones described as a very important result.

“ Today was a very, very important win for us. It means that we are still up there with the leaders and we have taken nine points from the last twelve, which is not bad.

“I warned the lads at half time not to give Graham Evans an inch. He is always a danger and he capitalised on our hesitancy today.

The opening quarter saw the hosts grab the early initiative with Town keeper Tony Pennock saving from Evans, when he got on the end of a Graham Jones cross early on, and from Jones himself when he pushed away the No 10's well hit shot at the expense of a corner.

Rhodri Jones and Nathan Cotterall combined well and Martyn Giles' miss hit shot went wide when well placed. But the hosts retained the upper hand as they gave Town a torrid time on the left flank and fashioned the move of the match from deep with the ball flowing through mid fielder Chris Venables, Jones and Evans before Andy Davies put his shot wide on the twenty minute mark.

Having weathered the early pressure ESM sponsored Carmarthen Town took the lead on 28 minutes. Pennock's clearance found his captain Jones and with Cotterall and Chris Summers spreading the ball wide to Luke Hardy it was Jones once again who put Mark Dodds into space for the wing-man's low cross to evade the covering defence and Lima slide the ball home from close in to give Town the advantage against the run of play.

The goal gave Town momentum and possession was now more evenly distributed. Former Town mid fielder Dylan McPhee blasted over having spotted Pennock out of position but with half time approaching Town doubled the tally.

Hugh Clark tripped Dodds and with the defender receiving a yellow card for his subsequent petulant behaviour Town were awarded a free kick well within striking distance.

Lloyd drilled his low left footer effort around the Caersws wall and having taken a deflection off defender Andrew Thomas found the net to make it 2-0 at the break.

The hosts started the second period as they had the first with Evans heading wide from Davies' flighted long cross.

Then when Mulliner's long clearance looked to be running to his opposite number the predatory Evans exploited Town's indecision and got between Giles and Pennock to steal the ball wide and net well from a narrow angle to reduce the arrears.

With the game back in the balance Town rearranged their line-up to contain the danger. With some success Lloyd took on a ‘sweeper' role and the tenacious Richard Kennedy man-marked to police the midfield threat.

With both sides having difficulty in maintaining possession the game became a little scrappy with little between the sides.

Then with the game approaching its close play became frenetic as Town looked to protect their advantage and the hosts threw everyone forward in an attempt to snatch an equaliser.

Town's goalmouth came under siege from a series of corners. Davies and Jones came close and only a brave save from Pennock in the dying moments denied Clark's strong run as Town held out for all three valuable points.