31.10.06 Loosemores League Cup
Port Talbot Town 2 Carmarthen Town 4

A comfortable first half performance gave Town a convincing 3-0 lead at the break. A double strike from Kaid Mohamed set Town up and with Danny Thomas adding a third five minutes before half time Town were in control against a changed Port Talbot Town.

With little at stake and the game all but won in the first period Town lacked urgency in the second. Both sides made changes and the hosts came back into the game.

Andrew Pearson reduced the arrears for the ‘Steelmen’ Two minutes into the second period and Richard French added a second eight minutes from time. But with the game winding down Thomas wrapped it up for Town with his second of the evening.

Town will travel to Caersws on Tuesday evening 07.11.06 for the Quarter Final tie.

Port Talbot Town: Smith, Taylor, Barrow (R.Jones 79'), M.Jones, Dennis, Hanford, French, Davies, Pearson (Parry 60'), Webb (Hodgeson 60'), Johnston.

Carmarthen Town: N.Thomas, Evans, Edwards, Hancock (Cotterrall 73'), Dodds (Lima 40'), K.Thomas, D.Thomas, Ramasut, Walters, Mohamed (Fleming 70'), M.Davies.
Attendance: 80 Referee: Simon Jones

28.10.06
Carmarthen Town 1 Port Talbot Town 0

It was a tale of two penalties at Richmond Park on Friday evening as a dramatic injury time penalty save from Carmarthen Town keeper Neil Thomas denied Port Talbot a deserved share of the spoils.

Town captain Nathan Cotterrall had put the Old Gold ahead in the 21st minute from the spot when Matthew Rees was adjudged to have felled Danny Thomas in the box. But with the visitors dominating the second period Thomas haunted his old club with a low two handed save to deny Richard French’s injury time spot kick.

The win lifted Town into fourth and extended Port Talbot’s loosing sequence to three games.

Having seen his side dominate the second period manager Wayne Davies was naturally very disappointed.

“I’m bitterly disappointed with the result. Coming on the back of two very heavy defeats and having played poorly in both those previous games I was thrilled how the boys rolled up their sleeves.

“In all honestly we should have at least drawn the game and our second half performance probably warranted a win if we had got the first goal early enough.

"Carmarthen were always very dangerous on the break and in fairness could have scored as well. Overall a fair result really would have been a draw.

As to the penalty awarded by Scottish referee Colin Brown Davies said,

“I’m not sure. Matthew has gone fishing for the ball and he shouldn’t have. He should have stood up. You can’t blame the lad for falling over, that’s what you do and he’s got given the penalty.

“What disappointed me more was I thought we had a really good call ourselves when Andrew Pearson was brought down in the box when he got to the near post ball just ahead of Mark Dodds and touched it on. Mark has brought him down and the ref just waved it away and in fact he’s booked Andrew. Andrew’s not the sort to throw himself about.

“I thought justice was done at the end when we got a penalty. I’m not sure what it was for pushing I think, but our ex goalie has came back to haunt us. Full marks to Tomo it was a good save and if it had gone in it would have been a fair result

“Yes the result was poor but the performance was great. The boys worked their socks off and created chances. Carmarthen is a good side and for us to dominate the second half was very encouraging.

Only great defending and some good goalkeeping kept us out. I’m very encouraged. I don’t want to make excuses but my best three strikers were all unavailable. Lee John, Chad Bond were unavailable and Martin Rose only played ten minutes of the game. They are good footballers and would have made a difference. But full marks to Carmarthen they defended very well.

Carmarthen Town manager Mark Jones was relieved to have claimed all three points.

“Very pleased about the result. Most probability the worst we’ve played this season at home and we’ve come away with three points. But that’s football for you.

“We’ve played better than that and got beat twice. I thought Port Talbot deserved something from the game. But there was only one hero really on the night, Neil Thomas.

“Yes we were under pressure for a half hour in the second half but we didn’t deal with the ball at the top area of the pitch in the right way. When we did get the ball up there we were wasteful with it.

“We’re looking for people to look after the ball in good areas for us and that takes pressure off the defenders and mid-field. We’ve been great at the top so far this season but tonight we weren’t.

And as to the penalty decisions,

“I didn’t honestly see ours and I didn’t see theirs. It was difficult; they must have been Scottish penalties!

Following an evenly contested opening quarter Town edged ahead when Scottish referee Colin Brown had no hesitation in pointing to the spot after Town’s mid field man had been fouled in the box.

But the visitors came close to levelling on the half hour when substitute Andrew Pearson, who had replaced the injured Martin Rose after fourteen minutes, beat the offside trap but lost out in a ‘one on one’ with Thomas in the Town goal.

Kaid Mohamed saw his effort deflected on to the post by the keeper Kristian Rogers and it took a goal line clearance from Rees to deny Sasha Walters after the wing man had done well to stay on his feet under a challenge from Scott Barrow.

As the interval approached another strong save from Thomas palmed away Barrow’s rifled shot after Leigh De Vulgt’s effort had rebounded off the Town upright.

Following the break Town found difficulty in retaining possession in forward areas allowing Port Talbot’s back line to push forward with Rees strong in the middle and De Vulgt and Dyfan Pierce countering well down the flanks.

With French raiding the Town back line Rogers was forced to tip Mohamed’s low header from a Cotterrall cross on to the post at the Steelmen’s end.

But with the game approaching its dramatic ending Town surrendered a series of free kicks in vulnerable areas but with Liam Hancock and Mark Dodds resolute at the back Town managed to hold out the considerable threat.

And then with the game into the fourth minute of injury time Craig Lima was adjudge to have held Lee Suman and with Thomas forcing away French’s rifled spot kick Town held out by the narrowest of margins.

Carmarthen Town N.Thomas, Evans, Fleming, Hancock, Dodds, K.Thomas, D.Thomas, Ramasut, Walters (M.Davies 69'), Mohamed, Cotterrall (Lima 90'). Subs not used: Williams, Butler, Richards.

Port Talbot Town Rogers, de Vulgt, Pierce, Mumford (Surman 90'), Rees, Hanford, French, Blain, Rose (Pearson 14' [Johnston 69']), Jones, Barrow.

Attendance: 423 Referee: Colin Brown (SCO)

24.10.06 Loosemores Cup Group D
Haverfordwest County 0 Carmarthen Town 0

Town virtually guaranteed qualification to the last eight of the Loosemores Cup with a drawn but thoroughly entertaining game at the New Bridge Meadow.

With the game ebbing and flowing throughout a combination of good ‘keeping, vital interceptions and spurned chances saw the game remain goalless to the end.

Whilst the Bluebirds could still match Town’s tally remaining ties against Llanelli, home and away, are unlikely to reverse their significant goal difference.

Both sides contributed to a lively opening quarter that saw Nathan Cotterrall and Danny Thomas blaze over and Kaid Mohamed fail to connect when put through having lost his boot.

Town keeper Neil Thomas denied Adie Harries and with Tony Bird producing neat little touches for the hosts Lee Hudgell caused problems out on the flank. Vital saving tackles from both left backs saw Bluebirds youngster Bobby Briers deny Mohamed whilst at the other end Lee Denner’s last gasp interception saw Tim Hicks’ strike graze the foot of the post.

With the break approaching Town pressed and it took a goal line clearance from Wayne Jones, playing in the centre of the defence, to clear Chris Thomas’ goalbound effort from an acute angle and moments later Kendell had the better of a one on one with Cotterall.

Five minutes into the second period a double save from Kendell frustrated Town’s attack as Sasha Walters’ curving strike was palmed away with a strong pair of hands and Danny Thomas’ low effort from close in was blocked and gathered.

But with the hosts having their best period Bird showed his guile and experience as he provided well for Hudgell and Hicks who both spurned clear cut chances to put the Bluebirds ahead.

Town revived penning the hosts in and it took a covering tackle from Simon Gilderdale’s and another good save from Kendall to keep out the persistant Danny Thomas and substitute Mattie Davies.

As the hosts tired Town won a string of free kicks but with the Bluebirds still able to break Hudgell saw his late effort come off the top of the bar and the stalemate remained.

With five minutes remaining Bird saw red and with both goals remaining intact Town secured the point that all but mathematically puts them through to the to the knockout stages.

Haverfordwest County; Kendall, Heal, Briars (Christopher 88'), Gilderdale, W.Jones, Harris, O'Sullivan (Adams 77'), Hicks, Bird, Palmer, Hudgell. Sub not used: Wilson.

Carmarthen Town; N.Thomas, Evans, Denner (Fleming 63'), Hancock, Dodds, K.Thomas, D.Thomas, Tamasut, Walters (Davies 58'), Mohamed, Cotterrall. Subs not used: Williams, Dragone.

Attendance: 229 Referee: Dean John

21.10.06 Cwmbran Town 4 Carmarthen Town 5

A THOROUGHLY DESERVED hat-trick was Kaid Mohamed’s reward for an electric performance at Cwmbran on Saturday as Town notched up their fourth win of the season against the Crows.

Not only was Mohamed the principle ‘goal getter’ for Town but the former Crow was also the conduit through which the Town attack flowed and a deluge of goals to match the torrential weather saw Town record an impressive 19 goals from the quartet of victories against the Gwent outfit.

But having leaked four goals manager Mark Jones will want to focus on his defensive set up. The Richmond Park boss said:

“It was a bit of a roller coaster. We had a good two goal margin throughout and weren’t in any real danger of loosing. Their last goal was just a consolation.

“Kaid was magnificent and it was most important to get three points. Our away form is most probably the best in the league and our entertainment value must be good.

“It suits us as I think we’re a better team on the break. When we’re playing away teams come at you and there tends to be a few more gaps. At home we need to be a bit more patient.

“There was no celebrating in the changing room. If anything we were a little disappointed having conceded. There have been a lot of League cup games this season and we haven’t really had time on the training pitch to iron out a few things.

“We’ve lost several key players and we are a very young team. We need that time together.

“Friday night is a bit of a derby against Port Talbot. The away fans have had some great wins to cheer. We need a home win now to give the home fans something to shout about.

Mohamed opened Town’s account as early as the fifth minute when he controlled Sasha Walters floated ball well and firing home his left footed effort.

But the Crows were back on level terms eighteen minutes later after Kristian Hanbury picked up on a diagonal ball and turned his marker before blasting through Neil Thomas’ legs to find the net.

Another ex-Crow, midfielder Kris Thomas, put Town ahead once more from an acute angle just before the half hour. Mark Dodds added a third with three minutes of the half remaining after Liam Hancock’s goal bound header was cleared out to the wing and captain Nathan Cotterrall’s in-swinging return was headed home powerfully by the central defender to put EMC sponsored Carmarthen Town in command at the interval.

Five minutes into the second period Crows defender Josh Collins reduced the arrears when he headed home Michael Parkins’ corner. But it took less than a minute for Mohamed to restore the two goal cushion. With Town breaking quickly from deep Stewart Edwards’ pass was helped through by Walters for Mohamed to steer the ball through Gareth Wesson’s legs and notch up his brace.

And it wasn’t long before the impressive front man completed his deserved hat-trick. After picking up on Edwards’ feed and leaving two would-be tacklers in his wake he struck passed Wesson just before the hour.

With Town now comfortable sloppy defending saw Rhys Griffiths fire home after Hanbury had held the ball up well. And with the game into to injury time Cwmbran top scorer Jody Jenkins netted a late consolation as the Old Gold bagged a full complement of points that sees them into fifth in the table.

Cwmbran Town: Wesson, Green, Wysome, Ward, Collins, Williams, Parkins, Raven, J Jenkins, Hanbury, Loverso (Small 67'). Subs not used: Davies, Goodridge.

Carmarthen Town: N Thomas, Evans, Edwards, Hancock, Dodds, K Thomas, D Thomas, Ramasut, Walters (Dragone 90'), Mohamed (Davies 85'), Cotterrall. Subs not used: Fleming, Lima, Williams.

Attendance: 167 Referee: Wayne Tregonning

17.10.06 Carmarthen Town 0 Llanelli AFC 4

Llanelli progressed to the quarter finals of the Loosemores Cup with a well taken win at Richmond Park on Tuesday night.

With early chances falling to both sides top scorer Rhys Griffiths headed just over bar and Neil Thomas’ driven shot was well stopped by his namesake in the Town goal.

For Town Mark Dodds, who had reverted to a forward role, saw his shot well blocked by Duncan Roberts and Sasha Walters’ long range strike curled just wide of the mark.

With Neil Thomas the instigator for much of the Red's momentum it was poor Town defending at a set piece that allowed Griffiths to break the deadlock on 33 minutes when he headed home Gary Lloyd's well taken corner. Minutes later Thomas did well to keep out Jacob Migorance’s shot from close in.

Six minutes into the second period and with little still separating the sides Lloyd hammered home a spot kick after referee Neil Morgan had awarded a very debatable penalty to swing the game in favour of the visitors. But there was no debating the outcome a minute later as Griffiths rounded the defence to beat the keeper and put the game beyond Town.

A great stop from Thomas denied Migorance once again after he had been played in by Griffiths just after the hour and with Town’s defence failing to deal with a through ball substitute Nick Harrhy hammered home the fourth off the underside of the bar to put Llanelli on top of the group and secure a place in the knock out stages of the competition.

Town: Thomas, Evans, Fleming (Lima 71'), Hancock, Edwards, Thomas C, Thomas D (Morris 87'), Ramasut, Walters (Davies 55'), Dodds, Cotterrall.

Llanelli: Roberts, Griffiths, Lloyd, N Thomas Harrhy 61'), W Thomas, Belle, Phillips, Fernandez, Griffiths, Mingorance (Thomas 68'), Williams Jones 80').

Referee N L Morgan Attendance 236

14.10.06 Carmarthen Town 1 Connah’s Quay Nomads 3

With Town and Nomads neck and neck in the League Saturday’s clash at Richmond Park was a keenly fought affair. The early exchanges saw Chris Thomas head wide for Town and Nomad Tommy Mutton fire over when well placed.

But it was Nomad Adam Dickenson, a recent signing from Tranmere Rovers that proved the difference between the two sides. With the wingman allowed to turn in the box he fired home the opener for Nomads on nine minutes

Nathan Cotterrall finished a glorious Town move down the left to bring the Old Gold on level terms with half time approaching but it was Dickenson who picked up on a headed clearance a minute later to volley home with the ball squirming underneath Neil Thomas’ body after the keeper had seemingly held the strike.

With Town penning in the visitors for most of the second half Kaid Mohamed, Cotterrall and Town’s two Thomas’ harassing the Nomads defence. But with Chris Williams and Chris Taylor getting in crucial tackles and interceptions it took a brilliant one handed save from keeper Paul Smith to deny Mohamed on 77 minutes as he turned and fired in the box.

The save proved the turning point of the game. With Town throwing caution to the wind a long ball forward was picked up by Mutton. Having cut inside he put the ball beyond Thomas to seal the win for the visitors.

With Nomads leapfrogging Town into fifth Connah’s Quay’s long serving manager Neville Powell was naturally delighted with the outcome.

“Yes I’m over the moon. For the boys to come here and get three points is great. We knew that Carmarthen had scored eighteen goals in the last three games and that it would be a tight game.

“Town played some good stuff without penetrating us. We have players who can hit on the break and that’s what we did today.

Powell credited the success of his team to quality signings and team spirit.

“Team spirit has a lot to do with it. We have a small squad and a moderate budget and they play for one another.

"Young Adam Dickinson from Tranmere has been a great signing. He has a great work rate and attitude. He did well to get back in front of Cotterrall and Walters.

And Paul Smith’s save?

“Yes the save was a good save but that’s what he’s there for and that’s why he’s one of the best in the league. I thought we had six or seven good chances.

Town’s management duo of Mark Jones and Mark Aizlewood could not be critical of their squad.

Aizlewood said,

“I thought we played OK. The game turned on critical moments. Neil Thomas’ mistake gave them a boost and the last gaol was almost immaterial at that stage.

“We kept going well and our attitude was first class. But what we have to work on is our final ball into the box and today our final decision making could have been better.

Manager Mark Jones agreed with his coach that attitude and effort could not be faulted.

“What we do have to be careful of is that teams do not pack the defence and beat us on the break as happened today.

“They defended well at every corner and set piece and they were dropping eight or nine behind the ball.

“I’ll take responsibility for the third goal. It was a gamble to chuck Lima in there and it backfired.

“We still need a bit of quality. I think their No 11 was the difference between the two sides. He made the first goal out of nothing and the second was the keeper’s error.

Carmarthen Town: N.Thomas, Evans (Loss 46'), Fleming, Hancock (Lima 82'), Dodds, K.Thomas, D.Thomas, Ramasut (White 71'), Walters, Mohamed, Cotterrall.Subs not used: K.Davies, Stephens

Connahs Quay Nomads: Smith, Swanick, Lovell, Hutchinson (Cook 85'), Williams, Taylor, Limbert, Garside, Mutton (Harrison 89'), McGinn (Molyneux 56'), Dickinson. Sub not used: Roche.

Attendance 285 Referee D. Adie (Caldicot)

06.10.06 CAERSWS 1 CARMARTHEN TOWN 7

Having fired five goals before half time Carmarthen Town condemned Caersws FC to a 7-1 drubbing as the Richmond Park outfit recorded their biggest-ever away win last Friday evening at the Recreation Ground.

With Town having scored eighteen goals in the last three games Kris Thomas capped a fine performance with a well taken hat-trick with his mid-field partner Danny Thomas also grabbing a brace. Nathan Cotterral and Kaid Mohamed both added to the tally that saw Mark Jones’ men inflict the heaviest home defeat for eleven years on the Mid Wales Bluebirds.

With the hosts out paced and outflanked the mid Wales outfit had no answer for Town’s pace, energy and precision passing as Kris Thomas and Cotterrall harassed and stretched the home defence from the whistle.

Town capitalised on early domination as first Thomas and then a minute later Cotterall converted crosses from the right to give Town a two goal lead with scarcely ten minutes on the clock.

With the Bluebirds reeling from the early onslaught Cotterall and Thomas played havoc with the flatfooted Caersws defence and with Thomas winning the ball with a strong tackle Caersws keeper Andy Mulliner did well to block Danny Thomas’ finish.

At the other end Neil Thomas was equal to Chris Venables’ free kick but a Ross Stephens' set-piece minutes later rattled Town’s woodwork before being gathered by the experienced keeper.

Kaid Mohamed, who consistently out paced his markers, added a third just after the half hour mark. Breaking from mid-field he sliced through the Bluebird’s back line to round the keeper and put Town in the comfort zone with a fine individual effort.

Five minutes later the game was all but over as a contest as the tenacious Danny Thomas, who was playing a pivotal role in mid-field, headed home Terry Evans’ deep cross from the right with eight minutes remaining.

Then to wrap up what was for many Town fans present the best first half performance they had witnessed Kris Thomas converted Mohamed’s driven ball from the flank to make it 5-0 at the break; equalling Town’s record breaking first half performance against UWIC Inter Cardiff in 2000.

Caersws did revive a little in the second period as Andy Davies replaced defender Andy Thomas and Chris Venables came close to reducing the arrears, heading over when well placed.

But minutes later Cotterrall, who was relishing the contest, beat the whole of the defence with a mazy individual run only to find the side netting with his final effort and then when Danny Thomas broke through the middle Mulliner saved well to deny Mohamed.

Liam Hancock and Mark Dodds policed the Caersws forward line well and with Fleming and Evans active down the flanks Tom Ramasut provided an effective link maintaining Town’s momentum well.

Thomas blocked well from Graham Evans on the hour but when Kris Thomas split the defence with his cross field ball Danny Thomas found the net with his angled shot and Town extended the advantage to six.

Caersws, to their credit, pressed forward. Neil Mitchell and Venables both fired wide before the Bluebirds had some consolation when Stephens lobbed Thomas on 67 minutes to avoid a whitewash.

Town’s new signing Stuart Edwards replaced Fleming with 20 minutes remaining and when Mohamed was put through by Kris Thomas he somehow succeeded in lobbing the keeper and the bar.

Then to compound a miserable night for the hosts Mulliner saved well with his legs from substitute Mattie Davies but with Kris Thomas burying the rebound from 25 yards he capped a fine individual performance and his first hat-trick in Carmarthen Town colours.

A delighted Mark Jones;

“Eighteen goals in three games, I think that speaks for itself. What was most pleasing tonight was the fact that all the goals, bar the last one, were footballing goals.

“I had a full squad to choose from tonight and I’ve had to disappoint one or two players. We started on fire and we kept it going throughout.

“They all played well but I was pleased for Kris Thomas, he deserved the hat-trick.

A disappointed Caersws boss Mickey Evans said:

I can’t take anything away from Carmarthen Town tonight they were magnificent. They moved the ball around and we could not match their pace. I’ve got no complaints with the result.

“We had been hopeful of a result. We got through a tough Welsh Cup tie at the weekend and we played really well against Aberystwyth in mid – week but tonight we were not in it.

Caersws FC: Mulliner, Thomas (Davies 46'), Grist, Reynolds, Sparey, G. Jones (M. Griffiths 80'), Venables (C. Jones 85'), Mitchell, Evans, Stephens, G. Lewis.

Carmarthen Town: N. Thomas, Evans (Williams 85'), Fleming (Edwards 68'), Hancock, Dodds, K. Thomas, D. Thomas, Ramasut, Walters, Mohamed (Davies 75'), Cotterrall. Sub not used: Loss

03.10.06 Carmarthen Town 4 Cwmbran Town 0 (Loosemores Cup Group D)

With Cwmbran rotating their squad and giving a debut appearance to keeper Kieran Blackburn Town cruised to a 4-0 win that maintains their table top position in Group D.

With Danny Thomas, Mattie Davies and Kris Thomas all netting before the half hour mark Town enjoyed comfortable lead at the break. Davies then netted his brace just after the hour to secure the outcome but with Cwmbran pressed for a consolation Neil Thomas was forced to save well from Michael Perkins and Sam Small.

The early traffic was all one way with Blackburn clearing his own line and tipping over Davies’s header. Then with Kaid Mohamed flashing in a low delivery Danny Thomas beat his marker to net the opener on 20 minutes.

With Blackburn again denying Davies and Danny Thomas blazing over the rebound Neil Thomas at the other end made a great low save to keep out Parkins. But Davies finally got the better of the Crows keeper when he got behind the defence to extend Town’s lead on 24 minutes.

A fine solo effort from Kris Thomas, who broke from defence and ran the length of the field to find the back of the net, four minutes later more or less ensure the points for Town.

Following the break the Crows enjoyed their best period with Prosser’s deep cross forcing a corner and Thomas tipping over the No 10’s header.

But Davies put the game beyond the visitors when Kris Thomas worked well down the left flank and his cross into space gave Davies time to pick his spot and make it four.

With Town making changes a couple of reflex saves from Thomas kept out Parkin and then Small at point blank range and with the visitors reduced to ten men with the withdrawal of Lloyd Jenkins substitute Ashley Williams and defender Craig Lima saw their headed efforts cleared off the Cwmbran line.

Then with Town producing a final flourish Nathan White was put through and having beaten the defence he lifted the ball over the keeper and somehow just wide of the open goal.

Town : Thomas, Evans, Fleming, Lima, Dodds (Williams 72’), K Thomas, D Thomas (Denner 65’), Ramasut (White54’), Davies, Mohamed, Cotterrall.

Cwmbran : Blackburn, Davies, Wysome, Jenkins, Williams, Goodridge (Raven 46’), Dawe, Evans, Houston(Small 57’), Prosser, Parkins.