04.10.09 WELSH CUP SECOND ROUND
CARMARTHEN TOWN 4 PONTYPRIDD TOWN 1

Town worked hard and were rewarded for their endeavour with a comfortable win over Welsh League Pontypridd Town. The win sees Town progress to the third round of the competition and a tie against near neighbours Llanelli AFC.

Manager Deryn Brace was pleased with both the result and the performance. He told 'Y Dre ar Y We', "A very pleasing win. The boys approached the game in the right manner. Yes in cup games it's all about the result but it's even more pleasing when you get the result and a decent performance as well, which we got today".

In a bright and entertaining first half the hosts enjoyed the majority of possession and chances but Pontypridd, with Ian Taylor in particular, were dangerous on the break.

Craig Hanford opened Town's account on eight minutes steering his header, from a Sacha Walters flag kick, into the corner of the goal beyond the experienced Marty Ellacott who had no chance. Mark Pritchard almost doubled for Town soon after when he fired narrowly over but Pontypridd were soon back on level terms. Ian Taylor turning his marker before firing a low shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner of the net.

Town keeper Neil Thomas did well to deny Taylor a second, saving at the wing man's feet but Town retained their composure and were soon in control again on the twenty minute mark when Tim Hicks headed in, again from a Walters corner kick, to make it 2-1 after Dyfan Pierce and Nathan Cotterrall had combined well down the left.

Having had a hand in the second Cotterrall then netted the third himself with a clever little flicked-ball after Hicks had controlled a long ball well. Then a superb one handed save from Ellacott denied Cotterrall a second after the hard working Hicks had done well to keep the ball in play.

Cotterrall then found himself clear in front of goal but Ellacott did well to stand him up but having beaten the keeper Cotterrall's placed effort was cleared off the line by the covering Dean Morris on the half hour.

With three minutes to go the 'Dragons' netted but the Assistant flagged the offside before Taylor enjoyed a surging late run. But with Richard Jago inches away from the cross it remained 3-1 at the break.

Following the resumption Ellacott showed all his guile and experience to deny Hanford's header and Mark Pritchard on a couple of occasions before palming over Walters' driven volley. But despite the visitors enjoying a better share of possession Hicks grabbed his brace and sealed the win for Town heading in another Walters flag kick.

The visitors made changes and with the subs providing energy and some pace Pontypridd never gave up and Neil Thomas had to be alert to tip over Nathan Hosgood's snap shot from ten yards.

Brace added, "The all-round attitude from everyone today was spot on. The moment that we started we took the game to them. We knew we had to make the tempo, keep the desire right and not be over the top. Obviously we got off to a good start with Craig’s goal but we were a little bit sloppy in terms of their equaliser. But we responded well and going in half time 3-1 up I thought we were well worth it".

"We caused them problems at set pieces, we caused them problems in open play and it was a case then, in the second half, of the next goal being the all-important one. We could either kill the game or make the game more interesting. Fortunately enough we got the goal and then it was the case of can we get a fifth or sixth. Unfortunately we came up against a keeper who’s made some really good saves today".

Town: N Thomas, Dodds, D Pierce, Smothers, Hanford, K Thomas, Walters (Roberts), Hicks, Fowler (Palmer), Prichard, Cotterrall Sub not used : Brace.

Pontypridd: Ellacott, Giles-Minett (Jones), A Davies, N Davies, Morris, Dawes, Waite (Jenkins), Clingo, Jago (Hosgood), Phillips, Taylor.

Referee: Dean John Assistants: D Badger, B Coyle


06.10.09 LEAGUE CUP
PORT TALBOT 1 CARMARTHEN TOWN 1
With the hosts having qualified Town and the Steelmen shared the points. Both sides made changes from the weekend and Tim Hicks put Town ahead just after the half hour when Dodds headed back a Port Talbot long ball for the front man to run on and play it past keeper Lee Kendall.

Daniel Thomas, returning from suspension, equalised for the hosts straight after the break but Town Manager Deryn Brace was relatively pleased with the outcome as Town looked to build some form. "We made a few changes and we played well in patches. We're up to three games now and that gives us some confidence. I know we'll have to do better at the weekend but that's a different game".

Port Talbot: Kendall, Boslem, Barrow, Phillips, Bansor, Surman, John (Rose 71'), De-Vulgt, Thomas, Holland, Grist. Subs not used: Fahiya, Lewis.

Town: N Thomas, Hughes, Pierce, Palmer, Dodds (Squires 82'), K Thomas, Walters, Hicks, Fowler (Smothers 74'), Morris, Pritchard. Sub not used: Brace. Attendance: 111 Referee: Kevin Morgan

10.10.09 AIRBUS UK BROUGHTON 2 CARMARTHEN TOWN 2

Carmarthen Town showed great character and spirit to overturn a 2-0 deficit and battle for a share of the points. Ryan Edwards had put the hosts ahead just after the hour, netting a contentious penalty. Then when league record holder Mark Lloyd Williams hit a superb dipping, half volley seven minutes later to extend the Wingmakers’ lead it looked as if Town would lose their 100% record at The Airfield.

With Manager Deryn Brace having introduced all three substitutes Town looked to reduce the deficit. Dyfan Pierce’s curling free kick was glanced home by Tim Hicks with twelve minutes remaining and Town were back in contention.

Then, six minutes later, Chris Thomas’ exquisitely struck free kick levelled the score and Town earned a very valuable, hard won point. With both sides having to deal with some unpredictable refereeing decisions Manager Deryn Brace was happy to have got something from the game though it was Town who finished the stronger as they pushed for a winner. Brace told the Y Dre ar Y We,

“Having been two nil down I’m pleased with a point. As everyone in football knows levelling a 2-0 deficit feels like a win. Our first half game lacked cohesiveness and we seemed to panic but in the last twenty minutes we’ve been eager, contested everything and got the two goals.

“It’s nice to build a little bit of a run. We pulled it out of the bag really when it looked as if we weren’t going to get anything. It is pleasing but we need to do far better than what we are doing currently. It’s just a little disappointing that we’ve had to go 2-0 down before showing what we can do”.

Never having been on the losing end of a result against Airbus Town looked to maintain a recent upturn in results and extend the unbeaten Wingmakers record. But Town looked nervous and uncertain in the opening period with Matthew Cook, Carl Owen and Gio Feliciello especially causing all kinds of problems as they pulled the Town defence all over the field. But despite a lacklustre showing the Richmond Park outfit created two great first half chances.

Hicks' persistence saw the front man, who is forging a useful understanding with Mark Pritchard, winning the ball twice. Once in midfield and then almost immediately near the bye line before Pritchard's final effort was held by the keeper on the twenty-three minute mark.

Then, with the break approaching, Hicks was unlucky not to break the deadlock. His powerful header, off Pierce's curling free kick, crashed against the bar before the ball rebounded off the back of the keeper's head to safety.

Early on it had taken a sharp sprint out from his area for keeper Neil Thomas to save the day as the Airbus front two broke through on goal. With the keeper nursing an injury to his leg for his efforts Lloyd Williams then rang the alarm bell with a raking shot across goal that went inches wide of the far post after he was given space out on the right of the box. Town often looked second best and with the hosts forcing a series of corners it needed the half time whistle to bring relief as Town struggled to clear.

The second period saw concerted attacks from both sides, Airbus favoured the right and Town had some success on the left with Pritchard working well to protect and hold up possession. Just after the hour Neil Smothers was harshly adjudged to have handled with the Wingmakers going ahead from the spot. Town reacted positively and four minutes later Brace sent on all three subs.

But despite the changes that provided pace and urgency Town's back line once again gave Lloyd-Williams too much room and he looked to have put the game beyond Town when he netted Carl Owen's flick-on from a long free kick that should have gone in Town’s favour. But persistence paid off as Town maintained the momentum. Keeper Kristian Rogers was forced to handle outside the box as Town broke through and with the resulting set piece converted by Hicks the front man got on the score sheet for the third consecutive game and Town took the initiative.

Paul Fowler was pulled down on the edge of the box and having conceded one set piece an unsettled Airbus then conceded a second after referee Darren Adie had given Town a second bite of the cherry, when Feliciello was harshly punished for encroachment. With the points shared Town are the only side with an unbeaten record against the Wingmakers who have now conceded a 2-0 lead for the fourth time this season.

Brace added, “It was strange in the first ten fifteen minutes we seemed in a panic with no cohesiveness which played into Airbus’ hands. They exploited a simple tactic of playing the ball over the top of our back line. Unfortunately our back four didn’t seem to deal with it and it had a knock on effect on the rest of the team”.

“Once we settled a little on the twenty-minute mark we came into it a bit more and we created one or two offerings. For the first hour probably, although they weren’t miles better than us, we always seemed to be waiting for Airbus to do something, which proved the case. Fortunately we managed to get ourselves out of it”.

Explaining his decision to send on all three substitutes together the Richmond Park boss felt he had little choice. “When your losing the game and your making three substitutions at the same time you obviously want and need a dramatic change. Sometimes replacing one player wont get that change. It gave us more impetus and a bit of momentum though we did concede the goal with them on the pitch. But it wasn’t really down to them it was again a defensive mistake and we found ourselves two – nil down”.

“But the good thing was that because the subs wanted to come on and have a say in the game they kept driving, kept everybody else on the front foot and we started winning some individual battles. When things start going for you everybody wants to get involved. In the last twenty minutes we had an eleven-man performance when for an hour we played too much like individuals”.

Of the penalty decision Brace was somewhat philosophical. “It’s one of those funny decisions. Smudger hasn’t meant it at all. The ball has come across to him and taken an unbelievable bounce and hit him on the arm. It was an unfortunate decision. But if it had happened at the other end and he hadn’t given a penalty for us we would have been disappointed. But because we managed to take something out of the game we can probably be a little more understanding of the decision”.

Brace was pleased with his forward pairing. “I thought Pritch and Hicksy up front worked tirelessly. A lot of it was scraps but they made the most of it. They know themselves that there is plenty more to come from them but I thought there work rate today was excellent”.

Airbus: Rogers, Edwards, Felichello, Woodward, Allan, Roberts, Williams, Desormeaux, Owen, Lloyd-Williams, Cook (McManus 88') Subs not used: Mitchell, Sudlow, Abraham.

Town: N Thomas, Dodds, Pierce, Smothers (Palmer 67'), Hanford, C Thomas, Walters (Morris 67'), Hicks, Fowler, Pritchard, Cotterrall (R Hughes 67').

17.10.09 CARMARTHEN TOWN 3 PORT TALBOT TOWN 1

Three goals in a 12 minute second half spell saw Town overturn Port Talbot’s first half lead to run out deserved winners and record their first win this season at Richmond Park. Martin Rose had opened the scoring for the Steelmen, just before the half hour mark, following a good run from Daniel Thomas on the left.

Having shown patience Town were finally rewarded for their endeavor when Tim Hicks leveled the score with sixteen minutes to go, heading home substitute Nathan Cotterrall’s cross from the left following a five man move.

Having put his name on the score sheet for the fourth consecutive game, Hicks then turned provider. With Mark Pritchard heading the front man’s ball from the byeline goalwards a superb save from keeper Lee Kendall initially denied Town but with Danny Thomas following-in and applying the final touch at the far post Town went ahead with six minutes remaining.

Two minutes later Nick Palmer sealed the points when he lobed Kendall from 30 yards after the keeper had rushed out of his area in a race to clear the ball as Pritchard pounced on a poor back pass.

Manager Deryn Brace told 'Y Dre ar Y We', "Delighted for everyone. The win was vital, especially against the calibre of team we were playing. But also the way that we got it was pleasing. It wasn’t a lucky win or a fortunate win, it was a well-deserved win. So credit to the players. Every single one of them played extremely well throughout and it was a real team win".

"I could not fault anybody. Every single player had eight out of ten. It was one of those performances where everyone held their nerve, everyone played to their potential and got the result we richly deserved".

"I thought we were unfortunate to go in half time behind. I thought we shaded the half with our competitiveness. We tried to use the ball sensibly; we built the phases really well and the only thing we were possibly lacking was the last third where things seemed to break down too easily for us".

"We kept our patience throughout the game. Perseverance, couple of substitutions all paid dividends and the goals came in the last fifteen minutes. That’s not to say that we didn’t attack until the last fifteen minutes. We attacked the full ninety minutes. It was probably the case that we were a little more ruthless and purposeful in the final fifteen".

It was Town who looked the more dangerous in the opening quarter with both Dyfan Pierce and Nicky Palmer making some penetrating runs. The game threatened to boil over in the 25th minute after a series of rash tackles by both sides with referee Mark Whitby brandishing yellow cards for Neil Thomas and Neil Smothers.

With Scott Barrow taking a quick throw down the touchline Thomas’s strong run into the Town box took him past Mark Dodds to cutback for Rose who had the simple task of tapping in the opening goal for Port Talbot.

The second half proved a more open affair with both sides creating half chances but without reward. Brace sent on Cotterrall and Danny Thomas who was returing to Town ranks following illness . Town's deserved equaliser duly arrived when Cotterrall, who replaced Pierce on the left hand side, made time to pick out Hicks at the far post with a precise cross. Despite the close attentions of keeper Lee Kendall Hick's bravery was rewarded as his header found the back of the net.

Hicks then had a hand in the move which put the Richmond Park outfit ahead. Having won the ball his cross to the far post was headed goalwards by fellow striker Pritchard and despite Kendall getting his hand to the ball Thomas followed in and Town went ahead for the first time. The Steelmen hit back immediately. Midfielder Neil Thomas shot across the six yard box and following a goal line scramble Town defender Craig Hanford cleared his line before Town made the game safe.

Pritchard, who worked tirelessly throughout, chased a long ball down the centre of the field forcing Kendall to race from his area. With the ball following the block falling to Palmer the midfielder sent the ball over the stranded keeper to give Town a well deserved win. Now five games undefeated the Richmond Park outfit move up to eleventh in the table.

Town: N Thomas, R Hughes, Pierce (Cotterrall 64'), Palmer, Dodds, C Thomas, Hanford, Hicks, Fowler, Pritchard, Smothers (D Thomas 68') Sub not used: Morris.

Port Talbot: Kendall, De Vulgt, Barrow, Phillips ( Holland 37'), Rees, Surman, Fahiya ( John 61'), N Thomas, Rose, McCreesh, D Thomas Sub not used: Grist.

Referee Mark Whitby Attendance 366

24.10.09 CARMARTHEN TOWN 1 GAP CONNAH'S QUAY 0

Mid-fielder Nicky Palmer's first half strike proved enough to give Town all three points and maintain a recent run of improving form. Now six games undefeated the win moves Town into a coveted top ten position in the table.

Town manager Deryn Brace told Y Dre ar Y We, "Obviously three points was the all important agenda for us today. It wasn’t pretty in the conditions but I thought we were well deserving of the win. On a very breezy day we’ve had a committed and solid performance and without being spectacular we’ve won the game with a clean sheet. I’m quite satisfied".

"Maybe we could have won by a couple more but their keeper has made some cracking saves and maybe our finishing wasn’t as good as it should have been. But when you're only winning one nil its always a close call. You know there’s going to be one opportunity at the end and it happened to fall to them. But Neil Thomas was alert to it and smothered the effort".

"It was a completely different game to last week We talked about it in the dressing room. Last week was a glorified win and everyone took a lot of enjoyment from it. This one was more of a battle, physical and about winning those 50/50 balls and putting the ball in the right paces".

"We grew in stature after a little bit of an indifferent start and as the game wore on we imposed ourselves a lot more. We started creating the opportunities and Nicky Palmer was cleaver enough to take the one and then it was about doing the right things".

On an afternoon when both goalkeepers made crucial saves in differing situations very windy and blustery conditions made the ball unpredictable and it took some time for both teams to adjust to the difficult conditions. Jamie Petrie forced Town to concede a couple of early corners but following an indifferent opening ten-minute spell Town enjoyed some useful possession. However it was the visitors who carved out two good early chances.

On the twenty minute mark Town keeper Neil Thomas denied Petrie in a one-on-one after the front man had dispossessed Mark Dodds and again five minutes later Thomas got his hand to Mike Hayes' scrambled shot in the box after Danny Forde had drilled in a low cross from the left.

But with Mark Pritchard and Tim Hicks unstinting work rate up front Town were rewarded for their endeavour in the 34th. minute. A move down the left saw Paul Fowler exert his strength on the ball and his cross back to the edge of the D found Palmer who's clean strike gave Town a deserved half time lead.

Confined to their own half for long periods Nomads captain Andy Alson marshalled his back line well and keeper Terry McCormick was well positioned to hold Pritchard’s curving strike just before the break.

Following the resumption Town pressed the Nomads' goal with Pritchard just wide of the target after Neil Smothers had provided. Five minutes later McCormick again showed his sharpness to deny Palmer a second at point blank range before Nomads lost Alston through injury. But despite having to defend for periods Nomads continued to be dangerous on the break with Hayes prominent.

On the hour Brace signalled a change. Nathan Cotterrall came off the bench and immediately provided impetus. Again it was McCormick who proved defiant keeping Town out after the wingman had broken into the box and minutes later with Nomads penned in he finger-tipped Hicks' header to safety as Town looked to extend the lead.

Cotterrall and Pritchard combined well to taunt the Nomads defence but as the game approached its conclusion there was almost a sting in the tail for Town.

A final Nomads push saw sub Chris Herbert's touch take him past Town's advancing back line. With the goal wide open and the sub seemingly through Town keeper Thomas, who had little to do in the second period, showed great agility to turn and recover the situation. With the late danger averted and the points won Town move up to ninth in the table.

Town: N Thomas, R Hughes, Pierce (Cotterrall 59'), Palmer (Morris 90'), Dodds, C Thomas, Hanford, Hicks, Fowler, Pritchard, Smothers (D Thomas 71').

Connah's Quay : McCormick, B Alston (Herbert 78'), Hooley, McGregor, A Alston (Cook 52'), Glover, Baker, Forde, Hayes, Petrie, McNutt (Olsen 78'). Referee Paul Thomas Attendance 299.

30.10.09 LLANELLI AFC 3 CARMARTHEN TOWN 1

A Rhys Griffiths hat-trick dumped Town out of this year’s Welsh Cup campaign at Stebonheath on Friday night. Despite enjoying considerable possession and creating several good opportunities Town were unable to convert chances into goals. And, with only a solitary Tim Hicks effort to show for their considerable endeavours, Town were punished by a late Griffiths double that sent the Reds into a fourth round tie against Holyhead Hotspur.

Nathan Cotterrall reclaimed his place in Town’s starting line-up at the expense of Dyfan Pierce. For the Reds Stuart Jones returned from injury with Ashley Morris wearing the gloves in preference to his namesake Craig.

But it was the hosts, still smarting from their League cup exit days earlier at the hands of TNS, who made the perfect start on 14 minutes. Craig Moses out on the right picked up on a Reds long ball and having crossed into the box 'Golden Boot' Grifffiths found the back of the net from close in to give the hosts an early break.

Jason Bowen came close to rubbing salt into the wound, firing fractionally wide following a move involving Griffiths and Antonio Corbisiero.

Then just before the half hour mark Town looked to have levelled when Mark Dodds netted Cotterrall's floated free kick but was adjudged to have fouled the keeper. With Town maintaining momentum and making more of an impression former Red Mark Pritchard and Cotterrall combined well to turn the defence before Hicks volleyed over when well placed just before the break.

Ten minutes after the restart Brace sent on Danny Thomas for Neil Smothers and on 66 minutes Town were justifiably level. Paul Fowler broke through the middle and having chipped the ball over the defence Hicks left footed home having controlled the ball well with his chest.

The hosts made changes with Andrew Mumford and Craig Warlow replacing Michael Howard and Bowen, but with Town dominant Pritchard dispossessed the keeper following a back pass from Wyn Thomas but sent the ball, from the floor, wide of the mark before Danny Thomas' effort was also deflected wide after Hicks had provided from the flank.

But in a dramatic finish it was the Reds who went in front with five minutes left on the clock. Griffiths applying the finish to sub Warlow's deflected cross from the left before then claiming his hat-trick deep into stoppage time.

With Town pushing up in search of an equaliser Llanelli broke down the right and with Corbisero's thunderbolt parried by Neil Thomas the predatory Griffiths was on hand to give the Reds a flattering score-line and a home tie against the Cymru Alliance outfit.

Whilst Brace can be satisfied with a positive performance he will be bitterly disappointed with the outcome given that his side had competed so well for long periods of the game. But in a cup game performance is often an irrelevance with the final score-line the only critical factor.

He told Y Dre ar Y We, "Massively disappointed. For long periods in the second half we were the team that was looking to win the game. Yes it was a very positive performance and I thought we were the better side. But in a cup game it’s all about the result and we didn’t get it".

“Leggy (Andrew Legg) and his team will be wondering how they managed to get away with it. They thought we were the better side. But that’s no consolation because we’re not in the hat for the next round; they are”.

"We started slowly and they got their goal. But then we got to terms with the game and had a good twenty-minute spell. In the second half we made all the running but without being clinical enough in the last third".

"That was the difference between us tonight they were ruthless when they had their chances and that is the difference perhaps between the top three in the league and the rest. They make things count". Some people may say that it will be a long hard season. But it will only be a long hard season if we let it be. We have a very important season ahead of us and we need to make the most of it.

"We have to put tonight behind us now, we can't dwell on it. Yes it hurts, it always hurts when you're out of the top competition because you don't get a second go at it. But we have plenty to play for and we've got another massive game next week against Bangor in the League. They are only a point behind us and we now have to focus on that".

Town: N Thomas, R Hughes, N Smothers (D Thomas 56’), N Palmer, M Dodds, C Thomas, C Handford, T Hicks, P Fowler, M Pritchard, N Cotterrall Subs not used: D Brace, D Pierce.

Llanelli: A Morris, C Jones, Howard (Mumford (68’), Legg, S Jones, Thomas, Bowen (Warlow 70’), Corbisero, Griffiths, Moses, Venables Subs not used: Phillips, Fellows, Frater. Referee Kevin Morgan (Cardiff) Attendance 356

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