06.09.03

CAERNARFON TOWN 1 CARMARTHEN TOWN 1

Carmarthen Town’s first team coach Colin Staples believes that the spirit and character of the team is reflected in Town’s resent run of results that has seen the Richmond Park outfit move up into 10th. position in the League.

“We went to Afan Lido in mid week and that was a very physical and intimidating match and we acquitted ourselves well. On Saturday having made the long journey to Caernarfon we didn’t play very well in the first half but we balanced the team and there was only one side in it at the end. We came very close to taking all three points”.

“Caernarfon was a good result for us and what particularly pleased me was the team’s will and desire to get a result. We showed a lot of character and having gone behind the response was fantastic and we got a very deserved share of the points”.

Town’s fixture with Caernarfon Town was always going to be a tough encounter. With Marc Jones having to clear off his own line to deny the hosts an early advantage Tony Pennock was the busier of the two goalkeepers during the opening half hour. Jones was then hospitalised just before the break with a head injury and substituted by Aneurin Jones

RSU sponsored Carmarthen Town’s best chance of the half fell to Paul Reid who, after a flowing move up field, saw his a goal bound shot deflected over the crossbar by the Caernarfon’s central defender Tim Brandreth.

Owen Thomas replaced Steffan Davies at the break and Thomas’s industry in mid-field was evident. Town then suffered a further enforced change on the hour when the influential Paul Reid suffered a serious hand injury and was replaced by Nicky Burke. Town reorganised and with David Moss dropping in behind the front two the visitors looked better balanced and more effective.

However, it was the hosts who broke the stalemate in the 78th minute when Lloyd Roberts’ superb 25-yard shot gave Caernarfon the lead at a crucial period in the game.

Rather than deflate the visitors the setback proved an impetus to Town's attack and in the 84th. minute a brilliant individual effort by John Keaveny saw the striker beat two defenders and hit an unstoppable shot from 15 yards into the roof of the net to level the score. During the final few minutes, with both Shaun Chapple and David Moss going close, the visitors could have snatched an unlikely win.

Leigh De Vulgt, who made his comeback following injury in Town’s mid week 0-0 draw with Afan Lido at the Runtech Stadium showed his improving form with Saturday’s ‘Man of the Match’ award.

Carmarthen Town: Pennock, Barnhouse, Jones (A Thomas 40’), Davies (O Thomas 45’), DeVulgt, Chapple, Wright, Rossiter, Keaveny, Moss, Reid (Burke 61’).

12.09.03 (Friday evening)

Carmarthen Town 1 Port Talbot Town 2

Port Talbot maintained their unbeaten record at Richmond Park with a hard fought, tenacious performance that saw them gain a narrow 2-1 victory.

An evenly balanced but frenetic opening period saw Town suffer a serious blow after 12 minutes when influential keeper Tony Pennock was hospitalised with a dislocated shoulder following a collision with Port Talbot’s Hayden Flemming .

Despite the setback RSU sponsored Carmarthen Town took the lead on the quarter hour when Nick Burke’s glancing header found the back of the net.

The lead was short lived as the ‘Steelmen’s’ danger man Mark Dodds showed his international class four minutes later with a strong run and a shot from 20 yards to level the score.

The game was evenly balanced with Town threatening down the flanks through Anthony Wright, Steffan Davies and new signing Tom Ramasut and the Port Talbot midfield claiming a large percentage of possession in the middle of the park to set up Dodds and Craig Hughes.

As half time approached Town forced a series of free kicks and corners but failed to gain the initiative and on the stroke of half time substitute keeper Aneurin Thomas saved a fierce strike from Dodds to keep it all square at the break.

With barely a minute gone in the second half Port Talbot took, what proved to be, a decisive lead. Hughes who had threatened throughout showed his strength when he received the ball with his back to goal and was allowed to turn and shoot past the stranded Thomas.

Town continued to compete and went in search of the equaliser. Fine work by Burke and Rossiter saw Rossiter’s shot blocked and striker Jon Keaveny denied the follow-up by some desperate Port Talbot defending and with Andrew York’s header from a Davies corner cleared off the line the game was far from over.

At the other end, despite Thomas being virtually untroubled in the home goal, Port Talbot’s direct and persistent approach saw them break through on occasions and former Town player Dean Johnston saw his shot hit the post and it was the towering Thomas, relishing his unaccustomed role, who denied the lively Hughes in a one on one situation.

The equaliser remained elusive. Town’s improving results and the appearance of new signing Tom Ramasut had created an air of expectation but the tenacity and energy of the visitors were to deny Town at least a share of the points. Barnhouse’s dismissal in the final minute of the game capped a frustrating evening for Tomi Morgan and his squad.

Carmarthen Town : Pennock, Barnhouse, De Vulgt, A Thomas (Davies 14’), Yorke, Chapple, Wright, Rossiter, Keaveny (Allen 85’), Burke, Ramasut (O Thomas 73’).

19.09.03 (Friday evening)

Aberystwyth Town 5 Carmarthen Town 1

The history books showed that Carmarthen Town had yet to register a League win at the Park Avenue ground and when influential captain and central defender Andrew York was forced to withdraw just before kick off the omens were not good in terms of reversing the form book.

With Town’s line up already depleted through injuries and suspensions York’s withdrawal was the last thing that Town wanted before such a testing fixture but the early exchanges gave the visiting fans encouragement as Town played some neat controlled football to keep the hosts on their toes.

John Worsnop in the Aber goal was forced to save a clever chipped shot from the industrious Dean Rossiter and with Anthony Wright and Dale Price prodding the Aber defence from midfield RSU sponsored Carmarthen Town looked to be making a game of it.

Aberystwyth were soon to settle and expose some of Town’s defensive frailties. On the 17 minute mark a sweeping move up field saw Aber’s John Lawless provide League top scorer Mark Lloyd Williams with a cross to the edge of the box.

Despite looking suspiciously off-side the former Bangor City hit man capitalised on Town’s hesitancy to strike home with the visiting defence caught flat looking for the offside flag.

This galvanised the hosts and Lawless proved inspirational in providing Lee Spike with a cross to make it two before lobbing debutant keeper Rob Thomas, just after the half hour, to make it three.

With three goals in a fifteen-minute period the hosts were now in control and when David Barnhouse saw red for his second bookable offence on the stroke of half time the game was all but over as a contest.

Following the break Manager Tomi Morgan introduced Marc Jones to bolster the defence. Rossiter again had an early chance but when Lloyd Williams scored his second on the hour and Phil Baker headed home the fifth, five minutes later, Town were left to try and salvage some pride.

Despite receiving a baptism of fire Town’s young keeper Thomas performed admirably throughout none more so than when he made a treble save late in the game to deny the hosts any addition to the score sheet.

To their credit Town continued to persevere and were rewarded in some measure when Owen Thomas grabbed a late consolation goal.

Whilst the win sees the ‘Seasiders’ continue their unbeaten run in second place Tomi Morgan will be left to consider his defensive options ahead of Town’s game with bottom placed Barry Town who have shown improving form of late.

Carmarthen Town : R Thomas, Barnhouse, De Vulgt, O Thomas (Chapple 81’), Davies (Jones 46’) A Thomas, Wright, Rossiter, Keaveny (Burke 72’), Allen, Price.

27.09.03

Carmarthen Town 0 Barry Town 0

Carmarthen Town's clash with Barry Town saw an intriguing meeting between the League’s managerial ‘new boys’ facing up to the challenges of their new jobs.

With Town’s caretaker manager Andrew York looking for victory against his former club to give him the best possible start to his term in charge his opposite number David Hughes was also looking for a positive outcome following his team’s improved performances of late.

However, despite dominating the game for long periods Town had to settle for a rather disappointing no-score draw as they failed to turn possession into points against a dogged Barry performance.

“Having responsibility for the team is a lot different to being an assistant. I would have loved to have won against my old club but it was not to be. We simply did not turn our possession into goals.

“We were very disjointed during the first half but having said that I thought we should have had a penalty when Jon was brought down.

“We played well in the second half and we were very positive and created plenty of chances. It was very frustrating that we did not put them away. The lads gave 100% but we have some work to do in training to get things right.

“Barry were well organised and worked hard for one another. They had a game plan and they stuck to it and I thought their keeper had a great game”.

RSU sponsored Carmarthen Town started the game positively and could have taken an early lead. Good work by Nicky Burke saw the striker force a corner but Marc Jones’ powerful header from the set piece went just over the bar.

Barry were forced to defend in numbers and made the home team battle for possession. The visitors survived a strong appeal for a penalty when Town’s Jon Keaveny was brought down in the box but referee Andy Woodthorpe waved play on. Dale Price nearly broke the deadlock when, having produced a fine run, his shot hit the bar and the game remained scoreless at the break.

Barry started the second half brightly but were, again, quickly forced to defend in depth as Town enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and created a number of chances. Burke again made a fine run for the hosts but Keaveny was unable to finish off the move.

With debutant Town keeper Neil Collins a virtual spectator throughout the second period visiting keeper Lee Ruddell produced a decisive double save from Burke and Thomas that contribute hugely to his side gaining a share of the spoils.

Having experienced his first game in charge York will now be better placed to judge his options. Deprived through injury and suspensions of six of his senior players he will be encouraged by the commitment of his younger players and the number of chances they created.

However, hard work on the training ground to turn possession into tangible gains will be one of new manager’s priorities ahead of Town's visit to UWIC Inter Cardiff in the second round of the FAW Welsh Cup.

Carmarthen Town: Collins, De Vulgt, O Thomas, Jones, York, Tovey (Davies 63’), Price (Lewis 84’), Rossiter (C), Burke, Allen, Keaveny. Not used - A Thomas, R Thomas.