30.09.06 Cwmbran Town 1 Carmarthen Town 7

Town showed their credentials as they stormed into the third round of the Welsh Cup with an emphatic 7-1 away win over Cwmbran Town.

With the hosts one position above Town in the Welsh Premier League the game had all the hallmarks of a tricky encounter for the Richmond Park outfit. But with Town producing an exhilarating performance they inflicted a record-equalling club defeat on the Crows with seven quality goals that included a spectacular long range effort from mid-fielder Tom Ramasut.

Town dominated throughout and in reality had wrapped up the outcome by the interval. Manager Mark Jones was full of praise for his side’s performance.

“It was a great, great performance I could not have asked for more. We had a bad second half last week but they have reacted magnificently.

“It was a team performance they all played well. I was especially pleased for Hayden Fleming who came in at left back and had a great game.

“You have to take it as a good win. Cwmbran have done well this season and are in the top six. For us to come here and get a 7-1 is even better. We have to give the players credit for the performance.

“You have good days and bad days. We’re just happy for ourselves today”.

Town opened the scoring early when Tom Ramasut in the mid-field berth fed the sparkling Kaid Mohamed for the former Crow to turn and fire a low shot into the bottom of the net on the quarter hour.

Danny Thomas doubled the margin a couple of minutes later when Nathan Cotterall stole a Cwmbran throw in to put the mid-fielder through on goal.

And with Cwmbran defender Josh Collins red carded half way through the first period Town soon extended the advantage with Sasha Walters added a third after Terry Evans had cleared Cwmbran’s deep free kick from the flank and the wingman had run the length of the pitch and rounded keeper Gareth Wesson.

Following the break Mohamed, who was in constantly action, ensured Town’s passage into the next round as he latched on to Chris Thomas’ through ball to beat the covering defence and net his second of the afternoon.

With the game safe for Town the hosts enjoyed their best period of the game as Neil Thomas was called into action twice before a hurried clearance rebounded off substitute Matthew Prosser into the empty net to give the hosts some consolation.

Mohamed then turned provider as he fed Evans’ throw in square to Ramasut for the mid fielder to net a glorious long range effort from 30 yards.

And Ramasut was not averse to foraging in mid field as he provided for Cotterall out on the flank. Having squared to Mattie Davies the former Cwmbran favourite saw his swept effort strike the post with Danny Thomas burying the rebound from close in.

But Davies made no mistake when he fired home Town’s final effort after sub Nathan White had caused problems amongst the home defence.

Town: N Thomas, Evans, Fleming, Hancock, Dodds (Lima), K Thomas (White), D Thomas, Ramasut, Walters, Mohamed, Cotterrall (Davies).

23.09.06 Carmarthen Town 2 Welshpool Town 4

Having seen his side concede four second half goals was not the best birthday present for Carmarthen Town manager Mark Jones. And with one of his defenders harshly sent off it was certainly not a day to celebrate for the Richmond Park boss.

Having enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 half time lead the tables were completely turned by the Mid Wales Lilywhites following the break as they inflicted Town’s first defeat since 25th. March 2006 ending an impressive run of 15 matches undefeated.

A disappointed Mark Jones summed up the day:

“One way of playing football is to try and play perfect attractive football but you have to have an ugly part to your game. And we didn’t have that today.

“They bossed us for most of the second half and we could not deal with their direct play.

“It’s OK to entertain but since the start of the season our keeper has been our busiest player.

“It was always going to be hard in the second half but down to ten men and against the wind it was ver,y very difficult.

“We’ve got to be tighter at the back and we have just got to be harder to break down. We have certainly missed Colin Loss the last few games and I’m hoping that we will have him back at the weekend.

The Richmond Park boss was also disappointed to see new signing Lee Denner dismissed.

“It was his first League game. I didn’t think there was anything in it. They both went for the dropping ball and bumped into each other. A penalty maybe but I thought the sending off was a very harsh decision.

Jones will now look for some respite from League action as Town travel to Cwmbran Stadium at the weekend for a tricky second round Welsh Cup encounter with an improving Cwmbran Town.

“I’m glad that it is the cup this week. We’ve done well in the competition over the last couple of years and it’s vital that we win the game against Cwmbran this weekend.

“They have improved of late and I think they are going to be a different proposition to when we played them in the League Cup. We have to put today behind us and focus on the cup game during the week.

Kaid Mohamed put Town ahead in the 20th. minute when he controlled a half cleared ball well and fired into the roof of the net. Town were two up five minutes later courtesy of a Nathan Cotterall spot kick after Sasha Walters was brought down by keeper Gerard McGuigan who escaped without seeing the referee’s card.

But the game was turned on its head after the break. Calvin Davies gave the visitors momentum when he picked up on a miss hit clearance and rounded the keeper to fire into the empty net to halve the deficit.

Then when Town’s Danny Thomas saw his effort frustratingly cleared off the Welshpool line and Denner was dismissed the visitors sensed they could get something from the game.

Despite Town keeper Neil Thomas saving the resultant spot kick Welshpool finally took advantage of their numerical superiority and Davies grabbed his brace when he latched on to Dowridge’s cross to pull the ‘Lilies’ level.

Then with substitute Aden Shannon adding a very late brace of his own to compounded Town’s misery the Richmond Park outfit had little to celebrate as they slipped two places to eighth in the table.

Carmarthen Town N.Thomas, Evans, Denner, Hancock (Fleming 89'), Dodds, K.Thomas, D.Thomas, Ramasut (Lima 76'), Walters, Mohamed (M.Davies 84'), Cotterrall.

Welshpool Town McGuigan, Windsor, Dowridge, Cunnah, B.Jefferies, Keegan, Vernon, R.Jefferies, Rogers, Davies (Shannon 81'), Hughes (Butler 64').

Referee Lee Evans Attendance 309.

19.09.06 CARMARTHEN TOWN 3 HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY 1 (Loosemores Cup)

Town continue to top Group D of the Loosemores Cup. Two first half goals by Nathan Cotterrall and Kaid Mohamed and a third half way through the second half from Danny Thomas gave Town a comfortable margin over near neighbours Haverfordwest County at Richmond Park last Tuesday.
But with the Bluebirds failing to profit from their considerable second half possession they only had Tim Hicks’ deserved late consolation to show for their effort.

Town went ahead in the 18th. minute when Mohamed was brought down in the box by Wayne Jones and Cotterrall converted from the spot. Town added a second just after the half hour when a sweeping movement up field saw Danny Thomas free Sasha Walters on the right and with Mohamed finishing in style Town enjoyed a comfortable two goal cushion.

Hicks should have reduced the arrears just before half time. Chris O’Sullivan made ground down the flank and fired in an accurate delivery but the unmarked striker headed over and it remained 2-0 at the break.

Following the resumption O’Sullivan continued to harass the Town defence and when he was brought down on the edge of the box his free kick caused mayhem in the box as Town struggled to clear.

With the Bluebirds retaining possession for considerable periods substitute Mattie Davies lost out to Lee Kendall after Kris Thomas broke from deep. But when Thomas and Cotterrall combined well to set Danny Thomas free the mid-fielder put the ball beyond the keeper to make it three on 67 minutes.

Hicks finally got on the score sheet when he headed in O’Sullivan’s cross with ten minutes remaining. Then with Town reduced to ten men after Dodds withdrew through injury Richie Adams' saw his late strike hit the woodwork.

Town N.Thomas, Evans, Denner, Hancock, Dodds, K.Thomas, D.Thomas, Ramasut (Fleming 66'), Walters, Mohamed (M.Davies 46'), Cotterrall (White 74').

Haverfordwest County Kendall, Brace, W.Jones (Clarke 78'), Harris, Elliott, Cattlin (Adams 73'), O'Sullivan, Hicks, Miller, Palmer, Hudgell.

16.09.06 CARMARTHEN TOWN 2 BANGOR CITY 2

Having gifted Bangor City two goals through defensive errors Carmarthen Town produced a resolute performance to share the points with their well organised visitors.

Kaid Mohamed, Sasha Walters and Kris Thomas looked lively in the opening exchanges and Nathan Cotterrall produced a trademark solo run from Neil Thomas’ quick throw out. Then when Mohamed went inches wide from a Terry Evans cross on the half hour Town’s flowing game looked to be paying dividends.

But with Bangor’s Marc Lloyd Williams and Paul Roberts alert to any half chance Town needed to be vigilant and when Hayden Fleming was caught in possession it took a great stop from Thomas and some desperate defending from Evans to keep Town’s goal intact.

And it was the predatory Williams that broke the deadlock following bizarre mix up between the Town keeper and Craig Lima on 32 minutes. Roberts’ picked up on the loose ball after Thomas’ clearance had rebounded off Lima’s leg and when Thomas parried the front man’s shot Williams side footed the rebound into the gaping net for the simplest of goals.

Ian Havard in the Bangor goal saved well from Danny Thomas but it was Mohamed who brought EMC sponsored Carmarthen Town level two minutes before the break with a strike into the top of Bangor’s gaol following well worked one-two with Kris Thomas.

Following the resumption both sides committed to gaining the advantage. Kris Thomas cleared his own line following a Williams strike and Fleming, Cotterrall and Ramasut worked well down the left for Town.

But with Clayton Blackmore and the impressive Ricky Evans orchestrating the Bangor attack from midfield the Citizens again gained the advantage just before the hour. Williams beat Ramasut to a diagonal pass and having rounding the defender he fired beyond Thomas with an angled strike to make it 2-1 to the visitors.

Town committed four up front as they went in search of the equaliser. Mattie Davies’ nod-down was cleared off the line and Havard denied Mohamed after the striker had dispossessed Evans. But with Paul O'Neill and Adam Docker defending doggedly in the middle it looked as if Town would not find a way through.

In the closing stages Thomas produced a superb one-on-one stop to deny Williams and when Davies and Thomas saw efforts cleared at the other end it looked as if the visitors would hold out.

Then with the game into injury time Town’s pressure and persistence paid off. Evans did well to make the bye line from Nathan Cotterrall's throw in and with Davies at the front post flicking on the right back’s cross young substitute Nathan White finished with a strike into the bottom corner for his debut goal and a deserved share of the spoils for Town.

Carmarthen Town manager Mark Jones was not too disappointed.

“It was a great game but at one stage I thought that Tuesday night’s efforts against Llanelli had taken more out of us than I thought.

“At the end of the day I had to settle for a point. I’m not too disappointed especially as we had two key players, Mark Dodds and Colin Loss out.

“It was vital that we had something from the game. Kaid Mohamed’s goal was class and young Nathan’ contribution in the end was the vital touch.

“We definitely need to tighten things up at the back you just cannot afford to give forwards like Williams and Roberts any room at all.

“I thought the game had gone when Marc Williams had that late chance but all credit to the lads they kept going to the end and we got a deserved share.

Carmarthen Town N.Thomas, Evans, Fleming (Davies 62'), Hancock, Lima, K.Thomas, D.Thomas, Walters (White 77'), Ramasut, Mohamed, Cotterrall.

Bangor City Havard, Newell, Beattie, Edwards (Walsh 70'), Docker, O'Neill, Lloyd-Williams, Stott (McGinness 89'), Roberts, Evans (Gleaves 79'), Blackmore.

Attendance: 313 Referee: Phil Southall

12.09.06 LLANELLI AFC 4 CARMARTHEN TOWN 3

TOWN put their lacklustre weekend form behind them to produce another scintillating performance against the League’s second fully professional outfit Llanelli AFC. And despite the score-line it was another quality performance from the rearranged Richmond Park outfit in a game that was finely balanced throughout.

Andrew Legg was clearly the playmaker for the Reds and the former Cardiff and Swans favourite had a hand in three of Llanelli’s goals. But it was Spaniard Jacob Mingorance who broke the deadlock, with Legg the provider, to put the Reds ahead after 16 minutes. But with Town matching the Stebo outfit well Kaid Mohamed produced a fine interval effort as he sidestepped the keeper to level the scores just before the break.

Immediately from the restart a great cross from the Spaniard found the unmarked Rhys Griffiths in front of goal who netted to give the Reds the advantage once more. But with the game continuing in ‘see saw’ fashion Tom Ramasut evaded several tackles and his powerful strike found the back of Gareth Williams’ net for Town to equalise for the second time .

Then, with the hosts under sustained pressure from a Town attacked down the left Sasha Walters picked up on the ball inside the penalty area following a couple of blocked attempts and found the top corner of the net to put Town ahead on the hour, but only momentary.

With Griffiths grabbing his second of the evening turning in Legg’s delivery and Craig Williams, who appeared to have gone wide, finding the net from an acute angle to put the Reds in front once again Town rearranged with 20 minutes remaining. Dodds moved into the centre of the back and Ramasut took up a midfield position with Fleming filling in on the left and Town pushed forward in search of the equaliser.

Griffiths for the Reds and substitute Mattie Davies for Town both had chances and Kris Thomas appeared to have levelled from a free kick but was ruled offside with the Referee taking his cue from his Assistant. Then with Llanelli reduced to ten men, when Corbsiero was dismissed for a two footed tackle, Peter Nicholas’ men were forced to endure considerable late pressure to claim the points. Town maintain top spot on goal difference over Llanelli and Port Talbot.

Town: N Thomas, Evans, Ramasut, Hancock (Cotterrall 69'), Lima (Fleming 69') K. Thomas, Walters (Davies 78'), Smothers, Dodds, Mohamed, D Thomas

Llanelli: G Williams, Phillips (Griffiths 86’) Lloyd, Appleby (Fernandez 78’), Jones, W Thomas, C Williams, Corbisiero, Griffiths, Mingorance (Harrhy 64’), Legg.

Attendance 193 Referee Brian James (Pontypridd)

09.09.06 Airbus UK 2 Carmarthen Town 2

Carmarthen Town continued with their unbeaten start to the season but will have been disappointed to have dropped two points against their bottom-of-the-table opponents.

Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Town were denied the full complement of points.

The opening half an hour saw the visitors take control of the game and put the Wingmakers' defence under pressure.

Strong running and precise passing were the order of the day and it came as no surprise when Danny Thomas put Town ahead after 26 minutes.

Good work down the left by Hayden Fleming and Chris Thomas forced home keeper Stuart McIntosh into parrying a shot which Thomas was able to force home from close range.

Perhaps the most important incident of the first half hour was the injury suffered by influential playmaker Colin Loss who a pulled hamstring and was forced to withdraw.

Town reorganised and this certainly disrupted the flow of the visitors' game, which became more noticeable as the game developed.

Poor defending at a set piece saw Town concede on the stroke of of half-time. Airbus forced a corner from a breakaway attack and home captain Gareth Sudlow got above the static defense to head home the equaliser.

The start of the second half saw Town lose a second player to injury when Craig Lima was forced from the field suffering from blurred vision.

Almost immediately the home team took the lead when Roy Cardus made room on the edge of the box to shoot past Town keeper Neil Thomas and put the hosts ahead.

This galvanised Town as they pressured the home defense.

Sudlow brought down substitute Mattie Davies in the box and after extensive treatment for Davies, Danny Thomas took the spot kick but with McIntosh in fine form he kept the spot kick out and Airbus maintained their slim lead.

Town continued to create and miss chances but veteran striker Davies eventually pulled Town level when he latched on to a ball on the edge of the 18-yard box and having glided past two defenders shot across McIntosh and into the back of the net.

Despite intense pressure Town were unable to get the vital third goal and had to be satisfied with only the one point from a game that they had enough possession and chances to have won comfortably.

Airbus UK S.McIntosh, Edwards (Farr 85'), Williams, Gunby (Richardson 89'), Davies, Sudlow, Cardus, J.McIntosh, Maloney, Mapletoft (Moores 24'), Crawford.

Carmarthen Town N.Thomas, Evans, Fleming, Hancock, Lima (Davies 52'), K.Thomas, D.Thomas, Loss (Walters 30'), Dodds, Mohamed (Taylor 86'), Cotterrell. Subs not used: Butler, Dragone.

Attendance: 85 Referee: Brian Lawlor

01.09.06 Carmarthen Town 0 The New Saints 0

Carmarthen Town manager Mark Jones described his side's 0-0 draw with champions The New Saints at Richmond Park on Friday night as 'one of the best Welsh Premier matches I've ever seen.' And Jones confirmed his counterpart, Ken McKenna, felt the same.

"We talked after the match and Ken phoned me again the next day and he was glowing in his praise of my side," the Carmarthen boss said.

"We totally bossed the first half, stroked the ball around beautifully and they did well to hold us out. Second half they came back and Tom Ramasut's sending off in the 70th minute meant we had to defend for the last 20 minutes.

"But it was a great point and very encouraging. We're going well and this was the acid test and I feel we passed it. What is particularly pleasing is when I look at our bench and see Sasha Walters, Mattie Davies and Craig Lima on it - as good a trio as any bench at this level."

Influential Nathan Cotterrall was denied by the crossbar in the first period and Walters, a second half replacement, also saw his fierce drive rebound off the woodwork.

But the visitors also had their moments, especially five minutes from time when Michael Wide saw his effort crash against the woodwork for Steve Beck to net the follow-up shot which the referee ruled out.

A point extends Carmarthen's unbeaten sequence to 12 matches but they relinquished top spot when Rhyl defeated Aberystwyth 3-2 at Park Avenue.

Carmarthen Town: N.Thomas, Evans, Ramasut, Hancock, Aherne-Evans, K.Thomas, D.Thomas, Loss, Dodds, Mohamed (Walters 60'), Cotterrall. Subs not used: Davies, Lima, Dragone, Williams.

The New Saints: FC Doherty, Baker, Naylor, Toner, Holmes, Leah, Ruscoe, Hogan, Wilde, Stones (Jackson 85'), Ward (Beck 69'). Subs not used: Davies.

Attendance: 360 Referee: Mark Whitby