JAMES HEROICS SECURE A POINT

AFTER the excitement of Carmarthen Town’s remarkable victory over Newtown in the Welsh Cup, their travelling supporters were soon reminded of the harsh realities of life in JD Cymru South as they shared a draw with Goytre United.

From the outset the play switched back and forth at a rapid pace, although with both defences performing soundly the action was mostly confined to the midfield area.

As a consequence neither goalkeeper was tested during the early stages.

However, both were involved when the Old Gold took a shock lead in the 17th minute.

Scott James launched a huge clearance upfield that reached Ben Steele beyond the halfway line.

He took the ball forward before releasing a stunning long-range volley that flew into the top corner of the goal, leaving United keeper Scott Coughlin floundering and the net bulging.

Stung by that setback, the home side began to put pressure on the Town defence and their first notable chance arose on 21 minutes when Josef Hopkins struck a 25-yard freekick that James spectacularly turned over the bar.

The pace of the game noticeably quickened and it developed into an entertaining end-to-end affair. For the Old Gold, as so often has been the case this season, the experienced central defensive pairing of Lee Surman and Scott Tancock looked sound and secure, while Matthew Delaney and Trystan Jones gave them valuable support on the flanks.

Ahead of them, midfielders Greg Walters, Tom Dyson and Cameron Berry provided a further layer of defensive cover when necessary.

However, towards the end of the first half Goytre began creating several openings and they went close to levelling the scores when Hopkins fired a dangerous cross into the crowded goalmouth which James, for once, misjudged. But Walters reacted swiftly and cleared the ball away from the open goal.

The Old Gold were also creating occasional opportunities and on the stroke of half-time Adam John struck a long-range drive that Coughlin managed to turn past the post.

After the interval Goytre quickly went on the attack and went close to scoring on 49 minutes when James Parry raced along the left touchline, then fired an inviting cross into the goalmouth where Hopkins connected with a close-range shot, only for defender Jones to block the ball and clear it to safety.

Parry again burst forward along the left and sent a fine cross into the goalmouth where Liam Bishop’s close-range header was turned over by a superb reflex save by James.

United continued to dominate, with the Old Gold under pressure and struggling to maintain their onegoal advantage. Hopkins struck a long-range free-kick that James turned aside with another outstanding save.

Then it was Parry’s turn to unleash a long-range shot which suffered the almost predictable outcome of being turned around the post by James.

Yet eventually, even James was powerless to prevent Goytre scoring an equaliser.

In the 79th minute Jay Thomas fired a long cross deep into the goalmouth where Sean Cronin headed the ball into the roof of the net.

United increased their pressure on the Carmarthen defence in search of a winner and on 83 minutes Bishop moved towards the edge of the area and struck a crisp drive that Tancock turned around the post.

Then deep into added time Kyran Steadman attempted a long-range shot which James gathered comfortably.

Carmarthen’s next game is at Undy Athletic on Saturday (2.30pm) in Cymru South. The following fixture is at Richmond Park against The New Saints on Saturday, October 16 (2.30pm) in the fourth round of the Welsh Cup.

TEAM: S James; M Delaney; S Tancock; L Surman; T Jones (sub D Phillips 62); G Walters; T Dyson; C Berry (sub N Daley 77); L Thomas (sub B Gibbings 77); B Steele; A John.