UNBEATEN RUN EXTENDS TO 7
AFTER the excitement of the TNS Welsh Cup match the previous weekend, Carmarthen Town returned to JD Cymru South league action on Saturday against Briton Ferry Llansawel, who have made a strong start to the season and were third in the table going into the match.
The opening stages were fairly uneventful. The Old Gold, however, were gradually showing more adventure and urgency as their midfield unit of Tom Dyson, Greg Walters and Matthew Delaney became increasingly influential.
And it was Dyson, in the 17th minute, who initiated the first scoring opportunity when he sprinted down the right touchline and then sent in a searching cross and Noah Daley saw his smart close-range header crash against the bar before the ball was cleared away to safety.
Town continued to press forward and on 26 minutes Delaney fired a 25-yard free-kick into the crowded penalty area where Lee Surman timed his arrival perfectly, only to direct his firm header narrowly wide of the far post.
During that early spell the home defence had not been noticeably stretched nor was goalkeeper Scott James called into serious action.
However, in the 30th minute all that changed. Trystan Jones, inside the penalty area, was robbed by Corey Hurford who, from near to the byline, drove the ball into the goalmouth where former Old Gold striker Mark Jones reacted swiftly and fired beyond James and into the far corner of the net.
Spurred by that success, the visitors became far more competitive and enjoyed a much greater share of possession than earlier.
But the only significant scoring opportunity before half-time arose at the other end of the pitch.
A smartly taken throw-in by Jordan Vickers near the corner flag reached Delaney close to the byline, and he sent a fine pass back to Daley who, from a good position, drove the ball into the side-netting.
After the interval the Old Gold wasted no time in getting back on level terms.
In an explosive opening they surged upfield from the restart and forced a corner which Dyson sent deep into the packed goalmouth to reach Surman just beyond the far post.
He leapt high to head the ball back into the crowd of players where Daley was quickest to react and fired a crisp drive into the net.
The match quickly developed into an absorbing end-to-end affair.
Dyson sent a fine pass through to Daley just inside the penalty area and he swiftly released a smart angled shot that goalkeeper Conah Mcfenton turned aside.
The home goal came under threat after 71 minutes when Cory Woods struck a powerful longrange free-kick but James, with a remarkable full-length save, cleared the danger.
Then on 80 minutes another recent former Carmarthen striker, Luke Bowen, crossed the ball into the goalmouth where Joe Hunt, from a good position, planted his close-range header high over the bar.
The Old Gold, too, were striving for a late winner, and in the 83rd minute Vickers launched a fine long pass that set Daley racing free upfield and into the penalty area, only to strike his angled drive wide of the goal.
However, the last of the goalmouth action arose at the other end of the pitch when Bowen broke free of Town’s defenders and into the penalty area, only to be denied a match-winning goal by James, who raced swiftly out of his goal and bravely dived down at the striker’s feet to claim the ball.
From there on, into a lengthy spell of added time, the Old Gold comfortably held on to the precious point which was the least that they deserved.
And at the forefront of that period of action was experienced midfielder Greg Walters, who had spent the entire match seemingly everywhere on the pitch when extra help and guidance was needed.
So, Town’s unbeaten run in the CSL now stretches to seven matches, and since four of the next six fixtures involve teams at or near the bottom of the table, there is reason to hope that further progress can be made.
Carmarthen’s next fixture is away to Afan Lido this Saturday (2.30pm), while the following match is also away against Port Talbot on Saturday, November 6, 2.30pm – both fixtures are for Cymru South League matches.
Carmarthen Town: Scott James, Jordan Vickers, Scott Tancock, Lee Surman, Trystan Jones, Tom Dyson (Jaime Rickard 90), Greg Walters, Matthew Delaney, Liam Thomas, Noah Daley (Cameron Berry 83), Adam John (Dion Phillips 78). Unused subs: Ifan Knott (GK), Lewis Rocke.
Yellow card: Greg Walters 89.