DRAMA TO THE END AS TOWN BOW OUT
CARMARTHEN Town bowed out of the JD Welsh Cup following a dramatic defeat at Cwmbran Celtic.
Town’s supporters, having witnessed a stunning performance against Llanelli the week before, were hoping for a similar showing here.
Sadly for them, that did not happen.
The Old Gold made a bright start and on five minutes Mathew Delaney burst into the penalty area and from 15 yards struck a fierce drive that goalkeeper Lewis Watkins turned aside with a smart save.
Moments later Liam Thomas raced along the left flank before sending the ball across to Bradley Gibbings, whose shot was forced past the post by Watkins.
From the ensuing corner Tom Dyson saw his volley cleared by a defender.
Yet gradually the hosts began to test the Carmarthen defence with a series of rapid raids. On 20 minutes Tom Meechan embarked on a long run to the corner of the area before releasing a powerful low drive that Town keeper Ifan Knott turned around the post.
But moments later the young keeper was powerless to prevent Cwmbran taking the lead when midfielder Shaun Moss planted his closerange header into the back of the net.
Slowly the visitors began to rediscover their earlier momentum and on 36 minutes Gibbins raced along the left flank and sent a fine cross into the area where Dyson fired a fierce volley that defeated Watkins but flew narrowly over the bar.
Moments later there was another fine chance when a Sam Parsons corner found Lee Surman, but his header flew just too high.
Town continued to search for an equaliser and on the brink of halftime they managed it.
Greg Walters burst into the area and was promptly brought down by a defender. Carmarthen’s all-time top scorer Liam Thomas stepped forward and with his customary composure he drove the penalty past Watkins and into the net.
After the interval the Old Gold made a remarkable start with their first attack, taking the lead when substitute Noah Daley arrived in the goalmouth with perfect timing to meet an inviting cross and stab the ball into the net.
But their lead didn’t last long. In the 58th minute the Old Gold were defending within their own area when Jamie Rickard handled the ball.
He was sent off and the inevitable penalty was converted by Alex Bonthron.
Worse was soon to follow as a long through ball was pursued by Bonthron to the edge of the area. He reached it before Knott and the experienced striker fired the ball into the empty net.
Carmarthen fought back from that disappointment and on 70 minutes they levelled the scores again when Parsons sent his corner deep into the crowded area and Walters forced the ball into the net.
But Town suffered more misfortune on 78 minutes when Delaney was sent off having received his second yellow card of the match.
And their fate was sealed in the second minute of added time when a goalmouth melee ended with the ball being forced into the back of their net.
TOWN: I Knott; J Vickers, T Jones (sub N Daley 48), L Surman, S Parsons (sub J Walters), T Dyson, M Delaney, G Walters, J Rickard, L Thomas, B Gibbings.