Town in need of Golden touch
Carmarthen eye improved form as defeat keeps them near foot of Welsh Premier
CARMARTHEN Town ended a gruelling run of fixtures against the current top four teams in the Welsh Premier League with yet another defeat.
And while the scoreline replicated the narrow defeat which they suffered in this season’s exciting opening fixture at Bala, Town’s performance here was a distinct contrast.
Even before the start they were disadvantaged by the absence of key players Ceri Morgan, Greg Walters and Luke Cummings, although better news was the return after injury of top scorer Luke Bowen.
And as the opening stages of the match unfolded, Bala dominated play, monopolising possession and launching a series of attacks that kept the hosts largely pinned back inside their own half.
Without the combative presence of Morgan and Walters, Town’s midfield struggled to provide an effective shield ahead of the defensive line.
The visitors created their first serious chance when Steven Tames threaded the ball to Henry Jones and he struck a fierce drive that Lee Idzi kept out with a full-length save.
Bala continued their relentless pressure on the home goal, and they went ahead on 17 minutes when Ian Sheridan fired a dangerous cross towards the far post where Tames leapt high above defenders and planted a firm header past Idzi and into the roof of the net.
Until then the Old Gold as an attacking force were almost non-existent. But that goal seemed to galvanise them into more positive action, with several counter-attacks that gave the visitors some serious defensive work to do.
Bowen embarked on a powerful run before sending a pass to Mael Davies. He slid the ball to Tyrrell Webbe, who drove a cross into the goalmouth, only for Stuart Jones to clear the danger as Bowen and Liam Thomas were closing in.
An even better opportunity was squandered on 34 minutes when Carroll’s throw-in was fired deep into the goalmouth but Thomas, normally so clinical in front of goal, fired his close-range volley high over the bar.
Moments later the ball reached Carroll on the edge of the penalty area, and with a bewildering show of dazzling footwork he slipped easily past two defenders, then struck a 15yard drive that flew narrowly past the post.
But Bala were still a threat on the counter-attack and went close to increasing their lead when Webbe, under no pressure, badly miscued an attempted clearance of a cross to present Chris Venables with a chance, but his header comfortably cleared the bar.
On 40 minutes Town were back on level terms. Webbe, atoning for his defensive lapse, finished a surging run along the left with a searching cross towards the edge of the area to find Carroll, whose rasping strike hit the back of the net before keeper Ashley Morris could react.
After the interval the game meandered along without any notable incident until the 67th minute when Bowen, having been shown a yellow card for a foul only a few minutes beforehand, inexplicably decided to handle the ball, which led to a second yellow and he was sent off.
Immediately Bala took full advantage of their numerical superiority and resumed their earlier domination, while the Old Gold were again forced largely back into defence with Thomas effectively operating as a lone spearhead.
The visitors went close to retaking the lead when Kieran Smith cut inside from the left and dispatched a fine curling shot that Idzi claimed at the far post. Moments later Town’s goal was again under threat when Nathan Burke sent a dangerous cross into the goalmouth but a close-range header was kept out by Idzi with a spectacular flying save.
The home defence became increasingly stretched and in the 74th minute it was opened up by a swift, incisive move. Jordan Vickers was unable to prevent a lofted crossfield pass reaching Kieran Smith and he raced into the area before neatly stroking the ball past Idzi into the corner of the net.
The Old Gold responded by sending further players forward, but the only significant opportunity came when Morris, attempting a punched clearance, sent the ball straight to Webbe, but his scorching angled volley flew agonisingly wide of the far post.
So at the halfway point of the firstphase programme, Carmarthen occupy a relegation place – just as they did last season. Then, however, they had a lower points return. Significantly, of the 11 remaining firstphase fixtures, seven are against teams who currently lie in the bottom six.
Town’s next fixture is on Sunday (2.30pm) when they travel to Cardiff Met. TEAM: L Idzi; J Vickers; L Baldwin (sub L Surman 77); D Vincent; T Webbe; M Davies; D Carroll; J Knott; S Hanbury (sub C Hanford 75); L Bowen; L Thomas.