OLD GOLD ARE BROUGHT BACK DOWN TO EARTH
CAERNARFON TOWN.........3 CARMARTHEN TOWN........1
CARMARTHEN Town were brought down to earth following their New Year victory over Llanelli as they were comfortably beaten in North Wales on Saturday.
Having taken the lead through a Liam Thomas penalty midway through the first half, they were soon overwhelmed by Caernarfon’s incisive movement coupled with some clinical finishing.
Town were missing the suspended Dave Vincent and Jordan Knott (injured), both of whom have been key performers in the back line this season.
In the opening stages the match was evenly balanced and confined essentially to midfield exchanges, and it was not until the 23rd minute that the first significant chance arose.
It came when Caernarfon’s Nathan Craig dispatched a powerful drive that keeper Lee Idzi punched away. The ball rebounded back to Craig, but his follow-up shot slid wide.
As the pace of the game began to quicken, the Old Gold at last managed a serious goal threat when Greg Walters sent a delightful pass to Mael Davies, who raced into the penalty area where he was tripped by a home defender. Top scorer Thomas confidently drove the spot-kick past keep- er Alex Ramsay and into the net.
The home side immediately poured upfield in search of an early equaliser and they began to dominate, yet were unable to pierce the Town defence, which was well marshalled by the experienced Lee Surman.
Indeed, it was the visitors who created the next chance from a rare counter-attack. Davies, who in his debut season has been an impressive creative presence in Carmarthen’s midfield, threaded a smart pass to Walters, whose curling shot was turned around the post by Ramsay.
But in the 43rd minute Caernarfon’s sustained pressure was rewarded.
Darren Thomas raced along the right flank, went past Craig Hanford and into the area and drove the ball towards the goalmouth where Cai Jones slid it into the net.
After the interval the hosts immediately put the Old Gold defence under renewed pressure, yet for a while the visitors stood firm, with the experienced Idzi a settling presence.
But in the 69th minute the hosts deservedly took the lead when Craig’s 25-yard free-kick sailed beyond Idzi’s reach and into the net.
Perhaps shaken by that setback, Town’s performance seemed to deteriorate over the latter stages. Failings that appeared to have been eradicated with the victory over Llanelli on New Year’s Day sadly re-emerged. In particular, the ball was needlessly given away too often and too easily.
And in the 84th minute that led to the hosts putting the result beyond doubt with a third goal.
Substitute Jordan Vickers, who had only been on the pitch a few minutes, lost possession deep inside his own half to Darren Thomas, who worked his way across the edge of the area before releasing a stunning drive that flew past Idzi and into the corner of the net.
Only one fixture now remains for Carmarthen in the Welsh Premier League first-phase programme. They face Connah’s Quay, who have been close to the top of the table all season, at Richmond Park on Saturday (7.30pm).