ATHLETIC MAKE A SUPER START
CARMARTHEN Athletic Ladies Hockey Club’s first XI have started 2019 well in division two of the South Wales Women’s Hockey League with a fine win and a narrow defeat.
In their first game they defeated Rhondda 2nds 4-1. They did so after going a goal down when Rhondda netted after a quick break.
Carmarthen hit back when Anna Knuckles fed the ball to Rebecca Cartland, who tapped home.
An excellent pass from midfield found Carys Thomas at the top of the D and her shot deflected off the keeper but landed in the path of Cartland, who made it 2-1.
And they extended the advantage from a penalty corner. A strong push out from Anna Heath found Ffion Dart, who swept the ball past the defenders and goalkeeper.
Rhondda came out strongly at the start of the second period, but goalkeeper Jackie Marshall made a number of fine stops.
Carmarthen withstood the pressure and played a number of balls from side to side, which tired the Rhondda defence. And they wrapped up victory when an attack ended with Cartland lifting the ball keeper for her hat-trick.
The home player of the match was Catrin Davies and Rhondda made Ffion Dart their choice.
Carmarthen then emerged with credit from a 3-2 defeat at Penarth 3rds. The visitors started strongly, with the defence and midfield linking well. And they made their pressure count when going in front from a penalty corner.
Rhian Moremon injected a fast ball to Sophie Palmer at the top of the D, and while the keeper saved her strike, the ball found its way to Maya Davies, who slotted home.
Penarth’s initial attempts at an equaliser were thwarted by the Carmarthen defence, but the visitors lost their momentum when midfielder Carys Thomas went down with injury. The hosts took full advantage, scoring from three penalty corners to take control.
Carmarthen began the second half well and the midfield of Heath, Palmer, Knuckles, Moremon and Beca Jones helped win a short corner. Ffion Church found Dart and with a clean sweep the ball found the back over the of the net.
But Penarth held off attempts at an equaliser to claim a narrow win.
The player of the match awards went to Palmer and Knuckles.
Meanwhile, Carmarthen’s 2nd XI bowed out of the SWL Cup at the second-round stage when they were beaten 3-2 by Whitchurch Saints in a thriller.
Carmarthen began the contest on top and went a goal up when Ffion Church found Ffion Raymond perfectly positioned on the post to slot home the first goal of the game.
Carmarthen’s defence of Siriol Richards, Marianne Spratt, Caitlin Marshall and Leia Thomas worked hard to keep the ball away from danger, but Saints eventually found their way through to level.
But Carmarthen hit back after the restart when a ball into the D found Scarlett Mackenzie, who slipped the ball into the bottom corner.
Janine Owen made a series of excellent saves to keep Saints at bay, but she could do nothing to prevent an equaliser when the hosts made their numbers count.
And the Saints progressed to the third round when they found the goal their efforts deserved as Carmarthen began to tire.
Lucy Davies and Scarlett Mackenzie were named Carmarthen’s players of the match.
But Carmarthen bounced back to winning ways with a 3-0 defeat of Cardiff Medics 3rds in division four of the South Wales League.
Promotion-chasing Carmarthen settled immediately, with Sioned Raymond dribbling down the wing and pushing the ball into the D, where Scarlett Mackenzie fired home the opening goal.
Medics fought back, but fine goalkeeping by Janine Owen kept them at bay. And she was rewarded for her efforts when Carmarthen made it 2-0 early in the second half.
It came when Lili Church stole the ball off Medics and fed Catrin Davies, who drove into the D to score.
Carmarthen’s work in training on their short corners paid dividends when Emily Gard pushed a fast ball wide to Siriol Richards, who swept a clean ball into the backboard.
The Carmarthen players of the match were Mackenzie and Davies.