SURMAN SAVES DAY FOR TOWN

A LARGE number of Carmarthen Town supporters saw their side claim a late point on their first-ever fixture with Cwmbran Celtic.

They were no doubt encouraged by the quality of their team’s performance in their Welsh Cup victory over Trethomas Bluebirds.

And for the first 45 minutes of this match that decision was fully justified as the Old Gold largely dominated with some impressive, fast attacking play and plenty of scoring opportunities.

The only disappointment was their inability to convert any of those chances.

Carmarthen were frequently penetrating deep into the home penalty area, but Celtic were unable to breach the Town defence, expertly marshalled by the experienced central pairing of Scott Tancock and Lee Surman.

Ahead of them the midfield unit led by Greg Walters, alongside Tom Dyson and Matthew Delaney, not only provided a valuable layer of defence but also displayed the energy and vision to launch a series of promising attacks.

During these early stages it was clear that defender Jordan Vickers, with his pace and sharp movement, was able to torment the opposing defenders and open up attacking opportunities along the right flank.

However, despite being under pressure for most of the first half, the Cwmbran defence performed with impressive resistance, although there were several occasions when goalkeeper Andrew Larcombe was called into action.

In the 22nd minute Dyson fired a crossfield pass to Adam John on the left flank, who raced forward before sending a searching cross into the goalmouth where Liam Thomas, under pressure from defenders, saw his close-range shot diverted narrowly past the post.

Then Dyson struck a stunning freekick from 25 yards that Larcombe, at full stretch, tipped just over the bar.

There were further efforts from Noah Daley, John, Delaney and Thomas in the closing stages of the first half, but none could find a way past the heavily reinforced Celtic defence.

Cwmbran immediately began far more positively after the interval and poured forward in numbers at every opportunity, clearly intent on overwhelming the Town defence.

And they were soon rewarded for that ambitious strategy.

In the 50th minute Josh Hinwood fired a long free-kick towards the edge of the area where Tom Meecham, having been allowed worrying time and space by the Town defence, struck a stunning low drive that flew past Scott James and into the corner of the net.

The Old Gold, stunned by that setback, surged forward in search of an early equaliser. And they went close to doing so when Trystan Jones sent a long pass to Walters, who moved into the area and fired a shot that Larcombe blocked before the ball was cleared to safety by a defender.

Cwmbran went close to increasing their lead when Meecham, from the left touchline, fired a long free-kick into the goalmouth. James uncharacteristically mis-handled but Tancock was alert to the danger and headed the loose ball to safety.

Then on 85 minutes a smart interchange of passes between Adam John and Dyson on the left finished with the ball being threaded through to Liam Thomas just inside the area, but his shot was blocked .

As each closing minute passed, the Old Gold supporters were fearing the prospect of another defeat in this, so far, disappointing season.

But in the 90th minute Town won a corner. John directed the delivery into the goalmouth and Surman produced the perfect finish as he forced the ball into the net.

Just moments later the referee blew the final whistle.

Carmarthen’s next fixture is against Cambrian & Clydach on Saturday (2.30pm), with the following fixture against Risca United on Tuesday (7.30pm). Both are Cymru South matches and both are at Richmond Park.

TEAM: S James; J Vickers; S Tancock; L Surman; T Jones (sub C Saunders 74); G Walters; T Dyson; M Delaney (sub B Steele 66); L Thomas; N Daley (sub J Walters 66); A John.