TOWN BATTLE TO CLAIM POINT

CARMARTHEN Town extended their remarkable unbeaten sequence in the JD Cymru South league to 16 matches with a hard-earned point at Briton Ferry.

But for long periods that outcome seemed unlikely as Briton Ferry, who have occupied a high league placing all season, put the Old Gold defence under serious pressure.

Right from the start the hosts poured forward with a series of penetrating raids and they went close to taking the lead after only two minutes when a long throw-in landed in the crowded goalmouth where Adam Robbins saw his close-range shot blocked impressively by goalkeeper Ifan Knott.

The loose ball fell nicely for former Town striker Luke Bowen, but his volley struck the bar and the ball was cleared to safety.

Then a fine through ball set Gavin Jones racing through the visitors’ defensive line and into the penalty area, but Knott was quickly out of his goal and bravely dived down at the striker’s feet to claim the ball.

But shortly afterwards the young keeper was powerless to prevent Ferry

taking the lead. A fine pass from Ross Jones set Tyler Brock racing into the area and from 15 yards he fired the ball past Knott and into the net.

Stunned by that setback, the Old Gold began to press forward with greater urgency as midfielders Greg Walters, Matthew Delaney, Kieran Howard and Tom Dyson sought opportunities for strikers Liam Thomas and Adam John to pursue.

And gradually the focus of activity began to shift further upfield into the hosts’ half.

Yet despite this welcome spell of pressure from Town, which led to frequent activity in and around the home area, they were rarely able to penetrate the Ferry defence in any meaningful way and keeper Conah Mcfenton was never seriously stretched.

Indeed, with the Old Gold playing with more freedom further up the field, occasional opportunities for counter-attacks began to open up for the home side and on 32 minutes they went close to extending their lead as Bowen produced a firm closerange header, only to see Knott respond with a superb reaction save.

After the interval Town quickly took the initiative and put the hosts under sustained pressure. The first significant moment arose on 53 minutes when Walters sent a measured pass forward to half-time substitute Ben Steele, who from just inside the area struck his crisp drive narrowly wide of the post.

Moments later Dyson released a stunning long-range shot that Mcfenton kept out with a flying fulllength save.

The Old Gold continued to stretch and probe the home defence and again went close to drawing level in the 74th minute when Thomas threaded a fine pass to John, who saw his 15-yard drive turned aside by Mcfenton.

Then Knott sent a huge clearance from his own area almost the length of the pitch to reach Thomas, only for Town’s prolific striker to be robbed of possession by Mcfenton on the edge of his area.

However, in the 81st minute Carmarthen were rewarded for their impressive second-half performance.

Thomas burst dangerously into the area, only to be promptly brought down. Equally promptly, the referee awarded a penalty which Town’s alltime top scorer, with his customary composure and accuracy, drove past Mcfenton and into the back of the net.

Unsurprisingly, Ferry poured forward in search of a late goal to restore their lead. However, the Old Gold responded by defending soundly and comfortably protected the point which, on the overall balance of play, they rightly deserved.

Carmarthen’s next fixture is on February 26 at Swansea University (2.30pm). The reverse fixture at Richmond Park back on August 28 saw Town’s first league win of the season and began the ongoing impressive unbeaten run.

TOWN: I Knott; J Vickers (sub B Gibbins 74); S Hancock; L Surman; T Jones; M Delaney (sub B Steele 46); K Howard (sub S Pemberton 74); G Walters; T Dyson; L Thomas; A John. Unused subs: L Rocke; N Daley.