OLD GOLD LET RISCA BACK IN
THE season is now nearing its end, and for Carmarthen’s loyal band of travelling supporters it probably cannot come soon enough after having witnessed Saturday’s performance against Risca, who have remained in the lower reaches of JD Cymru South for most of the season.
Yet the Old Gold made a sensational start to the match a few miles north west of Newport by taking the lead within barely a minute of the kick-off.
Central defender Scott Tancock, from well within his own half, sent a searching cross out to Ben Steele near the left touchline.
The speedy striker moved infield, then outpaced a defender and reached the corner of the penalty area before dispatching a fierce angled drive that flew beyond the reach of goalkeeper Thomas Chorley and into the far corner of the net.
Stung by that early setback, Risca quickly responded by launching a series of penetrating attacks that forced Town to defend in numbers and in depth.
Initially they resisted that pressure quite well but gradually United were able to exploit cracks in the visitors’ defence and goalkeeper Scott Coughlin became increasingly busy.
However, the Old Gold were still able to break upfield on occasions and after 23 minutes they went close to extending their lead when Trystan Jones sent a long free-kick into a packed penalty area but Steele directed his closerange header just wide of the far post.
But most of the action was at the other end of the pitch, and on 27 minutes Leon Thomas went close to equalising when, from the edge of the penalty area, he struck a powerful free-kick that Coughlin turned around the post with an excellent flying save.
United continued to stretch the visitors’ defence and after 43 minutes they had a good scoring opportunity when Morgan Stead, out wide on the left wing, sent a high cross to the far side of the goalmouth, only to see Camden Duncan send his close-range volley too high.
Moments later Carmarthen too were guilty of being wasteful when Thomas sprinted from halfway before sending the ball across to Jordan Vickers, who went forward to the edge of the penalty area, only to fire his drive high over the bar.
After the interval Thomas was again involved with Town’s initial scoring effort. On 47 minutes he raced from the centre circle before sending a fine pass out to Steele, who went forward to the corner of the penalty area and struck a fierce angled shot that Chorley, at full length, turned around the post.
However, United were quick to once again put the Old Gold defence under sustained pressure.
In the 58th minute Leon Thomas hit a powerful free-kick from 20 yards which Coughlin resisted with another impressive save.
He then reacted rapidly to deal with a follow-up close-range drive by claiming the ball at the near post.
Carmarthen’s defending by this stage was bordering on desperate, and on 65 minutes, almost inevitably, Risca equalised. After a corner-kick Callum Hodges emerged from a packed goalmouth to force the ball into the net.
Town responded positively to that setback.
After 69 minutes Liam Thomas, on the halfway line, sent a fine pass forward to Steele, who raced into the penalty area and struck a fierce angled shot that slid narrowly beyond the far post.
Moments later Tancock, from inside his own half, set Steele sprinting into the penalty area but again the striker’s finish went just wide of the target.
With the Old Gold now pressing forward freely so often, the hosts were able to counter-attack on occasions, and after 79 minutes Ryan Wheeler broke clear of the Town defence and from 20 yards fired a promising shot beyond Coughlin’s reach, only for defender Sean Pemberton to make a timely recovery and clear the ball to safety.
After that incident the action was largely contained in midfield with neither side able to penetrate the opposition defence in any meaningful way.
And for Carmarthen supporters, a match that had begun so promisingly had turned into a disappointing, largely unproductive afternoon.
Carmarthen Town: Scott Coughlin, Jordan Vickers, Scott Tancock, Lee Surman, Trystan Jones, Matthew Delaney (sub Kieran Howard 65), Greg Walters (sub Noah Daley 82), Tom Dyson, Bradley Gibbings (sub Sean Pemberton 63), Ben Steele, Liam Thomas. Unused subs: Lewis Rocke, Llewelyn James.
Goal: Ben Steele (2).
Yellow cards: Greg Walters (58), Ben Steele (90+2).