GOYTRE CLAIM SWEET REVENGE
CARMARTHEN Town went out of the new Cymru South League Cup in the first round against Goytre United – a team they had beaten in the league only two weeks earlier.
The Old Gold began positively as they tested the Goytre defence with a series of penetrating raids.
That pressure gradually built until the sixth minute when the hosts produced their first notable scoring effort when Bradley Gibbings sent a fine cross from the right into the penalty area where Kaid Mohamed struck a fierce drive that goalkeeper Conah Mcfenton turned aside.
Town maintained that early pressure and this to led to them taking a deserved lead on 14 minutes.
Tom Dyson sent a huge clearance upfield from his own area which Mohamed keenly pursued. And after outpacing a defender the experienced striker drove the ball past Mcfenton and into the back of the net.
Carmarthen continued to enjoy the greater share of possession and in the 20th minute they went close to extending their advantage.
Trystan Jones raced along the left flank before sending a fine cross to Dyson and his 20-yard drive defeated Mcfenton, only for the ball to crash against the bar and land behind the goal.
On several more occasions the Old Gold, with their impressive pace and movement, breached the visiting defence only for poor finishing to ensure that further goals did not arise.
As it turned out, that would prove to be the turning point of the match.
On 30 minutes the visitors at last became a goal threat when Ethan Taylor burst through Town’s defensive line, only to be stopped by keeper Nick Jones racing far out of his goal and bravely dropping to the ground at the striker’s feet to claim the ball.
Straightaway Goytre became far more competitive and Carmarthen’s defensive unit much busier – and this soon led to the visitors drawing level.
Taylor chased a long pass and sent a fine cross towards the far corner of goal where Jordan Edwards drove the ball past Jones and into the net.
Soon afterwards Steffan Roberts was allowed a clear run from the centre circle in pursuit of a long pass, but once again Jones was quickly out of his goal to claim the ball and clear it to safety.
Then just before half-time, circumstances for the Old Gold became even worse. On the halfway line, directly in front of the dugouts, an unseemly confrontation broke out between several players from both sides. Once matters had eventually calmed down the referee red-carded Adam John for his involvement.
After the interval Town manager Mark Aizlewood sent on substitutes Lee Surman and Greg Walters – and soon afterwards Scott Tancock – which added strength and experience to the core of the team.
And on 52 minutes Town went close to scoring when a smart move led to Mohamed firing a crisp shot across the face of goal, with Gibbings just failing to connect from close range.
However, Goytre were aware of potential opportunities on the counterattack – and in the 57th minute they exploited such a chance.
With Town players upfield, a clearance from a United defender fell nicely for Steffan Roberts and he was able to race away unhindered. As Jones came to challenge him at the edge of the area, the striker drove the ball past the stranded keeper and into the empty net.
Stung by that setback, the Old Gold went back on the attack and Mohamed saw his fierce 20-yard strike turned over the bar by Mcfenton. Moments later the striker’s closerange shot suffered the same fate. By
this stage Carmarthen were more or less camped in the Goytre half. Tom Dyson sent fine pass into the area where Gibbings saw his 15-yard drive fly narrowly wide.
And shortly afterwards he saw another close-range shot turned aside by the increasingly busy Mcfenton.
Gibbings once again burst into the area and released a fierce volley on 85 minutes which Mcfenton resisted impressively.
Town return to JD Cymru South League action on Friday when they visit Abergavenny Town (7.30pm)