CWM SHAKE UP THE TITLE RACE
Carmarthen Athletic Ladies’ Hockey Club’s Second XI. CWMAMMAN United showed exactly why they are competing at the top end of the Welsh League division one table when they took Haverfordwest County’s 100 per cent home record with a storming 3-2 win.
The home side started strongly and controlled the early stages, and just as Cwm thought they had weathered the storm, a tame shot from Ben Fawcett from the edge of the area squeezed past Chris Curtis.
But rather than drop their heads, Cwm stormed back within two minutes when a through ball from Ross Morgan saw Ryan Hurlow brought down just inside the box. Ryan Thomas stepped up to slot home the
HAVERFORDWEST .............. 2 CWMAMMAN UTD .............. 3
penalty.
Haverfordwest put together a few decent passing moves and during this spell it required towering performances at the back from Gareth Howarth, Nathan McNeill and Aaron Richards to keep the visitors in the game.
But a lapse in concentration at a corner saw Sean Pemberton power a header past Curtis to put the hosts in front again.
Incredibly, Cwm again found themselves level within two minutes as Hurlow pounced on a defensive error to break away and slot the ball past the advancing keeper.
With half-time approaching there was a double blow for Cwm with both full-backs Declan John and Luke Allen having to be replaced due to injury.
They were replaced by Chris Allen and James Bryan, resulting in a formation change.
The second half saw both sides probing with a number of halfchances going either way. Curtis made a couple of strong saves with a free-kick also crashing against the post.
But the game swung on a major incident in the 70th minute when Haverfordwest’s Ricky Watts was sent off for a second yellow and Cwm took control.
Allen’s effort was ruled out for offside, but Cwm kept looking for the winner.
And it came right at the end of the contest. A strong penalty appeal was turned down before Hurlow stormed past the full-backs and pulled the ball back for the advancing Ryan Thomas to fire home and give his side the points.
Cwmamman host table-topping Penybont at Grenig Park on Saturday. A win for Cwmamman would put them within three points of the Bridgend side.