TOWN STAY UP AFTER VICTORY
CARMARTHEN TOWN.......2 LLANDUDNO.......................0
CARMARTHEN Town will play in the JD Welsh Premier League next season.
Any relegation fears were banished thanks to this victory over Llandudno and Llanelli Town’s defeat at Aberystwyth the night before.
An exciting first half of fairly relentless attacking provided a comfortable two-goal lead that they successfully protected during a more even second period.
Within the first minute Town displayed their urgency and intent when Lewis Harling began a slick move through the centre which led to Greg Walters dispatching a promising 20-yard drive that struck a defender. Liam Thomas pounced quickly on the loose ball but saw his hurried shot comfortably claimed by keeper Shaun Pearson.
Then defender Jordan Knott, making a welcome return after a three-month injury lay-off, fired a long pass that reached Luke Bowen deep inside the Llandudno half. He headed the ball on to Mael Davies, who from the corner of the penalty area released a stunning volley that Pearson turned over the bar at full stretch.
Led by the creative midfield pairing of Harling, once again showing the style and vision that characterised his performances two seasons ago before his long absence following injury, and Davies, Town carved through the visiting defence time and again, exploiting the pace and movement of strikers Thomas and Bowen to good effect.
But despite that pressure the hosts failed to make an early breakthrough.
Only once, on 19 minutes, was the home goal under serious threat as Mark Connolly played a neat pass to Alun Webb, who burst into the area, only for Greg Walters to make a timely intervention and clear the danger.
However, in the 37th minute Town produced the goal they had been threatening to score from the start. Walters moved along the left flank, then drove the ball into the congested goalmouth. Thomas swept it towards the goal and Davies’s subtle final touch helped the ball into the back of the net.
And soon afterwards the Old Gold deservedly increased their lead. Bowen, out wide on the right flank, held off a challenge from a defender, then moved swiftly towards the area before sending an inviting cross into the goalmouth.
Harling’s close-range shot struck the foot of the post but Thomas stabbed the rebound into the empty net.
It was Thomas’s 19th league goal of the season, a new record for Carmarthen in the WPL.
After the interval Town again took the initiative. Harling played a sublime pass through to Bowen on the edge of the area but the experienced striker’s rasping drive flew narrowly over the bar.
Yet gradually Llandudno at last began to compete more effectively and put the Old Gold defence under pressure for the first time in the match.
And on 63 minutes the visitors went close to reducing the deficit when Connolly struck a fierce 25yard free-kick, but Town keeper Lee Idzi produced a spectacular flying save to claw the ball safely away from the top corner.
Mike Pearson’s looping header went over Idzi’s reach, only for Lee Surman to get back to head the ball off the line.
Carmarthen’s final moment of worry came five minutes from time when Les Davies turned sharply and fired an angled drive across the goalmouth which struck the foot of the post and bounced safely away.
Town’s next fixture is on Saturday (2.30pm) when Llanelli Town visit Richmond Park.