KAID’S DOUBLE LIFTS OLD GOLD
CARMARTHEN Town opened their home programme with an impressive performance against last season’s Cymru South League champions Llantwit Major.
It was a notable double for the Old Gold, as they had beaten the same opponents away from home only 10 days earlier in the League Cup.
Town took the initiative from the start by launching a series of rapid attacks that kept the visitors defending deep inside their own half.
But it was not until the 11th minute that any notable chance arose. Noah Daley made a strong run along the left flank before driving the ball across to Kaid Mohamed, who, from 20 yards, struck a fierce volley that goalkeeper Rhys Jones turned aside.
Moments later Matthew Delaney, from just outside the penalty area, fired a free-kick that was blocked by defenders. However, the ensuing scramble for the loose ball finished with Mohamed powering it past Jones and into the back of the net.
It meant that Mohamed, who returned to the club this summer, was registering his first goal for Carmarthen since January 2007.
Carmarthen continued to press and on 15 minutes Bradley Gibbings embarked on a strong run along the right touchline before driving the ball into the goalmouth where Liam Thomas, arriving at speed, narrowly failed to connect.
Then on 28 minutes Daley embarked on a breakaway from the halfway line which finished with a stunning 25-yard strike that Jones kept out.
The Old Gold maintained their domination and after 33 minutes Gibbings sent a fine pass through to Daley just inside the area. The lively striker released an angled drive, but saw Jones turn the ball around the near post.
Still the hosts searched for that ellusive second goal. On 37 minutes Mohamed made a strong run from halfway, outstretching several defenders, to reach the corner of the area before dispatching a stunning drive that Jones, with smart reactions, turned aside at the base of the post.
Yet in the 42nd minute, Town secured that richly deserved second goal.
A delightful passing move inside the area between Thomas, Jamie Rickard and Daley finished with the sturdy striker powering the ball past the hapless keeper and into the back of the net.
After the interval Llantwit made a bright start and showed far more positive intent than at any earlier stage of the match, and on 49 minutes Joel Woodington, the liveliest of their strikers, broke free into the area and dispatched a low drive that keeper Ifan Knott was quickly down to claim.
The visitors continued to be more competitive but for a while they struggled to penetrate the Old Gold defence. But in the 71st minute they capitalised on a moment of poor defending when Owain Edwards was allowed the time and space to reach a well-flighted cross, and from close range he headed the ball beyond Knott’s reach and into the net.
However, Town were quick to respond to that setback and once more put the opposition defence under serious pressure.
And with full-time approaching, they restored the comfort of their two-goal advantage.
A fine crossfield move finished with Mohamed sending an inviting pass to Jac Walters who, from just inside the area, struck a fierce shot past Jones and into the net.
Deep into added time, the Old Gold made the scoreline even more emphatic when a smart passing
move between Walters and Mohamed finished with the returning striker crowning the event with a stunning 15-yard volley that flew beyond the goalkeeper’s reach and into the roof of the net.
Town’s next Cymru South match is at Richmond Park against Swansea University on Saturday (2.30pm).
TEAM: I Knott; J Vickers; T Jones; L Surman (sub L Rocke 61); S Parsons; M Delaney; B Gibbings (sub J Walters 87); K Mohamed; L Thomas; N Daley (sub A John 59).