GREG’S BEAUTY AS GOLD ON TOP
CARMARTHEN held on to their third place in the JD Cymru South league with what eventually turned out be a comfortable 3-1 victory over a spirited Pontardawe Town side that was promoted into this league at the start of the season.
Right from the start the Old Gold swarmed upfield and put early pressure on the visitors’ defence with a series of fast, penetrative passing movements. But the first significant scoring opportunity arose on seven minutes when Tom Dyson robbed a defender and, from 25 yards, struck a fierce drive that flew beyond the reach of goalkeeper Jac Jones but went narrowly over the bar.
Town continued their attacks with a sequence of crosses and free-kicks until eventually, in the 12th minute, they were rewarded. A cross from the far side of the penalty area reached Noah Daley, leaping high above defenders, and he planted a strong header beyond the goalkeeper’s grasp into the roof of the net.
Spurred by that success
Carmarthen resumed their almost relentless pressure on the visitors’ defence, though through a combination of sound resistance from Pontardawe and some often disappointing finishing from Town no more goals followed.
On the contrary, the Old Gold’s failings eventually allowed Pontardawe to reach deeper upfield, testing the home defence and forcing keeper Nick Jones into action on several occasions.
And then on 20 minutes a swift move by Ponty striker Lewis Reed on the edge of the penalty area took him neatly past two defenders before he drove the ball beyond Jones’s reach and into the corner of the net.
Carmarthen reacted immediately to that setback. A weak clearance by Ponty goalkeeper Jac Jones was intercepted by Mathew Delaney, who raced forward to the edge of the area and released a stunning drive, only to see the ball crash against the bar and bounce away to safety.
Town immediately stepped up the pace and intensity of their game, none more so than Greg Walters. In the 35th minute he won the ball in a tackle in the centre circle and, audaciously, launched a huge shot which flew high over the stranded goalkeeper, who was watching from the edge of the penalty area, and finished in the back of the net.
Then on 41 minutes Daley raced along the left flank before crossing the ball into the area where Delaney, in clear space and from 15 yards, sent his shot over the bar.
After the interval the Old Gold went straight on the attack and were rewarded almost immediately. The ball was sent across to Jordan Vickers, who sprinted down the touchline sent the ball deep into the packed goalmouth where Daley leapt highest at the far post and planted his close-range header into the net.
Carmarthen, now with a two-goal advantage and largely dominating play, still went searching for goals.
On 62 minutes Vickers, as so often in the match, used his pace and movement to avoid defenders and reach the corner of the penalty area before sending a cross to the far side of the goalmouth, only to see both Thomas and Daley fail to connect with the ball.
Then in the 67th minute Thomas he fired the ball across to Bradley Gibbings, who sent his angled drive narrowly past the post.
Carmarthen’s next fixture is away at Llanelli this Friday (7.30pm).
CARMARTHEN: Nick Jones, Jordan Vickers, Scott Tancock, Trystan Jones, Lee Surman, Sam Parsons, Tom Dyson, Greg Walters, Mathew Delaney (sub Jamie Rickard 46), Liam Thomas, Noah Daley (sub Bradley Gibbings 65). Unused subs: Joe Holland (GK), Ryan Bassett, Llewelyn James, Jac Walters.
GOALS: Noah Daley 12, 47, Greg Walters 35.
YELLOWS: Mathew Delaney 33, Jordan Vickers 81, Greg Walters 90.