Principality Welsh Premier League

Saturday, 17th October 2009

at Richmond Park, Carmarthen

Carmarthen Town 3-1 Port Talbot Town

Goalscorers

Carmarthen Town

Tim Hicks (74)

Danny Thomas (84)

Nicky Palmer (86)

Port Talbot Town

Martin Rose (29)

Referee - Mr Mark Whitby

Home Page

1st Team Page

Carmarthen Town

Team - Neil Thomas, Richard Hughes, Dyfan Pierce, Nicky Palmer, Mark Dodds, Kris Thomas, Craig Hanford, Tim Hicks, Paul Fowler, Mark Pritchard, Neil Smothers

Subs - Ben Morris (Unused), Danny Thomas (rep Smothers - 68), Nathan Cotterrall (rep Pierce - 64)

Yellow Cards - Tim Hicks (13), Neil Thomas (23), Neil Smothers (23), Richard Hughes (53)

Red Cards - None

Goalscorers - Tim Hicks (74), Danny Thomas (84), Nicky Palmer (86)

Port Talbot Town

Team - Lee Kendall, Leigh De-Vulgt, Scott Barrow, Gareth Phillips, Matthew Rees, Lee Surman, Drew Fahiya, Neil Thomas, Martin Rose, Liam McCreesh, Daniel Thomas

Subs - Nicky Holland (rep Phillips - 37), Lloyd Grist (Unused), Lee John (rep Fahiya - 61)

Yellow Cards - Lee Surman (2), Matthew Rees (37), Scott Barrow (39)

Red Cards - None

Goalscorers - Martin Rose (29)

Attendance - 366

Referee - Mr Mark Whitby

Carmarthen Town claimed maximum points from this South Wales derby but were a goal down until the 74th minute. In a game lacking in any real quality, Port Talbot forced the early pressure but struggle to create any real chances on target while Carmarthen were restricted to long range efforts in the opening half. The first incident of note arrived after 23 minutes when Neil Smothers kicked the ball at a floored Liam McCreesh to earn himself a yellow card while Neil Thomas joined him in the book following his 50-yard run to become involved in the incident. Things went from bad to worse for the home side on 29 minutes when an excellent run from Daniel Thomas on the left gifted Martin Rose with a simple chance to slot the ball in an empty net from close range and he made no mistake. Gareth Phillips suffered an ankle injury on 37 minutes and was replaced by Nicky Holland as manager Mark Jones was forced to change the shape of his side. Port Talbot held onto the lead before the break but came out for the second a shadow of the side that had taken an opening half lead as Carmarthen took control of the game and constantly pressured the Port Talbot defence but were unable to grab an equaliser as their frustrations increased. A strong appeal for a penalty at the other end was waved away by referee Mark Whitby after Daniel Thomas appeared to be shoved in the area before Port Talbot almost increased their lead when Craig Hanford cleared the ball off the line against his former club. On 74 minutes Carmarthen eventually scored after a period of pressure as Tim Hicks scored the all important goal. Ten minutes later the home side were in front when substitute Danny Thomas scored his sides second goal of the game. A poor back pass from Nicky Holland two minutes later gifted Carmarthen their third goal as goalkeeper Lee Kendall found himself 40-yards from goal and Nicky Palmer placed a long-range effort into the empty net to confirm his sides three points.

19th October 2009 - Evening Post

Port Talbot defence undone by late Carmarthen blitz

Three goals in the final 16 minutes gave Carmarthen Town a crucial 3-1 victory over Port Talbot at Richmond Park to lift them to within one place of the coveted top 10. It was an amazing collapse by Mark Jones's side, who had conceded only six goals in their previous eight matches. But both managers agreed that it was a deserved home success. "We deserved to lose today. This is turning into a 50-50 season as we have won, lost and drawn three with nine goals for and against," said Jones. "We are lacking the consistency needed at this level but our goal remains, as it has from day one, a place in the top 10 and qualification to the new Super League. But we have work to do as this division is very competitive, but I still believe totally in my players. We were fortunate to go in 1-0 up at half-time and I told the players it was a bonus. Well done to Carmarthen as they have not had the best of starts and never let their heads drop." Jones felt, with justification, that his side should have been awarded a penalty when a goal up as Richard Hughes shoved Danny Thomas in the back, but referee Mark Whitby let play go on. "It was the clearest penalty you could ever see and the referee has said he will phone me to apologise if he made a mistake after watching the television replay," he added. Carmarthen boss Deryn Brace admitted: "They could have had a penalty but it would have been against the run of play, as was their opener. I thought we thoroughly deserved to win and I'm really pleased for the lads. I've defended them this season as I knew a result like this was around the corner. But it will only be meaningful if we follow it up. One more win could see us catching a cluster of teams. I don't want this to be another false dawn." Martin Rose put the visitors in front in the 29th minute, a lead they held until the 74th minute when Nathan Cotterrall, who had come on as a second-half substitute, crossed to Hicks at the far post and he nodded home. Lee Kendall was beaten again with six minutes remaining, Mark Pritchard's header finding another substitute, Thomas, who netted with ease. Rose nearly levelled, only for Craig Hanford to clear off the line, but a poor back pass from Scott Barrow to Kendall left the keeper stranded, leaving Nicky Palmer to chip from 20 yards into an empty net.

19th October 2009 - Western Mail

Match Report

This was a much needed boost for Carmarthen who netted three times in the last 16 minutes to record their first home success of the campaign. After falling behind to Martin Rose’s 29th-minute goal, home boss Deryn Brace sent on Nathan Cotterrall and Danny Thomas from the bench to change their fortunes. Cotterrall’s superb delivery gave Tim Hicks an unopposed far post header and Mark Pritchard supplied Thomas to put the Old Gold ahead. And, with two minutes left, a poor back pass from Scott Barrow to his goalkeeper left Lee Kendall stranded and Nicky Palmer chipped into an unguarded net from 20 yards. “The win will only mean anything if we follow it up. I don’t want any more false dawns although one more win would take us past a cluster of clubs” said Brace. His counterpart Mark Jones, who justifiably felt his side were robbed of a penalty when a goal ahead, said: “We deserved to lose. We are lacking consistency but I totally believe in my players.”

17th October 2009 - www.carmarthentownafc.net

Match Report

Three second half goals in a 12 minute spell saw town overturn Port Talbot’s first half advantage to run out winners at Richmond Park. Martin Rose had opened the scoring for the Steelmen just before the half hour mark following a good run from Daniel Thomas on the left. But Town once again launched a second half revival to turn the tables on Mark Jones’ men. Tim Hicks launched the comeback on 74 minutes glancing substitute Nathan Cotterrall’s cross from the left just inside the far upright. Then having put his name on the score sheet for the fourth consecutive game Hicks turned provider. With Mark Pritchard heading the front man’s ball on Danny Thomas, returning after illness, applied the final touch at the far post with six minutes remaining. Two minutes later Nick Palmer sealed the points when he lobed Lee Kendall after the keeper had rushed out of his area in a race to the ball with Pritchard. Now five games undefeated the Richmond Park outfit move up to eleventh in the table.