Carmarthen lose away at Bala
Bala Town 2 Carmarthen Town 0
I am grateful to Peter Price (who in Max Boyce spirit 'was there') for this match report from the Welsh Premier League match between Bala and Carmarthen -
A hotly disputed penalty given by match referee Bryn Markham-Jones four minutes into the second half, turned this match into Bala's favour after Carmarthen Town failed to capitalise on a number of golden opportunities during the first half.
Carmarthen looked positive from the start and in the fifth minute Cledan Davies saw his shot well saved by Bala keeper Terry McCormick after the keeper had only half cleared straight to the winger.
The home side responded well and a neat build up saw Mark Connolly denied by the offside flag when hooking onto a dangerous through ball by Bala captain Mark Jones. Carmarthen drove forward again and Jack Christopher tried an audacious lob from 35 yards that just cleared the crossbar. The offside flag came to Carmarthen's rescue again moments later when Bala forward Chris Mason was well placed to score.
With ten minutes remaining of the first half Carmarthen had four excellent chances to take the lead.
A corner in the 37th minute taken by Davies saw keeper McCormick drop the ball at the feet of Christopher, but the centre forward's stab at the ball was cleared off the line by Bala's John Irving.
Minutes later Christopher found himself clear of the Bala defence but his angled drive was brilliantly smothered by McCormick.
The visitors kept up the pressure and Nicky Palmer was next to test McCormick's resolve with a crisp shot from the edge of the box, but again the Bala keeper was up to the task to turn the ball away.
Two minutes before half time McCormick was beaten by Stephen Perry's header only to see full back Stef Edwards come to his rescue by heading off the line.
There was just enough time for Bala to mount a final attack of the first half when an unmarked Mason headed over the bar from close range .
Carmarthen's excellent first half performance was soon forgotten after the interval when on 49 minutes Palmer appeared to win the ball cleanly during a challenge with Bala's Mark Jones only for the referee to point to the penalty spot, a decision which stunned the majority of people within Tegid Park.
Despite the protests the decision stood and Connolly stepped up to place the ball into the bottom left hand corner despite Mike Lewis's best efforts to keep the ball out.
Carmarthen responded immediately and McCormick was soon back in the thick of the action blocking Davies's angled drive.
Richard Hughes then headed over from the resultant corner. However the penalty decision knocked the visitor's out of thier stride and Bala had their best spell of the match. Mason drove a shot inches wide and Connolly's brilliant effort rebounded off the post with Lewis well beaten. With twenty minutes to go Carmarthen found themselves two down as they failed to clear their lines and Mason was on hand to turn the ball in at the far post from close range. The visitors brought on Steffan Williams to add some urgency into the attack and he shot over the bar when put through by Keiran Howard. However. it was Bala who finsihed the game strongly when Michael Byron saw his fierce effort saved by Lewis.
Carmarthen remain pointless after two games, but will take heart from a far more encouraging performance in which they deserved at least a point for their efforts.
Bala : Terry McCormick, John Irving (Danny Williams 70'), Steff Edwards, Stuart Jones, Michael Byron, Conall Murtagh, Mark Connolly, Mark Jones, Chris Mason (Ross Jefferies 90'), Liam Loughlin (Steve Brown 57'), Peter Doran. Subs not used: Mike Sharples, Mark Pullman (GK)
Town: Mike Lewis, Lewis Jones, Kyle Graves, Richard Hughes, Steve Berry (Lee Bevan 74'), Kieran Howard, Cledan Davies (Corey Thomas 74'), Tim Hicks (Steff Williams 83'), Nick Harrhy, Jack Christopher, Nicky Palmer. Subs not used: Rhys Dalling, Rhys Wilson Attendance: 256 Referee: Bryn Markham-Jones.
Town entertain Port Talbot Town at Richmond Park this Friday 26th August, kick-off 7.30pm
Carmarthen Town's new website is at -
http://carmarthentownafc.com/
I am grateful to Peter Price (who in Max Boyce spirit 'was there') for this match report from the Welsh Premier League match between Bala and Carmarthen -
A hotly disputed penalty given by match referee Bryn Markham-Jones four minutes into the second half, turned this match into Bala's favour after Carmarthen Town failed to capitalise on a number of golden opportunities during the first half.
Carmarthen looked positive from the start and in the fifth minute Cledan Davies saw his shot well saved by Bala keeper Terry McCormick after the keeper had only half cleared straight to the winger.
The home side responded well and a neat build up saw Mark Connolly denied by the offside flag when hooking onto a dangerous through ball by Bala captain Mark Jones. Carmarthen drove forward again and Jack Christopher tried an audacious lob from 35 yards that just cleared the crossbar. The offside flag came to Carmarthen's rescue again moments later when Bala forward Chris Mason was well placed to score.
With ten minutes remaining of the first half Carmarthen had four excellent chances to take the lead.
A corner in the 37th minute taken by Davies saw keeper McCormick drop the ball at the feet of Christopher, but the centre forward's stab at the ball was cleared off the line by Bala's John Irving.
Minutes later Christopher found himself clear of the Bala defence but his angled drive was brilliantly smothered by McCormick.
The visitors kept up the pressure and Nicky Palmer was next to test McCormick's resolve with a crisp shot from the edge of the box, but again the Bala keeper was up to the task to turn the ball away.
Two minutes before half time McCormick was beaten by Stephen Perry's header only to see full back Stef Edwards come to his rescue by heading off the line.
There was just enough time for Bala to mount a final attack of the first half when an unmarked Mason headed over the bar from close range .
Carmarthen's excellent first half performance was soon forgotten after the interval when on 49 minutes Palmer appeared to win the ball cleanly during a challenge with Bala's Mark Jones only for the referee to point to the penalty spot, a decision which stunned the majority of people within Tegid Park.
Despite the protests the decision stood and Connolly stepped up to place the ball into the bottom left hand corner despite Mike Lewis's best efforts to keep the ball out.
Carmarthen responded immediately and McCormick was soon back in the thick of the action blocking Davies's angled drive.
Richard Hughes then headed over from the resultant corner. However the penalty decision knocked the visitor's out of thier stride and Bala had their best spell of the match. Mason drove a shot inches wide and Connolly's brilliant effort rebounded off the post with Lewis well beaten. With twenty minutes to go Carmarthen found themselves two down as they failed to clear their lines and Mason was on hand to turn the ball in at the far post from close range. The visitors brought on Steffan Williams to add some urgency into the attack and he shot over the bar when put through by Keiran Howard. However. it was Bala who finsihed the game strongly when Michael Byron saw his fierce effort saved by Lewis.
Carmarthen remain pointless after two games, but will take heart from a far more encouraging performance in which they deserved at least a point for their efforts.
Bala : Terry McCormick, John Irving (Danny Williams 70'), Steff Edwards, Stuart Jones, Michael Byron, Conall Murtagh, Mark Connolly, Mark Jones, Chris Mason (Ross Jefferies 90'), Liam Loughlin (Steve Brown 57'), Peter Doran. Subs not used: Mike Sharples, Mark Pullman (GK)
Town: Mike Lewis, Lewis Jones, Kyle Graves, Richard Hughes, Steve Berry (Lee Bevan 74'), Kieran Howard, Cledan Davies (Corey Thomas 74'), Tim Hicks (Steff Williams 83'), Nick Harrhy, Jack Christopher, Nicky Palmer. Subs not used: Rhys Dalling, Rhys Wilson Attendance: 256 Referee: Bryn Markham-Jones.
Town entertain Port Talbot Town at Richmond Park this Friday 26th August, kick-off 7.30pm
Carmarthen Town's new website is at -
http://carmarthentownafc.com/
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