Carmarthen Town match report from last night
Carmarthen Town 2 Port Talbot 0
Welsh Premier League Friday 26th August 2011 – 7.30pm
This was always going to be a stern test of Carmarthen Town’s Welsh Premier League credentials, with Town making the worst possible start to the season and Port Talbot arriving with an unbeaten record.
The good news is that Town came through the examination with flying colours, with a well-organised and robust defence balanced by some quick-fire and determined counter-attacking.
Nicky Palmer's 19th minute strike gave Tomi Morgan’s men the best possible start.
The move started with a positive break from the back.
Teenage winger Steffan Williams made a break down the right flank and pulled the ball back neatly into the path of Palmer, who drilled the ball home to record Town's first goal of the current campaign.
Town’s second goal was even better, coming in the closing minutes of the match.
Captain Tim Hicks held the ball up just outside the right-hand side of the penalty area. A quick swivel and he was able to slide the ball through into the path of the accelerating Cledan Davies.
The 19-year-old winger took the ball at speed and finished with some style with a powerful low drive.
Manager Morgan had made two changes to his starting line up following last week’s defeat away at Bala, with Williams and defender Lee Bevan making their first starts of the season at the expense of Nick Harrhy and Steve Berry.
Afterwards, Morgan said he was delighted with the result.
“The boys have been working hard from the start of the season and we may not have had the breaks we deserved in our first two games.
“Tonight, they applied themselves well to the job in hand. The defended well, showed a lot of composure up against a determined Port Talbot side and took their chances well when they came.
“It was crucially important for us to get points on the board tonight to kick-start our Welsh Premier League campaign. The boys have done just that and now we can build for the future.”
Lee Bevan and Richard Hughes looked particularly impressive in the centre of the defence. Kyle Graves made one cool clearance off the line, with goalkeeper Michael Hughes being largely untroubled by the Port Talbot attack.
Wingers Cledan Davies and Steffan Williams added speed, energy and enthusiasm to the Carmarthen attack, while Nicky Palmer probably clocked up more mileage on the pitch than anyone else.
Carmarthen Town: Mike Lewis; Lewis Jones; Kyle Graves; Richard Hughes; Lee Bevan; Kieran Howard; Cledan Davies; Tim Hicks, captain (Rhys Dalling, 93); Steff Williams (Corey Thomas, 58); Jack Christopher (Nick Harrhy, 84); Nicky Palmer. Subs not used, Steve Berry; Rhys Wilson (GK).
Scorers Nicky Palmer 19 mins, Cledan Davies 88 mins.
Yellow Cards: Richard Hughes, foul, 70 mins; Keiran Howard, foul,73 mins
Red cards: None
Port Talbot: David Burnett; Nicky Holland; Paul Keddle; Gareth Phillips (Matthew Thompson, 68); Kye Edwards; Paul Cochlin; Lee John; Matthew Crowell; Martin Rose, captain; (Oliver Bowen (Y) 81); Cortez Belle; Dylan Blaine (Chris Hartland,72). Subs not used, Lewis Harling, Sasha Walters, Kristian Rogers, Aaron Biddescombe (Y)
Yellow cards: Matthew Crowell, dissent 63; Cortez Belle, foul, 65;
Red cards: None
Referee: Mr Brian James
Attendance: 317
Town make the long trek north to Prestatyn Town on Saturday.
Welsh Premier League Friday 26th August 2011 – 7.30pm
This was always going to be a stern test of Carmarthen Town’s Welsh Premier League credentials, with Town making the worst possible start to the season and Port Talbot arriving with an unbeaten record.
The good news is that Town came through the examination with flying colours, with a well-organised and robust defence balanced by some quick-fire and determined counter-attacking.
Nicky Palmer's 19th minute strike gave Tomi Morgan’s men the best possible start.
The move started with a positive break from the back.
Teenage winger Steffan Williams made a break down the right flank and pulled the ball back neatly into the path of Palmer, who drilled the ball home to record Town's first goal of the current campaign.
Town’s second goal was even better, coming in the closing minutes of the match.
Captain Tim Hicks held the ball up just outside the right-hand side of the penalty area. A quick swivel and he was able to slide the ball through into the path of the accelerating Cledan Davies.
The 19-year-old winger took the ball at speed and finished with some style with a powerful low drive.
Manager Morgan had made two changes to his starting line up following last week’s defeat away at Bala, with Williams and defender Lee Bevan making their first starts of the season at the expense of Nick Harrhy and Steve Berry.
Afterwards, Morgan said he was delighted with the result.
“The boys have been working hard from the start of the season and we may not have had the breaks we deserved in our first two games.
“Tonight, they applied themselves well to the job in hand. The defended well, showed a lot of composure up against a determined Port Talbot side and took their chances well when they came.
“It was crucially important for us to get points on the board tonight to kick-start our Welsh Premier League campaign. The boys have done just that and now we can build for the future.”
Lee Bevan and Richard Hughes looked particularly impressive in the centre of the defence. Kyle Graves made one cool clearance off the line, with goalkeeper Michael Hughes being largely untroubled by the Port Talbot attack.
Wingers Cledan Davies and Steffan Williams added speed, energy and enthusiasm to the Carmarthen attack, while Nicky Palmer probably clocked up more mileage on the pitch than anyone else.
Carmarthen Town: Mike Lewis; Lewis Jones; Kyle Graves; Richard Hughes; Lee Bevan; Kieran Howard; Cledan Davies; Tim Hicks, captain (Rhys Dalling, 93); Steff Williams (Corey Thomas, 58); Jack Christopher (Nick Harrhy, 84); Nicky Palmer. Subs not used, Steve Berry; Rhys Wilson (GK).
Scorers Nicky Palmer 19 mins, Cledan Davies 88 mins.
Yellow Cards: Richard Hughes, foul, 70 mins; Keiran Howard, foul,73 mins
Red cards: None
Port Talbot: David Burnett; Nicky Holland; Paul Keddle; Gareth Phillips (Matthew Thompson, 68); Kye Edwards; Paul Cochlin; Lee John; Matthew Crowell; Martin Rose, captain; (Oliver Bowen (Y) 81); Cortez Belle; Dylan Blaine (Chris Hartland,72). Subs not used, Lewis Harling, Sasha Walters, Kristian Rogers, Aaron Biddescombe (Y)
Yellow cards: Matthew Crowell, dissent 63; Cortez Belle, foul, 65;
Red cards: None
Referee: Mr Brian James
Attendance: 317
Town make the long trek north to Prestatyn Town on Saturday.
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