Carmarthen Town 2 Bridgend Town 1
Goals in each half by Steffan Williams and Nick Harrhy ensured that Carmarthen Town would enter the 4th round draw of the Welsh Cup. This win also saw the end of Tomi Morgan’s reign as first team manager.
The tie was seen as a potential banana skin for Town as their opponents are one of the sides with ambitions of gaining a place in the Welsh Premier league and they also included several former Old Gold players.
In addition, the EH Factors and Clothing sponsored Carmarthen Town side were without several players through suspension and injuries.
In very wet conditions the home side started the game on the front foot and were soon putting pressure on the visiting defence.
The opening goal came after 12 minutes when a fine move down the right hand side saw Williams burst clear and shot confidently past Tony Bird in the Bridgend goal.
The next major incident of the game was an injury to Michael Lewis the home keeper. The visitors capitalised on this as Craig Lima, a former Town player, rose above the home defenders to head home from a corner with Lewis stranded on his line.
Lewis was then replaced by Ashley Williams in the home goal and he went on to play confidently in the rain and high wind.
Town continued to play some attractive football but the conditions made it difficult to get the final pass right. Gradually they were getting on top but failing to create any clear chances.
The second half proved to be one way traffic as Nicky Palmer and Geraint Passmore took control of the midfield which allowed Corey Thomas to dominate the game. The second and decisive goal came in the fifty first minute when a cross from the left was bravely headed home by Harrhy from the edge of the six yard box.
Williams was rarely troubled in the home goal as his defence led by captain Tim Hicks dominated the visiting forwards. Hicks and Steve Berry proved more than capable in the middle and allowed Lewis Jones and Cledan Davies to supplement the attack as often as possible.
Further forward the pace of Rhys Dalling and Williams meant that the visiting defence were under constant pressure. They were often turned by the livewire home attack and the only thing missing was the third goal. Several shots were blocked or straight at Bird in the Bridgend goal as Town poured forward.
The superior fitness of the home team was also a factor as the conditions took their toll. Deservedly the game ended with the home side in command.
The tie was seen as a potential banana skin for Town as their opponents are one of the sides with ambitions of gaining a place in the Welsh Premier league and they also included several former Old Gold players.
In addition, the EH Factors and Clothing sponsored Carmarthen Town side were without several players through suspension and injuries.
In very wet conditions the home side started the game on the front foot and were soon putting pressure on the visiting defence.
The opening goal came after 12 minutes when a fine move down the right hand side saw Williams burst clear and shot confidently past Tony Bird in the Bridgend goal.
The next major incident of the game was an injury to Michael Lewis the home keeper. The visitors capitalised on this as Craig Lima, a former Town player, rose above the home defenders to head home from a corner with Lewis stranded on his line.
Lewis was then replaced by Ashley Williams in the home goal and he went on to play confidently in the rain and high wind.
Town continued to play some attractive football but the conditions made it difficult to get the final pass right. Gradually they were getting on top but failing to create any clear chances.
The second half proved to be one way traffic as Nicky Palmer and Geraint Passmore took control of the midfield which allowed Corey Thomas to dominate the game. The second and decisive goal came in the fifty first minute when a cross from the left was bravely headed home by Harrhy from the edge of the six yard box.
Williams was rarely troubled in the home goal as his defence led by captain Tim Hicks dominated the visiting forwards. Hicks and Steve Berry proved more than capable in the middle and allowed Lewis Jones and Cledan Davies to supplement the attack as often as possible.
Further forward the pace of Rhys Dalling and Williams meant that the visiting defence were under constant pressure. They were often turned by the livewire home attack and the only thing missing was the third goal. Several shots were blocked or straight at Bird in the Bridgend goal as Town poured forward.
The superior fitness of the home team was also a factor as the conditions took their toll. Deservedly the game ended with the home side in command.
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