CARMARTHEN went into this match, the last of the season, hoping to secure 3 points which would ensure a final Cymru South League placing of fourth or, if results elsewhere were to be favourable, even third would be attainable.
But regrettably Pontypridd produced enough of the impressive form that has kept them in 2nd place virtually all season and secured for them promotion to the Cymru Premier League – and accordingly, in the end, despite Town’s best efforts that was simply not quite enough.
From the start the match quickly developed into a lively end-to-end affair but, with both defences coping well, no early serious scoring opportunities arose until the 10th minute.
Jordan Vickers embarked on a determined sprint along the right flank then slid the ball infield to Bradley Gibbings – he in turn, from the corner of the penalty area, sent a fine pass across to Ben Steele who struck a stunning volley that flew beyond the reach of goal-keeper Steve Cann but crashed against the bar before being cleared away by a defender.
Then on 22 minutes another clear opportunity arose when Tom Dyson, with a measured pass from the half-way line, set Steele racing clear of any defenders – but as Cann came out to the edge of his penalty area the lively striker wastefully dragged his shot wide of the far post.
After 25 minutes Town again went close to scoring when Noah Daley struck a promising 25 yard volley only to see Cann produce a fine flying save and turn the ball aside.
Then moments later Carmarthen threatened to score once more when Vickers, again using his lightning pace to good effect, reached deep into the visitors’ half before sending a fine cross into the far side penalty area where Steele struck a fierce drive that defeated Cann but crashed against the bar before the ball was cleared to safety.
But then in the 29th minute, having survived that prolonged pressure, Pontypridd took the lead – seemingly, with the help of some poor Town defending. A corner-kick was fired deep into the crowded goalmouth and reached Sam Johnson at the far post and he found time and space to plant his close-range header into the roof of the net.
The Old Gold quickly responded to that setback and on 37 minutes Gibbings moved across the edge of the penalty area before releasing a fierce drive that flew narrowly past the post.
However, that response was abruptly terminated in the 42nd minute by a moment of collective slack defending. A long, lofted pass was launched upfield from the Pontypridd half and, while four Town defenders were slow to react to the danger, goal-scorer Johnson was allowed to race unchallenged to reach the ball and, from 25 yards, lob it over the advancing Ifan Knott and into the net.
Town’s response to that further setback was immediate but their only scoring opportunity before half-time arose when Trystan Jones sent a long cross to the far corner of the penalty area where Steele saw his ambitious header fly over the bar.
After the interval the Old Gold were quick to put the visitor’s defence under pressure and on 48 minutes Steele dispatched a long-range drive into the goalmouth where the ball was turned aside – from the ensuing corner-kick Scott Tancock’s weak close-range header was easily claimed by Cann.
Then on 51 minutes Jamie Rickard struck a close-range shot but Cann was quickly down to claim the ball.
In the 59th minute Steele attempted another fierce long-range strike which defeated Cann but hit the base of the post and the ball was cleared to safety. And soon afterwards Dyson dispatched a promising volley that drew another flying save from the increasingly busy Pontypridd (former Carmarthen Town) goalkeeper.
Then on 79 minutes Jones fired a 25 yard free-kick that flew beyond Cann’s reach but crashed against the bar and dropped over the back of the goal.
The pacy, end-to-end nature of the match continued until the final whistle but, with no more scoring opportunities arising, the Old Gold were left to settle for defeat and no further League points – consequently Town finish the season in fifth place in the Cymru South League.
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