CARMARTHEN went out of the newly established Cymru South League Cup at the first round against Goytre United – a team which they had beaten, away from home, in the League only two weeks ago.
And, encouragingly, the Old Gold began quite positively as they tested the Goytre defence with a series of penetrating raids. That pressure gradually built up until the 6th minute when Town managed their first notable scoring effort when Bradley Gibbings sent a fine cross from the right flank into the penalty area where Kaid Mohammed struck a fierce angled drive that goal-keeper Conah McFenton, with a smart save, turned aside.
Town maintained that early pressure and this to led to them taking a deserved lead on 14 minutes. Tom Dyson sent a huge clearance upfield from his own penalty area which Mohammed keenly pursued – after outpacing a defender the experienced striker, from 15 yards, drove the ball past McFenton and into the back of the net.
Carmarthen continued to enjoy the greater share of possession and in the 20th minute they went close to extending their lead. Trystan Jones raced along the left flank before sending a fine cross over to Dyson who from 20 yards struck a fierce shot that defeated McFenton only for the ball to crash against the bar and land behind the goal.
Then on several more occasions the Old Gold, with their impressive pace and movement, breached the visitors’ defence only for poor finishing to ensure that further goals did not arise during this period of play – and that would turn out be the turning point of the match.
On 30 minutes the visitors at last became a goal threat when Ethan Taylor burst through Town’s defensive back line only to be stopped by ‘keeper Nick Jones racing far out of his goal and bravely dropping to the ground at the striker’s feet to claim the ball.
Straightaway Goytre became far more competitive and Carmarthen’s defensive unit much busier – and this soon led to the visitors drawing level. On 35 minutes Taylor chased a long pass to the by-line and then sent a fine cross towards the far corner of the goal where Jordan Edwards drove the ball past Jones and into the net.
Soon afterwards Steffan Roberts was allowed a clear run from the centre-circle in pursuit of a long pass but once again Jones was quickly well out of his goal to claim possession of the ball and clear it to safety.
Then just before half-time the circumstances for the Old Gold became even worse. On the half-way line, directly in front of the dug-outs an unseemly confrontation broke out between several players from both sides – once, after some time, matters had eventually calmed down the referee sent-off Adam John for his involvement in this incident.
After the half-time interval Manager Mark Aizlewood sent on substitutes Lee Surman and Greg Walters (and soon afterwards Scott Tancock) which added strength and experience to the core of the team.
And on 52 minutes Town went close to scoring when a smart passing move led to Mohammed
firing a crisp angled shot across the face of the goal and Gibbings just failing to connect with a close-range tap-in opportunity.
However, with Carmarthen eagerly seeking to restore their lead Goytre were aware .of potential scoring opportunities on the counter-attack and in the 57th minute they exploited such a chance. With Town players upfield a clearance from a United defender fell nicely for Steffan Roberts in the centre-circle – he was able to race upfield unhindered and then, as Jones came to challenge him at the edge of the penalty area, the striker drove the ball past the stranded ‘keeper and into the empty goal.
Stung by that set-back the Old Gold went back on the attack. On 61 minutes Mohammed saw his fierce 20 yard angled strike turned over the bar by McFenton. Moments later the experienced striker’s close-range shot suffered the same fate.
By this stage Carmarthen were more or less camped in the visitors’ half of the pitch. After 75 minutes Tom Dyson sent fine pass into the penalty area where Gibbings saw his 15 yard drive fly narrowly wide. Then shortly afterwards he saw another close-range shot turned aside by the increasingly busy McFenton.
As the match stretched into added time Gibbings once again burst into the penalty area and released another fierce volley which McFenton resisted impressively. And the Old Gold’s final opportunity to level the scores arose when Mohammed, from 15 yards, dispatched a stunning strike only for Goytre’s overworked ‘keeper to block the ball and clear it to safety.
Town return to Cymru South League action for their next away against Abergavenny Town on Friday, September 9, ko 7.30pm.
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