CARMARTHEN Town, starting their first game in five weeks due to the latest pandemic lockdown, began brightly enough with Adam John causing problems for the home defence with some neat footwork which nearly produced an early goal in the 5th minute when his cross was neatly plucked out of the air by home ‘keeper Cameran Clarke just before Liam Thomas was about to pounce.
Cambrian’s tactics were based on the long-ball approach and accompanied with some heavy, robust tackling which resulted in several free kicks being awarded to the Old Gold. But it was from open play that they created their first notable scoring chance on 10 minutes when Matthew Delaney sent a diagonal cross into the penalty area and saw the effervescent top scorer Thomas glance a header just over the crossbar.
Then, in the 15th minute, great work by Delaney led to Jordan Vickers firing a 20 yard drive that cannoned off the bar.
Soon afterwards the hosts produced their first scoring opportunity when ex-Merthyr player Ryan Prosser forced his way through but fired well over the bar from the edge of the penalty area.
Then, in the 20th minute, a loose pass from Scott Tancock almost let Prosser through but he recovered well and managed to dispossess the frontman with consummate ease.
The game was developing into a midfield tussle with Town too often treating the ball like a hot potato but with the home team imposing themselves with some dubious tackling this was understandable.
It was the defensive unit of Vickers, Tancock, Lee Surman and Trystan Jones that gave the visitors a springboard to launch their attacks as they capably held the Cambrian forays. And behind them seventeen year-old goalkeeper Ifan Knott, making his League debut, belied his youthfulness when he confidently claimed a free-kick fired deep into the penalty area.
On 30 minutes a controversial incident arose when Tom Dyson set Liam Thomas racing through into towards the penalty area only to be brought down by the last defender, Dai Thomas, who was only shown a yellow card much to Town’s frustration – from the resulting free-kick Vickers saw his low shot avoid the defensive “wall” only for Clarke to complete a neat save.
In the 40th minute a cross from Delaney saw Thomas lay off a deft header into the path of the effervescent Greg Walters who struck a low drive that flew narrowly wide of the post with Clarke stranded.
Then just before half-time the hosts nearly broke the deadlock when a cross from Craig Wilcox was met on the volley by Liam Reed but the ball flashed wide of the post.
However early in the second-half Cambrian managed to edge themselves in front when on 49 minutes when they were awarded a free-kick out on the right flank – the ball was floated into the goalmouth and partially cleared but it ffell nicely for Prosser who, from 8 yards, gave Knott no chance with his driven shot.
Yet another controversial incident occurred in the 51st minute when Knott, in clearing a back-pass, was seriously injured as a result of a very late and dangerously high tackle by Chris O’Sullivan – again the punishment, a yellow card, seemed extremely lenient. After a lengthy delay for treatment to his injury Knott was forced to leave the field and substitute striker Ben Steele came off the bench and took over in goal.
For the remainder of the match Town’s defenders stood up to protect Steele whenever the ball was in the goal area and although they managed well to keep crosses and shots away from him Steele coped capably throughout.
The introduction of Bradley Gibbings in the 65th minute spiced up Carmarthen’s attack with immediate effect as his darting runs often caused panic in the home defence and in the latter stages they led to several decent scoring opportunities.
On 75 minutes Noah Daley, after being put through by Dyson, held off several defenders but his shot was easily held by Clarke.
Moments later Thomas broke down the left flank then sent a fine cross into the goalmouth where Gibbings struck a fierce shot that crashed against the underside of the bar before the ball was hastily cleared to safety.
But the young striker made amends in the 82nd minute when after receiving a pass from Walters he twisted past two defenders before driving the ball past the stranded ‘keeper albeit with the help of a slight deflection.
Substitute Sean Pemberton made a late appearance to make his debut for the Old Gold after his transfer from Haverfordwest and looked very comfortable in an unfamiliar role in central midfield.
This was a thoroughly deserved point for Town whose strength of character shone through despite facing some very physical challenges throughout the game.
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