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Old Gold earn convincing win over Cwmbran

CARMARTHEN TOWN returned to Richmond Park for the first time since mid-December – when they overwhelmed Afan Lido with a convincing 4-0 victory – and this time, against Cwmbran, Town produced another highly impressive performance as they dominated virtually the entire match. 

Indeed, the only notable drawback was their failing to capitalise on more of the host of scoring opportunities that were created throughout most of the game. 

Right from the start of the match the Old Gold swarmed upfield and put sustained pressure on the visitors’ defence with much of the activity in or around the Celtic penalty area.

As early as the fourth minute the first significant scoring chance arose when Liam Thomas, typically alert to intercept a poor pass by an opposition defender, moved forward from 20 yards, then released a smart angled drive that goal-keeper Andrew Larcombe, at full-length, turned around the post.

Town continued to pour forward and on 7 minutes they virtually laid siege to the Cwmbran goalmouth when in rapid succession they forced a series of six corner-kicks – Thomas (twice), Ben Steele, Lee Surman, Matthew Delaney and Adam John all saw their close-range shots or headers forced over the bar or past the post.

The game continued to be confined to the visitors’ half of the pitch but although the Old Gold dominated possession they were unable, for a while, to penetrate the Celtic defence in any meaningful way.

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However after 20 minutes Kieran Howard, from near the touchline, sent a free-kick deep into the penalty area where Steele emerged from a crowd of players only to send his close-range header marginally over the bar.

Yet eventually, after 33 minutes of almost relentless Carmarthen pressure, they took a well-deserved lead – Greg Walters passed the ball out to Delaney on the right flank and he in turn sent it into the penalty area where Thomas, arriving with perfect timing, struck a fierce drive past Larcombe and into the back of the net.

On the rare occasions that the visitors managed to get beyond the half-way line they made little progress once confronted by the formidable presence of experienced central defenders Lee Surman and Scott Tancock and they were admirably supported on the flanks by Jordan Vickers and Trystan Jones who, with their pace and mobility were quick to turn defence into attack. 

Accordingly with that shield in front of him goal-keeper Ifan Knott, thankfully recovered from the injuries sustained at Cambrian & Clydach last week, was rarely tested – and, certainly, on the few occasions throughout the match that he was needed the young ‘keeper performed very capably.

Town continued their dominance of the play and went close to extending their lead when on 42 minutes John, from near the right touchline, fired a cross deep into the goalmouth where Steele saw his close-range header blocked on the goal-line by Larcombe.

After the interval the Old Gold resumed their search for goals, once more forcing the opposition to defend deep inside their own penalty area.

They were soon close to extending their lead in the 49th minute when John embarked on a determined cross-field run before sliding a fine pass through to Thomas just inside the penalty area – Town’s all-time top scorer struck a stunning angled drive only for Larcombe, at full-length, to turn the ball aside.

Yet on 60 minutes, after a further spell of sustained pressure, Carmarthen increased their lead when Delaney, from out wide near the touchline, launched the ball high towards the goal and caught Larcombe off his goal-line – the bewildered ‘keeper could only stand and watch as the ball flew over his head and into the back of the net.

Soon afterwards Delaney was again involved when he set Vickers sprinting along the right-wing before he sent a fine cross into the penalty area where Thomas struck a fierce shot which Larcombe claimed on the goal-line.

Then on 82 minutes substitute Jac Walters sent a fine pass forward to Delaney on the edge of the penalty area but from 15 yards the influential midfielder fired the ball just over the bar.

However in the 87th minute Town extended their lead when a slick passing move just outside the penalty area finished with Delaney sending a fine pass across to Thomas who, with his customary composure, drilled the ball into the back of the net.

This was a thoroughly convincing performance which has lifted the Old Gold further up the Cymru South League table into 5th place.

Their next game takes place on Friday, February 11, when they travel to third placed Briton Ferry Llansawel. A win there would see them close the gap to the top four.

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