Old Gold outplayed by Aber

Nathaniel MG League Cup Quarter-Final
Carmarthen Town 0 – Aberystwyth 3
CARMARTHEN comfortably disposed of two Cymru South teams in the earlier rounds of this League Cup competition. Local CPL rivals Aberystwyth posed a far stiffer test for a place in the semi-finals. It was a challenge that the Old Gold never seemed likely to overcome.
Even before the match had begun, Town’s prospects looked grim.
Six of the current regular match-day squad were absent, injured, while Academy player Mabon Evans was given his first-team debut.
Manager Danny Thomas could name only two substitutes, both also from the Academy.
Early on, the play was evenly-balanced. Both teams enjoyed their fair share of possession. While both counter-attacked enthusiastically, there were no early scoring chances, as both defences coped with the intermittent pressure.
However, on 8 minutes the Seasiders created the first significant opportunity when Adam Hughes, on the half-way line, sent a fine pass through to Geoff Kellaway who from 20 yards dispatched a fierce volley that ‘keeper Lee Idzi turned aside with an impressive flying save.
Gradually, Aberystwyth took greater control of the game, progressively enjoying more possession and territory.
The Old Gold’s counter-attacking opportunities became even more sporadic and Liam Thomas increasingly looked isolated as the sole striker.
Even with the pressure, scoring chances for the visitors stayed elusive until the 29th minute, when Paulo Mendes hit a powerful long-range drive that Idzi was well-placed to claim.
On 43 minutes the Green Machine deservedly took the lead.
Wes Baynes made a determined run into the home penalty area to reach a long pass from Lee Jenkins but was promptly brought down under a clumsy challenge by Chris Jones. Matthew Jones stepped forward and confidently fired the spot-kick into the corner of the net leaving Idzi well-beaten.
After the interval, Carmarthen created an early scoring opportunity when Greg Walters sent the ball forward to the edge of the penalty area. Chris Jones laid off a neat header and Declan Carroll struck a fierce 20-yard drive that flew narrowly over the bar.
Moments later Walters was involved with another successful scoring opportunity; however, regrettably, this happened at the other end of the pitch.
Baynes sent a dangerous cross into the penalty area where Town’s combative midfielder, presumably attempting to clear the ball, only managed to divert it over Idzi and into the roof of the net.
With the Old Gold now in desperate need of a goal to salvage any chance of progressing to the Cup semi-finals, midfielder Chris Jones was sent forward to operate as a striker – but, curiously, this was not to partner Liam Thomas but to replace him since Town’s highly experienced, prolific, all-time record goal-scorer was pushed back to take over the now-vacant midfield role.
Sadly, it soon became evident that this strategy was having no positive effect.
The Seasiders continued to dominate possession, largely commanded the midfield, and swarmed forward at every opportunity. However, the Old Gold defence, well-marshalled by the experienced central partnership of Lee Surman and Dave Vincent, resisted the pressure – initially.
After 60 minutes Jenkins made a strong run from the half-way line before playing the ball on to Joe Phillips, just inside the penalty area, who fired a smart 15-yard drive narrowly over the bar.
Aberystwyth continued to increase the pace and intensity of their attacking and were soon carving through the overworked Town defence time and again.
In the 67th minute, Ryan Edwards threaded a fine pass through to Phillips who took the ball into the penalty area before clinically drilling it past Idzi and into the back of the net.
After their third goal, the visitors sat back to hold their advantage. While the Old Gold tried hard, late efforts by Jones and Carroll failed to put a dent in the scoreline.
This was a depressing performance; not just because it ended in defeat, but also because of its manner. It was a comprehensive defeat by a team that stands only two places above Carmarthen in the League table. With tougher challenges to come, the Old Gold will now aim at Cymru Premier League survival and better, more productive, performances.