CARMARTHEN began this season, their first in the Cymru South League, with a miserable sequence of five matches without a win and very few goals – regrettably, on the basis of this dismal performance against Taffs Well, Town’s season might well be finishing in the same fashion.
From the very start the home side put the Old Gold defence under pressure with a series of swift penetrative attacks although initially none led to any serious scoring opportunities.
The first notable threat arose on 15 minutes when Jamie Owen made a quick break from the half-way line before releasing a fierce 20 yard drive only for Lee Surman to head the ball around the post.
Town meanwhile had been unable to make any meaningful progress against a strong home defence.
However after 22 minutes Adam John sent a free-kick into the crowded goalmouth where Noah Daley narrowly failed to reach the ball for a simple tap-in opportunity.
Soon afterwards John, from wide on the right flank, delivered a fine cross into the packed goalmouth only to see Daley, under no pressure from defenders, squander this golden scoring opportunity by sending his close-range header over the bar.
However those were quite isolated scoring opportunities for the Old Gold – the home side had continued to enjoy by far the greater share of possession and territorial advantage, being quicker to the ball and making far better use of it as they launched a series of attacks which Town, seemingly, struggled to resist.
Almost inevitably, Taffs Well eventually took the lead in the 30th minute – Ethan Cann began a smart passing move infield from the left touchline which finished with David Lyon finding space in the crowded penalty area and firing a stunning angled drive beyond the reach of goalkeeper Ifan Knott and into the roof of the net.
Then soon afterwards the hosts went close to increasing their lead when, following a corner-kick, Jan Maertins struck a fierce volley into the goalmouth only to see Greg Walters head the ball away to safety.
After the interval Taffs Well again took the initiative and put the Old Gold defence under pressure with a succession of rapid attacks.
They were soon rewarded when on 50 minutes Maertins embarked on a determined run from the half-way line, all too easily outpacing several Town players, before reaching the edge of the penalty area – then, as Knott advanced from his goal, the lively striker fired the ball past the stranded ‘keeper and into the empty net.
Carmarthen at long last began to move upfield with some conviction but little success against the formidable home defence. It was not until the 85th minute that they managed a decent scoring opportunity when a huge clearance from Knott reached Ben Steele deep inside the opposition half – he quickly passed the ball across to John who struck a close-range angled shot that ‘keeper Edward King turned aside.
Then on 89 minutes Kieran Howard threaded a fine pass through to Liam Thomas on the edge of the penalty area but his fierce drive was blocked by King – while the loose ball fell nicely for Steele, his close-range shot was cleared to safety by the ‘keeper.
However, that brief moment of goalmouth activity was too little, too late for the Old Gold to make any difference to the outcome of this match and nor should it have – the stark truth is that throughout Carmarthen were overwhelmed by a quicker, stronger, better organised side.
Town’s next fixture is against Undy Athletic at Richmond Park on Saturday, April 2, k/o 2.30pm.
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