CARMARTHEN began the new League season with a bruising encounter at Cambrian and Clydach Vale that ended, after a largely disappointing performance, with a defeat which left their loyal travelling supporters somewhat concerned for the prospects about the season ahead.
The opening stages were a distinctly scrappy affair with neither side seemingly able to make much progress through the midfield, less still create any promising openings that might lead to scoring opportunities.
It was not until the 10th minute that the first notable chance arose when Trystan Jones, from near the left touchline, fired a free-kick to the edge of the penalty area only for Lee Surman, under pressure from defenders, to send his header just wide of the near post.
But that was a relatively isolated moment of activity for Town’s supporters to savour as the formidable home defence proved difficult to penetrate – indeed, with the Old Gold defending in a similarly capable fashion the prospect of any goals arising seemed unlikely.
However, on 27 minutes the Old Gold once more went close from a set-piece when Jones sent his corner-kick into the packed goalmouth and saw Surman leap high above defenders but direct his header narrowly beyond the post.
A further spell of fairly scrappy midfield activity ensued until the 39th minute when Cambrian took an unlikely lead – from a corner-kick striker Lee Eason emerged from a crowded goalmouth and stabbed the ball over the goal-line.
After the interval the hosts began brightly. On 50 minutes a cross from the left-wing into the goalmouth reached Eason, in a worrying amount of space, who planted his close-range header over Ifan Knott only for the young ‘keeper to stretch high backwards and remarkably turn the ball over the bar.
Soon afterwards Manager Mark Aizlewood made, in quick succession, two substitutions to bolster Town’s goal-scoring prospects – Kaid Mohamed and Noah Daley – and their effect was immediate.
The Old Gold began to enjoy better possession in midfield and put noticeable pressure on the Cambrian defence. On 64 minutes Jones delevered one of several corner-kicks and saw the ball hit the inside of the far post but bounce safely away. Another corner-kick led to a goal-line scramble but the loose ball was cleared.
However this promising spell of pressure was brought to an abrupt ending in the most unlikely circumstances. In the 73rd minute Scott Tancock, Carmarthen’s experienced central defender, uncharacteristically lost possession of the ball allowing Eason to claim it – the striker moved towards penalty area and struck a fierce drive that flew past Knott and into the roof of the net.
Yet Town swiftly responded to that setback. On 79 minutes a smart break through the centre
channel by Daley finished with him effortlessly shrugging off two defenders before drilling the ball into the corner of the net.
Then on 83 minutes a fine pass Matthew Delaney from set Daley charging forward once again before striking another fine shot that hit the post before the ball was cleared.
But with the Old Gold pouring forward in search of an equaliser Cambrian had several chances of a breakaway and on 86 minutes they managed to settle the result with a late goal from Jay Woodford.
With Carmarthen now facing a sequence of four home matches out of their five League fixtures scheduled during August surely performances and points returns will improve, shouldn’t they?
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