Connah’s Quay 2
Carmarthen Town 0
CARMARTHEN TOWN’S season, and their quest for a place in the Europa League, petered out with this disappointing result at Connah’s Quay despite a highly-spirited performance from what was, on the day, an understrength squad.
Town, who are already operating with probably the smallest playing squad in the Welsh Premier League, entered this crucial match seriously disadvantaged by the absence, due to injuries and suspension, of four regular match-day players.
This meant that manager Mark Aizlewood could name only three substitutes, comprising his reserve goalkeeper and two outfield players who have had barely two hours of WPL football between them this season.
The early stages of the game were fairly scrappy with neither side seemingly able to come to terms with the strong, swirling wind blowing down the length of the pitch resulting in an abundance of misplaced passes and few cohesive moves.
But with the elements in their favour Connah’s Quay were able to apply some early pressure with the play largely confined to the visitors’ half – and while they succeeded in forcing a series of corners, none led to any notable scoring chances.
Yet the hosts did manage to take an early lead after just 5 minutes.
A long throw-in from Les Davies into the packed goalmouth created uncertainty in the Town defence and although ‘keeper Lee Idzi was clearly unfairly impeded by George Horan as he leapt to claim the ball (and this was later confirmed by TV replays of the incident) incredibly the offence was missed by the match officials – Nick Rushton went on to fire the loose ball home from 6 yards.
It was from another set piece that the Nomads again went close on 26 minutes when from Wes Baynes’ corner-kick Davies directed a close range header narrowly over the bar. Then in the 30th minute Nathan Woolfe cut inside from the right flank and dispatched a fierce 20 yard drive that Idzi resisted with a superb flying save to turn the ball onto the bar and away to safety.
And shortly afterwards Rushton surged down the left wing and from the corner of the penalty area struck a promising angled shot that nestled in the side-netting.
During these initial stages the Old Gold had enjoyed only a limited share of possession and struggled to make any significant forward progress in the face of the strong wind and some solid Nomads’ defending – but gradually, from the half-hour mark, there were clear signs of improvement as influential midfielders Lewis Harling and Kieran Lewis, with their industry and vision, began to orchestrate more penetrative attacks.
On 42 minutes Lewis sent a searching corner deep into the penalty area where Liam Thomas, from the sharpest of angles, produced a crisp strike that only narrowly cleared the bar.
Moments later Luke Cummings, on the right touchline, crossed the ball inside to Harling who instantly set it up for Lewis and from 20 yards he dispatched a stunning volley that flew just fractionally too high.
After the interval Carmarthen, now with the strong wind in their favour, took the early initiative by launching a series of piercing raids with an urgency and energy that put the visitors’ defence under immediate pressure – but, sadly, not a single decent scoring chance emerged from this spell of ascendancy.
Then cruelly, as is often the case, completely against the run of play Connah’s Quay extended their lead on 63 minutes. Davies delivered another long throw into the penalty area where Baynes struck a weak shot that somehow managed to find its way through a crowd of players and into the visitors’ net.
The Old Gold responded immediately to that setback with a further period of pressure, which, in the 78th minute, looked to have brought them a well-earned reward.
Substitute Danny Thomas finished a strong run through the middle with a precise lofted pass to Mark Jones who headed the ball forward to set Liam Thomas racing into the penalty area only to be pulled down by defender Danny Harrison who was immediately sent-off by the referee.
Carmarthen’s marksman, who just 3 games ago confidently converted a vital last-minute penalty at Bangor, stepped forward once again only to drive his spot-kick straight at keeper Jon Rushton who managed to kick the ball clear.
Undeterred, Town pressed forward with increased intensity. On 86 minutes Lewis delivered another inviting freekick into the packed goalmouth where Dwaine Bailey saw his close-range effort blocked by Rushton and while the ball fell nicely for Mark Jones, he blasted it over the bar from 6 yards.
Then a neat pass by Lewis provided Jordan Knott with the opportunity to dispatch a 20 yard drive that was well held by Rushton.
And in a final flurry of Old Gold attacking activity Lewis produced a dangerous in-swinging corner that a Nomads defender headed off the goalline before a delightful cross-field pass by Harling found Knott near the corner of the penalty area and he struck a fine volley that slid narrowly wide of the post.
So, Connah’s Quay survived and now proceed to the UEFA qualifying play-off final, leaving Town to reflect on the fact that despite all their highlycommendable effort and commitment they were denied that little bit of luck that so frequently makes the difference between winning and losing.
Team:
Lee Idzi; Dan Sheehan; Dave Vincent; Dwaine Bailey; Jordan Knott; Luke Cummings (sub Danny Thomas 66); Lewis Harling; Kieran Lewis; Sacha Walters (sub Glen Fearn 80); Mark Jones; Liam Thomas.
Unused Sub: James Kirkwood.
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