Carmarthen Town 0 Aberystwyth Town 0: Match Report

JD Cymru Premier
Friday 19th October
Carmarthen Town 0 Aberystwyth Town 0

On an occasionally torrential evening at Carmarthen, Aber Town gained their first JD Cymru Premier clean sheet of the season, earning the Black and Greens a crucial away point which stretches their unbeaten run to three matches. Fittingly on a night when  defences were on top Stuart Jones went closest for the visitors with a first half header, while his defensive colleague Lee Jenkins and keeper Connor Roberts also shone to safeguard the Seasiders' valuable point.

With two changes to the side which drew with Cardiff Met last week, Aber started well. Wes Baynes crossed a ball in from the right for Mathew Jones to shoot, but that was deflected over the bar, and Joe Phillips also brought a save out of Lee Idzi. At the other end Chris Jones had a shot deflected wide and Josh Bull headed over from a decent left wing cross, delivered by Cairan Smith. Stuart Jones headed over from a Baynes free kick, but in general Carmarthen, desperately needing a win, enjoyed more of the possession. Bull cut back from the byline for Lewis Harling to volley over from a great position, but then Ryan Wollacott brought another save from Idzi with a header, set up again by Baynes. Town’s right back’s next cross tempted Phillips to try an audacious overhead kick, which alas, failed to test Idzi in goal. Lee Jenkins pulled out a superb gaol defying tackle in his own box, then Baynes set up Stuart Jones, whose goalbound header brought a super save from Idzi, before Baynes crashed the rebound over via a deflection.  Luke Bowen brought a save from the impeccable Connor Roberts and a lively half ended goal less.

The second half saw the teams getting closer as a nice Aber move ended with Paulo Mendes curling a shot just wide, before Bull’s right wing cross somehow evaded two Carmarthen players – and the goal – at the far post. Bull again went wide, but with Jenkins, Jones and Ryan Wollacott commanding at the back for Aber clear cut chances were limited. Phillips centred for Aber left back Adam Hughes to shoot wide, and then Bowen was very unlucky to see his cute effort deflect off the crossbar for the hosts. Lee Surman then scraped a header over the bar with Carmarthen threatening a killer late winner, and Roberts brought out a terrific save to deny Chris Jones a big goal. With Aber’s visiting fans singing their encouragement on a nasty night, Phillips volleyed over but it was not to be, and Town’s defence held out fantastically to hold on for their clean sheet and a very valuable point.

Lee Jenkins’ Man of the Match award from Sgorio was symptomatic of the performance with the Black and Greens showing tremendous defensive determination last night, and a clean sheet away from home is a major step forward for Matthew Bishop’s men. Having played four away games in their last five matches, Town have lost only one and improved markedly at the back. They now need to add some positive home results to the mix to kick on in 2019/20, and have an opportunity to do so on Friday night when Connah’s Quay come to Park Avenue (ko 7.45pm). Not to be missed!

Photo courtesy of @podligo