This excellent game was overshadowed by a serious injury to Rhodri Jones, the Carmarthen captain and former Manchester Utd apprentice, and the sight of the air ambulance flying above the Traeth transporting him to Ysbyty Gwynedd dampened spirits considerably. The incident occurred after 36 minutes when Jones and Ryan Davies challenged for a ball near the centre line with a clash of heads leaving the Carmarthen captain lying motionless on the ground. The game was not restarted for almost 15 minutes while attention was given and arrangements made to transport him to hospital. Ryan Davies after a break was able to continue and Port were fortunate that this was the case as he performed exceptionally under the high ball attack in the final quarter.
Before this Port had made an excellent start and by the 22nd minute had scored twice - a rarity in a season where they have found goals hard to come by. For the first goal Mark Williams, who gave an outstanding performance up front, broke to the bye-line and slipped a fine low ball which gave Ritchie Owen arriving late from mid-field the simplest tap in. Four minutes later and Ritchie Owen became the provider with an excellent through ball which found Gareth Caughter in space for the forward to coolly break into the box and beat Pennock with a low shot. The two goal advantage did not last very long as a right wing Carmarthen break set up Kennedy but McGuigan made a fine save with his feet but this only provided a temporary stay of execution as Craig Lima was on hand to fire the re-bound from 15 yards into the corner of the net.
The set back did not deter Port and Mark Williams came close with a header from Ritchie Owen's corner and Ritchie Owen hit the side netting after a clever ball by Mark Williams. Then came the Rhodri Jones incident and for a time the game became quieter but then Nathan Cotterell came close for Carmarthen with a shot which curled over the bar. But immediately Port broke up field and Gareth Parry burst into the box and found Ritchie Owen breaking on the left and Owen fired a fine low shot past Pennock.
The second period started quietly and 12 minutes had past before Gareth Caughter tested Pennock after a useful ball from Tony Williams. An excellent three man move involving Gareth Parry, Owain Roberts and Gareth Caughter just failed to set up Mark Williams. Shortly after Gareth Caughter again tested Pennock with a low shot and a fine Gareth Parry free-kick evaded everyone in the box, when the slightest touch would have brought a goal.
With the game looking a certain home win suddenly the visitors stepped up a gear. Sub Aspell fired wide when well placed after a Lloyd corner had been played back across the goal. Then after 77 minutes Carmarthen were back in the game when Gary Lloyd lifted a free-kick to the far post where Craig Lima rose first and nodded it past McGuigan. The visitors then launched an aerial attack which tested the Port defence with Lloyd curling in several dangerous corners and free-kicks. Carmarthen persisted to the end and the home side were glad to hear the final whistle though Gareth Caughter could have steadied their nerves had he taken advantage of an excellent Mike Foster through ball but his shot screwed narrowly wide of the target.
Having deserved better in their recent games against the teams which occupy the top three places in the league Port will feel that today's victory against the fourth placed team was more than justified.
Report by: Gareth Williams.
