PHOTOS:
Haverfordwest County's skipper Sean Pemberton pumps the ball long
Steffan Williams looks to close down quicky for Haverfordwest County
Carmarthen Town 4 – Haverfordwest County 1
Carmarthen Town turned on the style against ten-man derby rivals Haverfordwest County, deservedly picking up three valuable league points in front of a decent crowd at Richmond Park.
Mark Jones starred for the Old Gold, the striker scoring a brilliant hat-trick alongside a goal from team mate Liam Thomas, while Sean Pemberton scored for the visitors, but the game’s turning point came when Bluebirds' right back Ricky Watts was sensationally sent off in the 55th minute for a deliberate hand ball that eff
ectively killed off their fight back after they had started the second half with a bang.Incredibly Carmarthen Town had gone 455 minutes without scoring in the Welsh Premier, but have now scored eight goals in their last two matches.
In their earlier league clash against the Bluebirds it finished goalless at the Conygar Bridge Meadow, but this tussle produced five goals with Carmarthen Town finishing well on top as they were strong at the back whilst the visitors always looked suspect in goalmouth aerial battles.
The Old Gold deservedly led 2-0 at half time as the Bluebirds were constantly put under pressure.
Jones uses his head
Mark Aizlewood’s Old Gold outfit took the lead in the 27th minute when Jones headed home a well-flighted corner by skipper Kyle Bassett as no-one picked the dangerous striker up.
The homesters doubled the lead in the 36th minute, again the Bluebirds failed to deal with a free kick in the box that Bluebirds skipper Sean Pemberton mis-kicked across his area and LiamThomas had the simple task of volleying home.
Old Gold centre back Dwaine Bailey had an impressive game, winning everything in the aerial stakes in the first half and he looked well composed in possession throughout the match after joining them from local football in Newport.
The only effort at goal for the visitors in the first period was an early shot from distance by Jordan Follows that flew high and wide of Lee Idzi’s goal.
In the 50th minute, Pemberton atoned for his earlier error by heading home through Lee Idzi's legs from a free kick to get the Bluebirds back in the game. That aside, though, Idzi showed strong goalkeeping skills with terrific second-half reflex saves from Followes and sub Declan Carroll after some typical ball wizardry
Red card
But five minutes after Pemberton's well-taken goal,, disaster struck for the visitors when they were reduced to ten men as Watts was given an early shower for a deliberate handball, and to add insult to injury, up stepped Jones who coolly sent Scott James the wrong way from the spot and that gave The Old Gold a healthy 3-1 cushion.
The visitors thought they had added a fourth goal when Kris Thomas found the back of James’ net, but it was ruled out for offside, whilst at the other end Idzi pulled off an excellent save to deny Kieran Howard from scoring with terrific curling free kick.
In the 69th minute The Old Gold added a fourth goal when unmarked Jones netted his third goal of the match, as he popped up unmarked at a near-post corner from impressive skipper Bassett, and there was no way back for the visitors.
Idzi completed a good night against his former club as he was off his line in a flash to force Gregg Walters to prod his close-range effort over the bar - and that just about summed up Haverfordwest County's disappointing night!
Carmarthen Town: Lee Idzi; Luke Cummings; Dwaine Bailey; Chris Thomas; Daniel Sheehan; Ceri Morgan; Kieran Lewis; Lewis Harling; Kyle Bassett (Captain); Liam Thomas; Mark Jones. Substitutes: Craig Hanford; Jeff White; Jordan Knott.
Haverfordwest County: Scott James; Ricky Watts; Ryan Batley; Sean Pemberton (Captain); Sam Rodon; Luke Borrelli; Greg Walters; Jordan Follows; Steffan Williams; Kieran Howard; John Roberts. Substitutes: Declan Carroll; Jack Christopher; Spencer Williams.
Referee: Dean John.
Assistants: Ian Bird & Jonathan Bryant.
Fourth official: Leigh Jones.