Carmarthen Town

14th November 2000: Welsh Premier Cup Group A

Wrexham Leave it Late

Wrexham’s serene progress into the quarter finals of atournament they have dominated since its inception continued with an ultimately convincing victory over a game Carmarthen side. Town were gritty in defence and managed a threatening burst in each half which could have embarrassed the home side, but ultimately Wrexham were comfortable, although they left it until the last twenty minutes to clinch the victory, and the extra £1,000 prize money that went with it!

In the first half Wrexham were on top, but toiled in vain. Emad Bouanane, released from defensive responsibilities by the nature of the game, and Michael Blackwood, starting his first match since the opening day of the season, were both dangerous down the left; indeed, the Frenchman’s pacy bursts were the most likely source of a breakthrough as Town defended resolutely. Early Wrexham pressure came to nothing, with ex-Robin Deryn Brace making a typical interception to prevent Chris Killen latching onto an incisive Gareth Owen pass and Darren Ferguson shooting narrowly over after Faulconbridge dummied a Bouanane pass. However, the high defensive line which the home team was maintaining offered Carmarthen the hope of success on the break, and they went close to a shock opener when Parker blasted over from the corner of the box, while moments later an Evans corner looped over Kristian Rogers, Bouanane having to head it off the line at the far post.

Bouanane was soon back to the end of the pitch he prefers, and conducted a one-man battle to earn a first half goal with a succession of dangerous forays. First he struck a fierce thirty yarder which Richard Morgan tipped round the post before topping two great runs with fine crosses to Faulconbridge, the first of which led to a close range shot which was deflected narrowly wide as the keeper lunged desperately, the second offered a free header at the far post which landed on the roof of the net. Bouanane even managed to offer a typically bizarre moment by apparently trapping the ball between his head and his foot. Go on, try it.

Faulconbridge had another chance in injury time when he worked a 1-2 with Ferguson and drove narrowly wide of the far post, but it was a performance which ran out of steam as the half progressed. The resumption brought a new vigour as Wrexham clearly stepped up a gear. Brian Carey made a welcome return, replacing Paul Mardon, and he made an immediate impact as he made his presence felt at a series of corners, unleashing a terrific volley which was spectacularly tipped over, then seeing a header cleared off the line. Killen also went close with a low drive which Morgan held well, Owen won a dubious free kick which he curled narrowly wide, and both Faulconbridge and Ferguson were denied by last-ditch tackles as they shaped to finish.

Carmarthen staged a good spell of pressure which resulted in Evans plantng a free header wide from Rees’ cross, and looked as though they might hold on for a result to be proud of until a dramatic 72nd minute turned the match. Rossiter conceded a free kick for a tackle from behind on Blackwood which earned him a booking, and the game was held up as the winger’s condition was assessed before Kevin Russell emerged for his first taste of action this season. The free kick was deflected behind and the referee clearly gave a goal kick before changing his mind and awarding a corner which Owen swung in for Faulconbridge to head in from close range.

Faulconbridge went close with another header from a Blackwood cross and the winger went close with a great drive which fizzed over as he tried a spell on the right before two more headers by Killen clinched victory. The first came as a result of some sloppy defending; having been allowed to work a short corner with Russell which went behind off a defender, Owen was permitted to work exactly the same routine before whipping in a cross which Killen nodded in easily. Three minutes later he got his second, Faulconbridge making a typically determined run down the right before chipping a cross back which Killen glanced home. The opportunity was taken to allow Gareth Williams a run down the left as Bouanane, struggling after a foul from behind by Barnhouse which should have produced a red card, made way, and the youngster’s direct running and energy conjured memories of Robin Gibson’s brief debut in the Autowindscreen Shield a couple of years back. He was able to take part in a comfortable cup win, but it would be far more satisfying to say that at five o’clock on Saturday!

WREXHAM (4-4-2): Rogers; Roche, Mardon (Carey 46), Ridler, Bouanane (G. Williams 83); Gibson (Russell 72), Ferguson (c), Owen, Blackwood; Faulconbridge, Killen. UNUSED SUBS: Dearden, D. Williams.

CARMARTHEN TOWN (5-3-2): R. Morgan; Rees, O’Brien, Thomas, Barnhouse (c), Brace; Rossiter (Jones 77), Chapple, Evans; Parker (T. Morgan 60), Nicholls (McPhee 83). UNUSED SUBS: Meredith, Williams.

Referee: Brian Lawlor (Holyhead)

Bookings:
Wrexham	Carmarthen
	Rossiter (Foul on Blackwood, 72)
	Barnhouse (Foul on Bouanane, 75)

Attendance: 505

FAW Premier Cup 2000-1

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