A final trip to Swansea for the year in glorious sunny conditions set the scene for Carmarthen’s M1s this week.
The dry pitch took acclimating for both teams, with penalty corners on both sides being mis-injected. Swansea settled into the game early, winning several short corners, but the fearsome running duo of Jamie Pitman and Osian Evans saw to it that debutante keeper Steffan Gardner was well protected. Gardner faced some power shots however, and made his saves well.
Carmarthen rode the pressure early and were first to score, with midfielder Tom Ferguson finding a key pass to captain Jonti Merry, who opened his account with a fierce shot that whistled through the nets.
With the lead now theirs, Carmarthen grew in confidence and ramped up the pressure, with numerous chances ending in a penalty flick being awarded. Young forward Josh Richardson continued his 100% success rate at the penalty spot this season with an impressive shot to the corner.
Knowing that a win would provide them mathematical safety for the season, Carmarthen drove on and wingback Josh Gwynne delivered a powerful strike to triple the deficit. Fresh legs in the form of Anselm Brand and Sam Bolton ensured Carmarthen kept up the intensity, and a 4th goal would arrive before the interval - Bolton using his length and athleticism to force his way deep into the opposition area before freeing up Jonti Merry for the goal.
Coach Kate Williams’ decision to pack the midfield this week had paid tremendous dividends, with Carmarthen dictating play for most of the 1st half. She encouraged her players to keep moving the ball and warned against complacency.
Her words were taken on board, as Carmarthen scored their 5th within minutes of the 2nd half’s opening - a late run to the top of the D from Luke Dunning was rewarded with good service, and he fired a strike to the bottom left corner.
Dunning was not done yet, doubling his tally from a long corner by picking up a clearance after a probing ball in from left back Cai Morgan.
Swansea attempted to launch counter attacks but the defence held firm, with centre back Danny Mardell marshalling his troops effectively to snuff out any chances, whilst making some key challenges of his own.
Carmarthen kept the foot on the pedal. Mardell played the ball wide from his own 16, where Morgan found Gwynne at the halfway line. Gwynne lost his marker with a single touch and went on one of his trademark runs to the top of the D, where he fired in a thunderous ball - a goal emblematic of Carmarthen’s ability to exit their own half seemingly at will.
The game entered the final quarter and Carmarthen appeared intent on going for the jugular. Wingback William Heath, who had been rampaging to the baseline irrespective of whoever was sent to mark him, tortured another defender to find Merry in the area.
A barnstorming run to the P spot from Steffan Walters on the opposite wing took the attention of everyone in the area, including the Swansea keeper who allowed Merry to slip the ball in at his near post. A run worthy of an assist in the stat sheet, if there ever was one.
Carmarthen continued to move the ball at will, from defence to the midfield, and from midfield into the final third, with the central triumvirate of Evans, Ferguson and Dunning sniffing out attacks upfield and finding the wide men in space.
Tenacious defending from Jamie Pitman out wide won a turnover, with Anselm Brand releasing the ball to find Josh Gwynne. Gwynne’s shot seemed destined for the goal, but a poacher’s helping hand from Josh Richardson at close range denied him his hat trick, but doubled Richardson’s tally in what could be a crucial goal in the top scorer competition.
The final whistle came with Carmarthen 9 goals to the good, and their future for next year in division 1 secured. A true team performance by all 14 men, but Man of the Match was awarded to Steffan Gardner for his outstanding debut in goal, keeping the first clean sheet of the season. At 13 years old, he has made his mark as one to watch.
Carmarthen welcome Swansea 3s to their home ground next week, as they look to squeeze extra table position out of their last remaining fixtures.
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