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Carmarthen Town 0-2 Afan Lido

Second half goals from Sean Sullivan and Carl Payne was enough for us to claim a quarter final slot in the Group Cup and a home tie with Merthyr Tydfil.

Carmarthen needed to win this game to qualify but we launched the first attack when Corey Thomas found Joel Kabia in a central position just outside the area. He tried to push it past the defender before shooting but the defender got a foot in and managed to clear the danger. Carmarthen pushed forward and got in a shot from the edge of the box which Rory McCreesh saved comfortably.

On 10 minutes we were awarded a free kick which was knocked forward to Carl Payne on the edge of the area but he couldn't control his header and it went over the bar. Two minutes later it looked as though we were ahead when Luke Evans broke up a Carmarthen attack played it forward to Joel Kabia who scored with a shot from the edge of the area, unfortunately the linesman flagged and gave him offside. Both sides contributed to a good game of football but some over fussy refereeing made a lot of the half a stop-start affair.

On 25 minutes Carmarthen attacked down their right and crossed in to the near post, from a couple of yards Rory McCreesh made a fine save but it was in vain as the linesman's flag was up for a dubious offside. After half an hour Carl Payne received the ball in a good position but instead of shooting passed to Luke Borrelli who was crowded out and the chance was lost.

10 minutes before half time Carmarthen attacked and we were stretched at the back but Damon Thomas made a fine tackle to clear the danger, he, Josh Cockings and Luke Evans were generally keeping things tight at the back. We kicked off for the second half with the cold wind at our backs but it was Carmarthen who had the first chance when a striker with his back to goal turned and shot from the edge of the area but it was straight at Rory McCreesh. We took the lead on 49 minutes when Matthew Doyle played the ball down the left for Carl Payne who beat the offside trap and got to the byeline, he cut inside and rolled the ball into Sean Sullivan's path for him to score from a couple of yards. This eased any pressure as Carmarthen now needed to score twice to make the quarter final. 

A second goal for us would finish the game and it nearly came on 57 minutes when a Luke Borrelli cross was headed just wide by Carl Payne. The second goal duly arrived on 62 minutes when the ball was played wide to Carl Payne in space on the right and he made 25 yards before shooting past the keeper. But for some reckless challenges which were only dealt with by giving free kicks the match petered out, our best chance late on fell to Steve Hughes who despite having the attention of a couple of defenders managed to get a shot on target but he wasn't able to get enough power in it to beat the keeper. Right at the end Rory McCreesh made a fine save from a powerful edge of the box shot.

Side:
Rory McCreesh, Damon Thomas, Matthew Doyle, Josh Cockings, Luke Evans, Sean Sullivan,  Luke Borrelli, Jonathan Hood, Carl Payne, Joel Kabia, Corey Thomas.

Subs:
12 Andrew Collins for Matthew Doyle 65
14 Darren Franks for Luke Evans 65
15 Steve Hughes for Carl Payne 75
17 Remi Whitelock

Bookings:
Matthew Doyle 34 and Andrew Collins 82

Goals:
Sean Sullivan 49 and Carl Payne 62

Report by Peter Reynolds