Carmarthen Town 1 Rhyl 1

A CONTROVERSIAL first-half penalty for the home side denied second-from-top Rhyl all three points from their disappointing visit to Richmond Park.

On a rock-hard, dusty surface, the Lilywhites enjoyed the ideal start after two minutes when Lee Hunt headed Ross Stephens' corner across goal and Dave Cameron nodded home.

Another Stephens flag-kick two minutes later almost brought an identical result, Cameron heading against an upright.

From the first attack on 24 minutes, Carmarthen's Paul Fowler hit a scorching drive which Paul Whitfield did well to fingertip past the post.

Now growing in confidence, the Old Golds should have equalised when Kaid Mohamed's centre from the right found Fowler four yards out, but he blasted over.

Then on 34 minutes a Sasha Walters free-kick smashed into the Rhyl defensive wall and the ball flew over the bar. To everyone's amazement referee Darren Adie awarded a penalty for supposed handball which Tom Ramasut converted.

Early in the second-half, Whitfield's huge kick bounced all the way into the Carmarthen six-yard box where Hunt was unmarked, but Rhyl's leading scorer took a wild swing and failed to connect.

With Cameron and Connall Murtagh in particular working tirelessly in the heat, the Lilies were on top but unable to finish off the opposition.

Near the end Stephens had the dream opportunity on his return to the first team, but he sliced badly wide of a gaping goal.

Six yellow cards were dished out in a match laden with bad fouls with both teams lucky to finish with 10 men on the field.