KEEPER Ian Havard had a comeback he’d rather forget as Newtown suffered their first defeat of the New Year at a rain-drenched Richmond Park.
The former Shrewsbury Town keeper, in the shadows for much of the season, was given the nod with first choice Dave Jones on duty for the Wales U19s.
But his return lasted just three minutes before he was somewhat harshly red-carded by referee Darren Adie for tripping the advancing Danny Thomas.
“I felt sorry for Ian, he’d been waiting patiently to get his chance,” said Robins manager Darren Ryan.
“He was unlucky to be sent off, their lad was two yards offside to start with and we had a couple of defenders back.
“But what can you do, the referees are card happy in this league. But I was really proud of the lads for the way they played for 87 minutes with 10 men and we’re disappointed not to have come away with something from the game.”
Down to 10 men as defender Damien Daniels impressed in goal, Newtown had enough chances to have been well clear at half time.
Craig Moses gave the visitors a 12th-minute lead when bundling in a corner from the right by Adam Worton, but the striker spurned four other golden openings.
The lively Moses had chipped over as early as the second minute before putting a shot into the side netting and seeing a couple of other efforts foiled by keeper Neil Thomas after good work from Tommy Mutton.
With the conditions getting heavier, Carmarthen levelled before the break when Gregg Combes planted a firm header past Daniels after meeting Brian Keddle’s cross from the left.
After Moses had been carried off with a knee ligament injury, the home side West got the winner on 62 minutes when Daniels tipped a Tim Hicks shot on to the bar only for Danny Thomas to net the rebound.
