CWMBRAN shrugged off their Welsh Cup woes at Richmond Park last night when a fine all-round goalless performance helped rebuild shattered confidence following that shock cup exit at Ton Pentre.

Only Carmarthen's woodwork prevented Tony Willcox's men from making the second leg of this League of Wales Cup semi-final tie on April 30 academic.

Three times, via Chris Watkins, John Wile and trialist debutant Mark Dunn, who also had an effort disallowed for offside, Cwmbran rattled the frame of the home side's goal. Rookie Carmarthen goalkeeper Alex Davies also had to make several fine saves, while opposite number Pat O'Hagan had a fairly quiet night in comparison as Cwmbran looked a better side for ditching their tried, and not so trusted, 3-5-2 formation for a more comfortable 4-4-2 line-up.

With Watkins' forward runs often making that 4-4-3,the visitors almost quadrupled the number of on-target shots Carmarthen managed.

Willcox, who looked as though he had a black cloud hanging over his head after watching his team squander a 2-0 lead at Ton, was certainly more upbeat last night. "Not many teams will come here and hit the woodwork three times and have a goal disallowed and I think we throughly deserved to win the game," he remarked.

"If people want to write us off, then that's fine by us. But if we show commitment and desire for the rest of the season then we will remain in contention." Watkins hit a post with a swerving long-range free kick while Dunn probably should have done better with a last-minute chance which he fired against the underside of the crossbar.

Dunn, 19, was signed just hours before the game following his recent release by Notts County, for whom he made a couple of Football League appearances.

The Newport-based youngster showed some nice touches and linked up well with co-striker Jason Welsh, the pair keeping the home defence on its toes in the absence of prolific marksmen Mattie Davies (cup-tied) and Craig Hughes (injured).

Midfielder Anthony Wright was also cup-tied while winger Nathan Cotterrall, another midfield man, Nathan Wigg, and wing back Neil Smothers found themselves relegated to the substitute's bench.

After last night's display, Willcox now has a nice selection headache for Carmarthen's visit on Saturday.

Carmarthen Town: A Davies, W Jones, L Jones (S James 66), W Thomas, N O'Brien, D Barnhouse (c), L Fayers, D Rossiter, R Nicholls, S Chapple (M Gornal 76), T Hicks. Sub not used: R Thomas. Booked: O'Brien (52) Cwmbran Town: P O'Hagan, R Carter, J Wile, M Pattimore, S Wharton (c), A Moore (N Smothers 65), C Watkins (N Cotterrall 76), P James, M Dunn, J Welsh, S Mainwaring. Sub not used: N Wigg.

*PICTURED: John Wile's pile-driver shot nearly won the game for Cwmbran.