OPENING DAY VICTORY FOR LILYWHITES

Town competed well for the first half-hour, limiting the hosts to few openings, and they managed to produce one or two uncomfortable moments themselves for new Lilies keeper Lee Kendall, who signed from Haverfordwest 24 hours earlier.
But then Rhyl upped the pressure, their first clear opportunity falling to Andy Moran whose close range shot was deflected by Thomas on to covering defender Gareth Warton and out for a corner.
Jimmy Kelly's 25-yard sizzler which fizzed inches wide brought a gasp from the Welsh Premier's biggest crowd of the day - 504 - and it was evident John Hulse's men were now getting on top.
On 40 minutes the deadlock was broken when Chris Thomas fouled Lee Hunt outside the area and Kelly's powerful right-foot free-kick flew in past Neil Thomas.
The Old Golds started the second-half well, Danny Thomas firing wide on the turn and then Tim Hicks should have done better with a header from a Nathan Cotterrall cross.
But when Rhyl made it 2-0 in the 54th minute the floodgates looked set to open. Craig Jones won the ball in midfield, fed Andy Moran on the right and his first-time centre was controlled and coolly finished by Hunt.
Thomas then pulled off three fantastic stops in a minute, somehow keeping out two piledrivers from Craig Garside and a George Horan rocket from 15 yards.
A sliding Garside was thwarted again by Thomas and Moran failed to convert the rebound from four yards. It was not Moran's day as he missed three further sitters.
Rhyl should have made the game ultra-safe in the 90th minute when Stuart Graves tricked his way into the box and crossed low to the back post, but Jones was unable to find the target.
Three minutes into injury time Carmarthen nabbed an undeserved consolation when Hicks rose highest in the area to head in a Cotterrall cross.
"I was delighted with the performance," said Rhyl boss Hulse. "No disrespect to the opposition, but it should have finished 10-0 and would have done but for four world-class saves from Neil Thomas and a few missed chances."
RHYL: Kendall, Jones, Roberts, O'Neill (Holt 80), Horan, Ruffer, Kelly, Garside (Wilson 74), Hunt, Moran (Cameron 82), Graves. ATT: 504.

PERFORMANCE MARKS:
Lee Kendall: Did not have a testing save to make. Made a good clearing punch from a Nathan Cotterrall cross in the first-half and his kicking and handling were sound - 8.
Craig Jones: Ran the Carmarthen defence ragged and played a big part in the second goal. At times he overhit the crucial pass and his glaring miss at the end took a little shine off his performance, but he is a real prospect - 9.
Chris Roberts: Class act at the back, put in some superb tackles and passes and generally kept their lively attackers down the right quiet - 9.
Paul O'Neill: Solid debut, good in the air and made no mistakes on the deck - 8.
George Horan: Only a fantastic save denied him a goal. Dominant in the air for the most part but found wanting for their goal - 8.
Carl Ruffer: Lost count of the number of crucial tackles he put in. His block from Mattie Davies late on was very important, a superb all-round defender - 9.5 (MAN OF THE MATCH).
Jimmy Kelly: A classic goal and could have had another. The way he runs the midfield is very reminiscent of Steve Walters at his best - 9.
Craig Garside: On another day he'd have had a hat-trick. His passing wasn't always on the money but he's proving a real cog in the midfield - 8.
Lee Hunt: Great goal and went close to getting a couple more. Made life hell for the Carmarthen back line with his endless effort - 9.
Andy Moran: His passing was slick and he looked sharp, but he had a nightmare day in front of goal. There will be better days to come for his still top class front man - 8.
Stuart Graves: A real threat down the left in attack, never played a bad ball and laid on some great chances which weren't taken - 9.
SUBS:
Gareth Wilson (for Garside 74): Combative as ever, did not deserve booking - 7.
Matthew Holt (for O'Neill 80)
Dave Cameron (for Moran 82).