After the elation of beating Llanelli in mid-December, gap Connah's Quay slumped to their fourth successive league defeat.

Weakened by injuries and suspensions, they were no match for Carmarthen who consolidated fourth place in the table.

The Old Gold struck twice early in the game, a Richard Hughes long throw finding Tim Hicks, whose lobbed pass found Nicky Palmer and the midfielder advanced before planting a close range shot past keeper Craig Vernon.

When Paul Fowler found Sacha Walters wide on the left his crashing shot hit the crossbar, but Palmer's incisive through ball set-up the second goal on 17 minutes when the ball fell to Craig Hughes 12 yards out.

Carmarthen nearly added a third when Stuart Roberts beat Ben Alston down the right, but Hicks' overhead kick went over the target and Nomads then got a toe-hold in the game on 65 minutes.

Ben Alston's long throw to the near post was headed skywards by Neil Smothers and eventually fell to Liam Loughlin, whose shot squirmed just inside the near post.

But any hopes of a recovery were dashed by Hicks, who converted a rebound after Vernon had parried a Hughes shot from Nathan Cotterrall's ball over the top of the defence.

Stats and report courtesy of welsh-premier.com