AIRBUS UK BROUGHTON 1 LLANELLI 2

Goalkeeper Craig Richards was the Reds hero with a string of quite superb saves, including a penalty, which ensured they came home with maximum points.

He thwarted the home side on numerous occasions, and they must have despaired of ever beating him, although they did manage to do so in the second period.

The talented youngster, still only nineteen, has a bright future ahead of him in the game if he can continue with this sort of form, while at the other end, the five years golden boot winner, Rhys Griffiths, showed his predatory instincts by opening his account for the new season with two well taken goals.

With five players missing through injury, the Reds were expecting a difficult game against opponents who have added some experienced faces to the side, but the opening stages were fairly even, with neither team able to establish the upper hand.

 The visitors struck first, however, when a Chris Llewellyn corner was initially met by Ryan Batley whose shot was charged down, but rebounded for Griffiths to volley back into the net after fifteen minutes.

An Airbus free kick by Matthew Cook saw Rhys Roberts direct his header over the bar, while the home side failed to take advantage of a ball driven across the box by Carl Owen with nobody on hand to meet it.

Richards brought off the first of his stops, turning a fiercely struck shot on the turn by Owen around the upright following a scramble on the edge of the area, before there were loud appeals for a home penalty when Andy Moran was brought down chasing a through ball, but the referee was not interested.

Richards had to be alert to sprint off his line to boot clear from Owen when Moran set up the chance, and he excelled himself again five minutes into the second half when this time Airbus were successful with another penalty appeal.

Chris Thomas caused the problem with an under hit pass meant for the goalkeeper which was seized upon by Moran, who then went down under the challenge of Richards resulting in the spot kick.

Moran stepped up to take it, but again the Reds keeper was equal to the task, diving full length to divert the ball on to a post and over for a corner.

 The visitors made their opponents pay for this miss when they went two up eight minutes later, following a short corner which culminated in Griffiths curling a super strike beyond goalkeeper Kristian Rogers.

 The striker almost got another when he headed a Llewellyn corner goal wards, but this time it was scrambled away from danger.

Owen saw his near post shot easily held by Richards who then denied the same player again, this time deflecting his goal bound attempt over the top.

He was finally beaten on 76 minutes following a deep cross by Moran which led to Danny Desormeaux connecting to reduce the deficit and ensure a nervous fifteen minutes or so for the Reds.

Jordan Follows was replaced by Andy Legg immediately following the Airbus goal, leaving Griffiths to plough a lone role up front, and they fell back in massed defence to frustrate the home side.

But again it was Richards who ensured the narrow lead was preserved, denying Moran from close range when he met a ball by Ryan Edwards, and then somehow keeping out another goal bound effort by Owen from well inside the area.

The final whistle must have come as a welcome relief to the visitors who were under the cosh in the closing stages, and their young keeper must take all the plaudits for ensuring they came away with the three points.

MATCH STATS.

LLANELLI:

Richards; C. Thomas; Batley (John, 87); R. Jones; S. Jones ©; W. Thomas; Follows (Legg, 77); Corbisiero; Griffiths; Holloway; Llewellyn; Sub. not used; Jenkins.          

GOAL CHART;  

Airbus – Desormeaux, 76.

Llanelli – Griffiths, 15, 58.

LLANELLI MAN OF THE MATCH ;   Craig Richards.

REFEREE;   Mr. Mike Jones (Wrexham).

ATTENDANCE;     182.