THE TRUNDLE SHOW SINKS THE REDS

LLANELLI 1 NEATH 4

They came to see him and he didn’t disappoint! Lee Trundle breezed into Stebonheath Park last Friday night and produced a match winning performance for the Eagles with a superbly taken hat trick in front of Llanelli’s biggest home league gate of the season.

His intentions were clear after just six minutes when he tip toed around three Reds defenders in the penalty area before hammering home a shot with his trusty left foot into the back of the net!

After that the Reds composed themselves and got back into the game and dominated most of the possession for the remainder of the first half but without any serious assaults on goal. Their sole effort coming from a Wyn Thomas free kick which former Reds keeper, Craig (Hovis) Morris held onto comfortably.

During this period there was some tenacious tackling in the game, especially by the visitors, who had Stephen Pockett cautioned for a foul on Owain Warlow and then Reds striker, Rhys Griffiths, followed him into the book for a late challenge on full back, Ian Hillier.

In the 32^nd minute, the Reds equalised, somewhat fortuously, when a Chris Llewellyn cross come shot deceived Morris and flew into the top of the net.

The crowd sensed a Reds onslaught but this was quelled just a minute later when Paul Fowler restored Neath’s lead when he was left unmarked a t a corner to head the ball home.

Trundle was booked for dissent in the 41^st minute after he disagreed with an offside decision and referee Dean John was again involved right on half time when he branded the red card to Reds centre back, Wyn Thomas, for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity.

This left the Reds with a mountain to climb in the second half and the visitors took full advantage of their extra man. Trundle was the star of the show, scoring twice more. In the 53^rd minute he hit a brilliant free kick into the back of the net, leaving Ashley Morris in the Reds goal with no chance. Five minutes later, he beat the offside trap and coolly slotted the ball past a helpless Morris, to secure his hat trick.

The Reds battled on with no avail and the referee had to keep a tight control on things by issuing further cautions to Reds players, Chris Llewellyn, Chris Thomas and Chris Venables and to Neath’s Craig Jones.

The Reds poor discipline erupted in the 84^th minute, when player manager, Andy Legg, was sent off for violent conduct after a deliberate foul on Lee Trundle.

That summed up a sorry night for the Reds which had started in hopeful mood after the impressive defeat of Haverfordwest on the preceding Tuesday.

It will be back to the training ground for the Reds as they now prepare to pull back a one goal deficit in the League Cup quarter final at Port Talbot on Tuesday and a trip to Bala Town for a live TV game next Saturday.

LLANELLI. Morris, Thomas (C) Llewellyn, Jones, Thomas (W), Venables, Corbisiero, Bowen, Evans, Warlow, Griffiths. Subs. Holloway, Follows (Bowen 78) Legg (Evans 45) Batley, Orme.

NEATH. Morris, Hillier, Fairburn, O’Leary, Hancock, Pockett, Jones, Fowler, Hill, Trundle, Cooper. Subs Evans (Hillier 52) Bond (Jones 68) Hughes (Hill 62), Morgan, Davey.

Referee. Dean John (Swansea)

Llanelli Yellow Cards. Griffiths, Venables, Thomas (C) Llewellyn.  Red Cards Thomas (W) Legg

Neath. Yellow Cards Pockett, Trundle, Jones.

Man of the Match.  Lee Trundle

Llanelli Man of the Match. Owain Warlow.

Attendance. 437