LLANELLI 2 HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY 1

A fourth successive win elevated the Reds to fifth spot in the table but the gruelling run of games within a ten day period is beginning to take its toll, and already without Rhys Griffiths and Chris Holloway they were further depleted when Antonio Corbisiero pulled out shortly before kick off, while Owain Warlow and Craig Moses were forced to come off during the game, being replaced by Jason Bowen and Adam Orme respectively.

One bright spot, however, was the welcome return on loan from The New Saints of former Reds favourite, Craig Williams, and he did not disappoint, scoring a well taken goal and generally displaying he has lost none of the skills which were evident prior to his departure.

A surprise inclusion in goal for the visitors was that of former Reds player, Duncan Roberts, who had been forced to retire due to a serious knee problem, and considering he had not played for some considerable time, he acquitted himself well.

The first half was dominated by the home side, but it was a different story after the break with their opponents coming far more into the match and causing plenty of problems for them with Ashley Morris being the busier of the two keepers.

An early attempt by Williams flashed just off target when he seized on a partial clearance, and Chris Venables forced Kirk Huggins into an important block when he met a long Andy Legg throw on the edge of the area.

Roberts got down to safely grasp a shot on the turn from Moses, but he was beaten on 31 minutes by the same player when Venables chipped a pass over the rearguard which Moses collected before rounding Roberts and slotting home from an acute angle.

Four minutes later the advantage was doubled after Chris Llewellyn played in Williams who sped into the box before shooting low past the goalkeeper into the bottom corner.

A timely tackle by Venables on Richard Evans snuffed out a potential Haverfordwest breakaway, while Roberts did well early in the second half to push out a fierce near post effort by Williams when a surging run took him into the area.

As the half wore on, Haverfordwest began to assert themselves, and Morris had to be alert to push a Tom Ramasut effort around the upright.

With the visitors now calling the shots, they finally reduced the deficit after 66 minutes following a free kick by Chris O`Sullivan into the crowded goalmouth which found the head of Gareth Elliot who powered it home.

Orme came on in place of Moses and was immediately involved when he was brought down on the edge of the box by Matty Collins, but the subsequent free kick by Wyn Thomas was off target.

Williams was causing the Haverfordwest defence problems, and a superb ball inside the defender set up Bowen whose shot went past Roberts but agonisingly inches wide of the far post.

When the visitors countered, Jamie Bradford missed a chance of levelling matters by blasting over when well positioned, but the final play fell to the Reds with Llewellyn being halted by a last ditch challenge from Huggins when Orme put him clear.

The home side held out to seal the win, but now face a daunting run of five away games, three in the league, a League Cup final and a Welsh Cup tie, all within the space of  a fortnight.

MATCH STATS.

LLANELLI;    Morris; C. Thomas; Giles (Batley, 59); Venables; Jones ©; W. Thomas; Williams; Legg; Llewellyn; Moses (Orme, 75); Warlow (Bowen, 46); Sub. not used; Davies.

GOAL CHART;    Llanelli – Moses, 31; Williams, 35. Haverfordwest County – Elliot, 66.

YELLOW CARD;   Llanelli – C. Thomas. Haverfordwest County – Elliot.

LLANELLI MAN OF THE MATCH -  Craig Williams.

REFEREE;    Mr. Paul Fisher (Port Talbot).

ATTENDANCE;       189.