NEWTOWN 0   LLANELLI 0

On a chilly mid-Wales evening, the football on display did nothing to warm up the hardy watching spectators, with both sides equally inept and providing little in the way of constructive moves, route one being the main tactic.

The Reds did experience a frustrating evening as most of the chances created came from their endeavours, but once again they failed to come up with the final telling finish which would have seen them home probably by half time.

With Rhys Griffiths and Owain Warlow suspended and injuries to Craig Moses and Chris Llewellyn, the visitors were again severely limited in the striking department, with Adam Orme playing through the middle supported by Craig Williams and Jason Bowen.

There was some better news concerning Jordan Follows who was named on the bench and who played the last twenty minutes or so in place of Bowen, and with Griffiths back for the Welsh Cup tie at Cefn Druids, the side is gradually being reinforced.

Ample first half possession for the Reds did not translate into goals, with Williams missing an early chance, slotting wide of an empty net when Chris Venables played him through, while Bowen took far tool long to pull the trigger from close in when Orme set up the opportunity.

Despite spending almost the entire half on the back foot, Newtown, with a quick counter down the right involving Dave Swanick  almost snatched an unlikely lead, with Ashley Morris having to be alert to deny Craig Whitfield who met Swanick`s delivery.

After the break, it was the turn of the visitors to defend as their opponents upped their game, with Whitfield being unlucky when he lost his footing at a vital moment pursuing a Matthew Cook ball into the box, before at the other end, Williams tested goalkeeper Dave Roberts when he connected with a ball from Chris Holloway.

Williams went even closer shortly after, looping a free kick over the defensive wall which rebounded off the bar, and when it was met by Holloway, Roberts brought off a good stop.

Follows came on instead of Bowen, and almost immediately set up a shooting chance for Antonio Corbisiero which flashed fractionally over the top, and then he found the head of Williams who transferred the ball to Orme, but again the goalkeeper was positioned to keep out his attempt.

The home side brought on veteran striker, Marc Lloyd-Williams, in an effort to snatch something from the contest, and he was soon involved in the action, only just failing to reach a ball down the middle which Morris booted clear on the edge of the box.

With the game drawing to a close, the Reds then missed a couple of gilt edged chances, Venables being the culprit, seeing a close range header cleared off the line by Paul Keddle, and then failing to react quickly enough yards from goal when the ball arrived at his feet, a defender getting in a vital block.

Neither side was able to break the deadlock, but the visitors will again be left reflecting on what might have been in view of the numerous chances which were squandered.

 MATCH STATS

LLANELLI: Morris; C. Thomas; Legg; Jones ©; W. Thomas; Corbisiero; Venables; Holloway; Bowen (Follows, 70); Orme; Williams; Subs. not used; Jenkins; Davies; Hyde.

YELLOW CARD:   Newtown – Keddle.

LLANELLI MAN OF THE MATCH;    Andy Legg.

REFEREE: Mr. Bryn Markham-Jones (Wrexham).

ATTENDANCE: 210.