REDS IN GENQUIP STALEMATE

PORT TALBOT TOWN 0 LLANELLI 0

 

A crowd of 447 that included movie star, Michael Sheen, Port Talbot’s newest vice president, witnessed an entertaining Welsh Premier League match at the Genquip Stadium on Friday night with the only thing lacking was goals!

 

The Reds started the game brightly with Jason Bowen and Chris Venables both having chances inside the first two minutes with Bowen shooting wide and Venables hitting his effort straight at Cornell in the home goal.

The hosts should have gone ahead in the 10th minute when Liam McCreesh found himself in space in the six yard box but he could only half hit his shot and the Reds gladly cleared their lines.

The Reds were playing some neat inter passing football with Griffiths and Bowen causing the Steelmen problems up front. Griffiths played an adept one two with Chris Thomas with the defenders shot hitting the post. His effort wouldn’t have counted though as he was flagged offside.

On the half hour mark a cross from the right by Lee John was punched away by Ashley Morris in the Reds goal and then the visitors counter attacked and Griffiths saw his shot deflected for a corner.

From the resulting corner the home side cleared but Craig Williams put in an excellent cross which was met by Griffiths who powered his header just over the bar.

The Reds had now changed Craig Williams and Owain Warlow to play on different sides of the pitch and they continued with their good inter passing game.

Ashley Evans skied a shot well over the crossbar after 35 minutes and four minutes later Luke Bowen headed wide for Talbot from a cross on the left by Lloyd Grist.

The half time whistle sounded and the home stewards then supervised a well worked fire drill in the main stand area and both sides went to the dressing rooms for a well earned cup of tea!

The Reds started the second period on the attack as they did in the first half with Owain Warlow shooting over after making a fine run down the middle of the pitch.

Reds player manager, Andy Legg then hit a free kick straight at Cornell and Luke Bowen went close for the home side just minutes later.

Port Talbot’s Casey Thomas then became the first name into referee Nick Pratt’s book in the 54th minute for a lunging tackle on Corbisiero but once again Legg hit the free kick at the keeper and we saw no repeat of the pile driver against Prestatyn in the Welsh Cup!

On the hour mark the Reds had another chance to beat the deadlock but Bowen could only hit his shot at the keeper once again.

Craig Moses replaced Owain Warlow and Ashley Morris was then called on to make a superb save from Thomas after 63 minutes but his effort would have been disallowed for offside. Minutes later Legg cleared off the line with his head.

Port Talbot then made changes with Fahiya, Brookes and former Red Craig Jones replacing John, Bowen and Thomas but the Reds still maintained their share of the possession and on 75 minutes a good move involving Venables and Moses ended with a Griffith’s header being deflected wide for a corner.

A Minute later, ref Nick Pratt, who had an excellent game had cause to issue yellow cards to Chris Venables for dissent and home defender Lee Surman for a blatant obstruction.

Two minutes from normal time, Adam Orme replaced Craig Williams and he could have won it for the Reds in stoppage time but he saw his header go over the bar after he met a cross from Rhys Griffiths.

This was another example of the competitiveness of the Championship Conference as the top six clubs battle it out with nothing much between them.

The Reds have another away day next Friday, when they travel to Prestatyn Town before hosting The New Saints and Neath the week after.

Port Talbot Town

David Cornell, Nicky Holland, Lloyd Grist, Gareth Phillips, Kai Edwards, Lee Surman, Lee John (Drew Fahiya 70′),

Matthew Thompson (Craig Jones 70′), Luke Bowen, Liam McCreesh, Casey Thomas (David Brookes 70′)

Red Cards: None

Yellow Cards: Thomas 54′ Surman 78′

Llanelli AFC

Ashley Morris, Chris Thomas, Andy Legg, Chris Venables, Ashley Evans, Chris Holloway, Jason Bowen, Antonio

Corbisiero, Rhys Griffiths, Craig Williams (Adam Orme 90′, Owain Warlow (Craig Moses 61′)

Subs: Jordan Follows, Ross Jones, Ryan Batley

Red Cards: None

Yellow Cards: Venables 77′

Attendance: 437 Referee: Nick Pratt (Connah’s Quay)

Reds Man of the Match Antonio Corbisiero