Llanelli Town 4 Cearau 2

Without a game for over three weeks, a ring-rusty home side took a while to get into their stride and were in fact trailing their opponents after a 12th minute strike before finally finding their feet and notching up three successes prior to the break. One downside to the eventual win was a serious injury sustained to the Reds top scorer, Liam Samuel, who was stretchered off with a suspected broken leg in the first half following an accidental collision with Caerau keeper Matthew Rees, and will certainly be out of action for some considerable time.

The visitors took a shock lead when a kick out by Rees found Robert Walters, and he took the chance well, accelerating past Lee Bevan before firing beyond Craig Richards in the home goal. Stung by this reverse, the Reds hit back and went close on a number of occasions but the final ball lacked accuracy, with Robert Thomas seeing his attempt diverted for a corner, and when Luke Jones also forced a set piece, this was driven across the face of goal by Richard Lewis without any connection being made. Jones then shot narrowly wide after a clever turn, before they levelled matters on 27 minutes with a stunning goal by Lewis who picked up possession from a Caerau corner and covered almost the length of the pitch before finishing with a great strike into the bottom corner.

Five minutes later they were ahead when a run by Samuel culminated in him picking out Bruno Forkuoh in space who fired past Rees. A mere two further minutes had elapsed when Jones got on the end of a cross by Lewis to direct a looping header over the visiting keeper to establish a two goal cushion. Samuel then sustained his unfortunate injury when he pursued a ball into the box, being replaced by Mathew Hughes, but despite the disruption the Reds continued to create chances with Jones slow to react when Hughes played him in with the goal gaping invitingly, while Forkuoh blasted wildly over from a decent scoring position.

The hosts began the second half again on the front foot with Rees making a good save to divert an attempt by Hughes for a corner, and when this came across it was met by Bevan whose header was somehow kept out by the Caerau keeper. A rare attack by the visitors should have led to a second goal but this time Walters shot off target with only Richards to beat.

The Reds were then given an opportunity to further extend their lead with the award of a penalty when Thomas was brought down, but the normally reliable Declan John had his kick kept out by Rees, and when the rebound fell to Hughes, he fired over from point blank range. They had better luck on the hour mark when they netted a fourth goal with Thomas slotting home from the edge of the box with Rees off his line in an attempt to close him down

Forkuoh had a well directed effort beaten away by Rees, but the visitors had the last word when they won a penalty after Richards clattered into Jack Page in the area, and Dale Price netted easily after 82 minutes to complete the scoring. The win sends the Reds back to the top of the table, and with two home matches at the start of December they will be hoping to consolidate their position still further.

LLANELLI TOWN; Richards; Napieralla; Lewis; R. Jones; Powell; Bevan ©; Samuel (Hughes, 40); Thomas; L. Jones (Martin, 76); John (Shannon, 70); Forkuoh;

Subs. not used; Davies; Scammell (GK).

CAERAU; Rees; Mizen (Sam James, 46); Roach; R. James; Jenkins; Shaun James; Davies (C. Lewis, 68); R Lewis (Page, 56); Walters; Price ©; Davis;

Subs. not used; Shearan; Jones.

SCORERS; Llanelli Town – Lewis, 27; Forkuoh, 32; L. Jones, 34; Thomas, 60.

Caerau – Walters, 12. Price (P) 82

YELLOW CARDS; Llanelli Town – L. Jones; Richards.

Caerau – Walters; R. James.

REFEREE;Paul Meredith (Penllergaer).

ATTENDANCE; 96.