Llanelli Town 1 Panteg 1

Facing the daunting prospect of five successive away games, the Reds would ideally have hoped to sign off their clash with Panteg with a win, but a poor all-round performance yielded just a solitary point and dent their perfect home league record.

There was a distinct lack of cutting edge to their play, and despite creating numerous chances the final ball was not decisive, and it was only the award of a second half penalty which ultimately brought them a reward.

Perhaps even more worrying, was the accumulation of yet another six cautions to add to the four in their previous match against Llanwern, and at this rate the squad will be decimated as the season progresses with players serving suspensions.

The home side began brightly enough with Declan John going down in the area under a challenge, but referee Garwyn Davies was not interested, while a Richard Lewis corner flashed across the Panteg goalmouth and just past the far post.

Rhys Powell sent Bruno Forkuoh clear up the right, but his final touch in the box was just too heavy and resulted in a corner, and when this came across, Steve Berry`s` header was narrowly off target.

Another Lewis set-piece led to the ball being diverted goalwards before the visitors` central defender Jon Williams cleared off the line. Panteg had barely crossed the halfway line before they were gifted the lead in the 24th minute when the normally dependable Craig Richards in the home goal rushed his clearance which fell into the path of Kirk Hicks, and he in turn took full advantage by playing in Jon Butcher who homed in on goal before slotting past Richards.

When the hosts pushed forward, a shot by Robert Thomas deflected off Kyle Edwards and just off target with keeper Dan Wise flat-footed.

Lee Bevan got on the end of a Lewis free kick but his header was safely held by Wise, and the Reds` skipper repeated his effort early in the second period, heading just over the top from a corner by Lewis. Mark Napieralla brought off a timely tackle on Butcher to prevent the visitors` striker from unleashing a strike in the box, prior to the Reds drawing level after 59 minutes when Forkuoh was upended in the area by David Gabbidon.

Lewis took the spot kick to drive it low beyond Wise, and this success certainly seemed to stimulate the home side who at last began to find some positive aspects to their play, and Berry might have done better when he met a Lewis corner but directed his header over the bar from a decent position. Nevertheless, they still had to be alert when their opponents countered, with Ben Taylor gaining possession, although looking offside, before Powell blocked his strike and the rebound back to him ended up in the grateful arms of Richards.

The Reds`keeper was called into action again, this time to divert around a well struck effort from Kirk Dyke, before the home side had a great chance of clinching all three points when a searching ball low to the far post by Thomas was met by a diving header by Berry, but he failed to find the net from point blank range.

Wise then did well to turn over a goal-bound header by Bevan from yet another Lewis corner, but at the final whistle the hosts were left to reflect on a below par display which ultimately cost them maximum points.

The two sides meet each other again on Saturday when the Reds travel to Gwent for the return. Kick off 2 p.m.

LLANELLI TOWN; Richards; Napieralla; Lewis; R. Jones; Powell; Bevan ©; John (Wilson, 71); Berry; Hughes; Thomas; Forkuoh;

not used; Bauza; Williams; Shannon; Scammell (GK).

PANTEG; D. Wise; R. Williams; Hughes; Gabbidon; J. Williams; Page (Edwards, 17); Taylor; T. Wise ©; Butcher; Hicks (White, 75); Dyke;

not used; Dunne; Mayers.

SCORERS; Llanelli Town – Lewis (P), 59. Panteg – Butcher, 24.

YELLOW CARDS; Llanelli Town – Napieralla; Thomas; Hughes; R. Jones; Bevan; Forkuoh.

Panteg – Edwards; T. Wise; Dyke; Hughes.

REFEREE; Garwyn Davies (Morriston).

ATTENDANCE; 111.