ABERYSTWYTH TOWN  0   LLANELLI  2

A much depleted Reds side still proved far too good for their opponents, and with some better luck and more clinical finishing, the scoreline could easily have been doubled.

Missing Martin Gyles, Owain Warlow, Chris Llewellyn, Rhys Griffiths, Craig Moses and Jordan Follows, all injured, at least the visitors welcomed back Chris Holloway after his lengthy lay off, while Scott Evans returned to the side following his trials at Kilmarnock.

Due to the lack of striking options, manager Andy Legg opted to play Adam Orme up front in a lone role, and he did a sterling job, harassing the home defenders at every opportunity and deservedly earning the man of the match accolade.

Needing a win to keep alive their hopes of a top six finish and following their home midweek success over Airbus UK, the home side did not impress and were second best from the outset, with goalkeeper Steve Cann living dangerously with a couple of clearances which flew perilously close to Reds players – but he got away with it.

Orme lofted an attempt over the bar when he finished off a move involving himself, Chris Venables and Jason Bowen, while Craig Williams knocked the ball past  Aneurin Thomas before launching his delivery across the face of the goal, but nobody was available to apply the finish.

A long clearance by Ashley Morris found Williams  whose strike ended up in the side netting.

Cann made a safe catch when Orme turned on the edge of the box and had his shot deflected goalwards, and when Wyn Thomas met a loose ball some 25 yards out, the goalkeeper only kept it out with difficulty.

The Reds were knocking the ball around to good effect but were just lacking that final vital touch, with a Wyn Thomas free kick which deflected off the wall and missed the target by inches the           nearest they came to breaking the deadlock.

Aberystwyth were reduced to ten men five minutes into the second period when Bari Morgan was sent off for a second yellow card for a wild lunge on Venables, and the visitors pressed home this advantage with Cann denying both Chris Thomas and Orme in quick succession.

Three minutes after Morgan`s dismissal they deservedly went ahead when a Williams free kick into the crowded area led to a goalmouth melee, and Wyn Thomas was the first to react, stabbing the ball home from six yards.

Four minutes later the lead was doubled when Bowen found Orme wide on the left, and his cross into the middle found Williams who swept it past Cann.

The home keeper was being kept busy, getting down to hang on to another Williams effort, but he knew little about a corner by the same player into the goalmouth which he somehow managed to keep out.

He did make a more convincing save from Williams at his near post when the Reds player struck another piledriver, and despite their dominance the visitors failed to add to the lead, but can feel well satisfied with the overall performance, particularly taking into account the absentees from the starting line-up.

MATCH STATS.

LLANELLI:             Morris; C. Thomas; Corbisiero; Jones ©; W. Thomas; Venables; Bowen (Davies, 84); Evans; Holloway (Jenkins, 88); Orme; Williams; Subs. not used; Legg; Hyde.

GOAL CHART:    Llanelli – W. Thomas, 53; Williams, 57.

YELLOW CARDS:                Aberystwyth Town – Thomas; Pepper; Morgan; Evans.

Llanelli – W. Thomas:      Evans; Orme.

RED CARD:          Aberystwyth Town – Morgan.

LLANELLI MAN OF THE MATCH: Adam Orme.

REFEREE:              Mr. Lee Evans (Llanllechid).

ATTENDANCE:   320.