SUPER REDS HIT NEATH FOR FOUR AGAIN!

LLANELLI 4 NEATH 0

The Reds hit Neath for four for the second time this season in an exhilarating display of attacking football at Stebonheath Park on Friday night. The win keeps their hopes of a third place finish as the victory puts them just four points behind the Eagles with four league games remaining.

Both sides started cautiously with the play ebbing from end to end and the Reds had the best of the early chances with Rhys Griffiths going close on two occasions, the first seeing his shot deflected wide and the second having his effort cleared after he had been put through by the excellent Craig Williams.

Chris Jones then had a chance for the visitors but he put his shot wide of Ashley Morris’ post after 22 minutes and Reds’ Craig Moses broke away for a one on one with the keeper only for him to be flagged offside. Lee Trundle then fired a free kick over the bar before The Reds finally broke the deadlock after 29 minutes when Craig Williams hit a superb direct free kick into the back of the net from 25 yards.

That was more or less the end of the skirmishes for the first half and the Reds went in for their half time refreshments in buoyant mood.

The second period started with the Reds playing the more assured football with Rhys Griffiths working tirelessly up front with a bandaged head after a first half clash with Neath’s Matthew Rees and even back tracking to make tackles in the Reds left back position!

Both Griffiths and Craig Moses had chances to increase the lead with Moses seeing his shot deflected for a corner after good work by Chris Thomas had put him through in the 51st minute and two minutes later, Griffiths fired over the bar.

Neath’s Lee Trundle became more prominent in the game as he created a few chances for the visitors as play arrived at the hour mark.

Adam Orme then entered the fray in place of Craig Moses and he immediately made an impact when he won a corner on the right for the Reds which saw Stuart Jones have his header blocked on the line.

After 66 minutes, Neath keeper, Lee Idzi produced the save of the match when he tipped over a Chris Venables free kick over the bar when a goal seemed inevitable.

The Reds then had a series of corners bringing the corner count to 11 1 in their favour with the final one seeing Stuart Jones heading home to give the home side a deserved 2 0 lead.

The game still continued to be an entertaining contest with both sides creating half chances before The Reds sealed the points with two goals inside the last seven minutes.

Jason Bowen was put through by an exquisite pass from Chris Venables before running a full fifty yards before coolly slotting the ball past Idzi and into the Back of the net.

Jordan Follows who had come on for Bowen then saw his side foot effort go narrowly wide before Craig Williams got the final score of the night when he received a throw from Ashley Morris deep in his own half on the left hand side and he bettered Jason Bowens earlier effort when he ran over 60 yards before firing past the helpless Idzi to complete a superb night for the Reds.

This win puts the Reds just four points behind Neath in the quest for a third place finish with four games left. It was also a major confidence booster ahead of Saturday’s semi final with The New Saints at Aberystwyth.

Llanelli AFC

Ashley Morris, Chris Thomas, Ashley Evans, Chris Venables, Stuart Jones, Craig Moses (Adam Orme 60′), Jason Bowen (Jordan Follows 88′), Antonio Corbisiero, Rhys Griffiths, Chris Holloway, Craig Williams

Subs not used: Wyn Thomas, Andy Legg, Ryan Batley

Red Cards: None

Yellow Cards: Morris 8′ Williams 83′

Neath FC

Lee Idzi, Ian Hillier, Paul Cochlin, Kristian O’Leary, Matthew Rees, Matty Collins, Chris Jones, Paul Fowler (Andy Hill 71′), Chad Bond (Craig Hughes 64′), Lee Trundle, Kevin Cooper

Subs not used: James Burgin, Luke Cummings, Laurie Marsh

Red Cards: None

Yellow Cards: Rees 76′ Trundle 82 Collins 86 Hillier 88′

Attendance: 341 Referee: Darren Adie

Men of the Match Jason Bowen and Chris Holloway