FIVE STAR REDS THRASH BANGOR!

 

ANDY LEGG’s Llanelli enjoyed a perfect boost for their Welsh Cup final appearance next month by destroying rivals Bangor in the dress rehearsal at Farrar Road.

 

The crucial spell occurred in the second half, when Llanelli blitzed three goals, all from breakaways, in nine minutes. Jason Bowen scored after 61 and the league’s top scoring ace Rhys Griffiths on 66 and 70.

Fans were still clicking through the turnstiles when City’s Sion Edwards snapped up the first goal on 65 seconds, latching on to a Les Davies knock-down.

The home side had been awarded a free-kick inside their own half and Nicky Ward floated an inviting ball deep into Llanelli territory, where Davies won an aerial contest. But it was too good to last and Llanelli threatened in a counter-attack, when Kris Thomas burst clear along the left and swept over a teasing low cross that eluded everyone.

Then Llanelli began to dictate the exchanges, Craig Moses had a left-angled effort deflected for a corner, followed by Thomas firing a fraction wide. Bangor had a double escape when Moses struck from 10 yards for Paul Smith to save and the rebound was directed off target by Chris Venables.

Moses celebrated the overdue equaliser on 37 minutes, making an incisive run down the left, with Michael Johnston pacing him, until the Llanelli man drilled a 15-yarder.

Just as City had done in the first half, Llanelli got off to an ideal start in the second, with Thomas chasing a long ball to provide a confident finish from 12 yards to make it 2-1. Llanelli’s complete takeover occurred just past the hour, starting when Bowen cut inside from the left, again exposing City’s vulnerability on that flank, to power an 18-yard shot.

Griffiths achieved the virtual impossible for the away side’s fourth, squeezing a shot into the tightest angle from the left by-line, after a free-kick.

The Reds command became 5-1, because of Griffiths again, finishing from close-range to convert Ashley Evans’ right-wing supply. Bangor’s Davies pulled one back on 78 minutes, but it had little impact as fortress Farrar Road was left in ruins.