Reds go down to Man U

 

LLANELLI put the final touches to their Welsh Premier League preparations with an encouraging showing against a Manchester United XI in front of more than 6,000 fans at Parc y Scarlets last night.

Despite defeat there were plenty of positives in the Reds’ performance ahead of the domestic opener at reigning champions Bangor on Saturday.

Danny Drinkwater was the standout name in a United starting line-up packed with exciting youth talent.

The midfielder played 12 times during a loan spell at Cardiff last season and again found himself in Wales last night.

This time it was as part of a side that, though lacking their best-known players, showed plenty of potential.

Those involved in Sunday’s dramatic Community Shield win over rivals Manchester City were either on international duty or resting up ahead of the new Premier League season.

Instead it was a chance for the next generation to provide a glimpse of what the future holds at Old Trafford.

Llanelli began with close to their strongest XI, though Rhys Griffiths was forced out of the starting line-up just before kick-off to be replaced by Chris Holloway.

That saw Andy Legg’s side switch formation, with ex-Swansea City man Chad Bond operating as a lone striker.

In a lively first-half, Souleymane Mamam — who was being watched by at least one Championship scout last night — opened the scoring after 11 minutes.

And Paul Pogba sealed the United win with a penalty six minutes from time after he was fouled by Ashley Evans.

Substitute goalkeeper Craig Richards saved the first effort before Pogba turned in the rebound.

As the game got under way in front of a bumper crowd, Llanelli’s defence came under pressure almost immediately as United created a string of early chances.

The best of those fell to David Petrucci, who fired wide on seven minutes after Marnick Vermijl combined well with Paul Pogba down the left.

It was no surprise when the visitors took the lead three minutes later. Ashley Morris did well to repel William Keane’s initial shot after he was played in by Jesse Lingard, but the Reds’ stopper was powerless to prevent Souleymane Mamam’s follow-up as the winger drilled home at the near post.

Two minutes later Drinkwater was inches from doubling the lead as he sent a stinging low drive just wide.

After an initial rocky patch, Llanelli began standing up better to their younger, faster opponents.

Jason Bowen showed some neat touches down the right, though United remained a threat, underlined by a long-range Lingard effort that fizzed narrowly over the bar midway through the first period.

Just after that United again zipped forward, this time down the left as Lingard exchanged passes with Petrucci, whose stabbed shot squirmed wide.

Another Mamam effort then had Morris stretching as United began to up the tempo.

Llanelli were restricted to counter-attacking down the flanks, where often the final ball lacked the quality to cause any real problems.

A superb centre from Chris Thomas bucked that trend after 33 minutes. It arrowed towards the far post where Craig Williams might have done better than send a side-foot shot into the stands.

And Llanelli squandered another guilt-edged chance moments later when Lee Surman poked wide after indecision in the United defence saw the ball ricochet to him six yards out.

A raft of changes for both sides upset the momentum during a second half in which Llanelli had chances to level before Pogba struck.

Chris Venables fired straight at Ben Amos before also sending a free header off target.

Pogba — who was probably the most impressive of the travelling party — had the ball in the net after 51 minutes only for the effort to be ruled out for a foul on Morris.