REDS GET BACK ON TRACK

CARMARTHEN TOWN 0 LLANELLI 3

The Reds bounced back from the disappointment of the home defeat by The New Saints to register an emphatic win over their near neighbours.

Probably the only negative aspect was the fact they failed to add to the three goals scored in the first half – a similar scenario to that against Afan Lido when they were four up at the break but again had to settle for that figure at the close.

A poor home side look destined to struggle for survival on this showing and have now shipped nine goals in two games, and much work needs to be done if they are to retain their Premier League status.

The visitors made a couple of changes to the team which had faced TNS, with Antonio Corbisiero and Chad Bond starting in place of Jason Bowen and Craig Williams, and the first half was virtually one-way traffic, with Carmarthen being forced on to the back foot for long periods.

Despite their overall dominance, Mike Lewis in the home goal was not seriously tested with a number of attempts being off target, while he dealt comfortably with a Rhys Griffiths effort.

Chris Venables sent a lob on to the roof of the net when Lewis punched clear a Corbisiero free kick, before the inevitable breakthrough arrived on 25 minutes stemming from a pin point cross by Chris Thomas into the middle where Griffiths was on hand to power a header into the net.

Craig Moses forced the goalkeeper into a full length save to keep out his well struck drive, while Lewis did well to grasp a Venables effort after Moses set up the chance.

However, he was beaten again after 37 minutes when a Venables corner was headed down by Griffiths, allowing Moses to bundle it home from point blank range.

Four minutes later, a good build up involving Venables and Thomas allowed the latter to send over a delivery which found the head of Bond whose header flew past Thomas and send the visitors in at the interval with a comfortable cushion.

The Reds were forced into an early reshuffle after the break when Lloyd Grist was injured in attempting to cut out a cross, with Chris Holloway coming into midfield and Corbisiero taking over at right back with Thomas switching to the left.

The hosts did have more possession in the second half without ever looking capable of creating anything worthwhile, and in fact the Reds could well have gone further ahead when Venables sent Moses clear with a run into the box, but in attempting to round the goalkeeper, Lewis just managed to get a hand to the ball and a corner was the eventual outcome.

Jordan Follows and Chris Llewellyn were introduced instead of Venables and Griffiths respectively, before a rare chance for the home side arrived when Tim Hicks made a run forcing Ashley Morris into a save.

At the other end, Follows played in Moses whose shot was turned around by Lewis, and the same two were involved again, this time seeing the ball flash across the Carmarthen goalmouth before being deflected for a corner.

The final whistle came with the visitors having to settle for the three first half goals, but perhaps more importantly getting their season back on track and hopefully able to string together some positive results in the next few games.

MATCH STATS.

LLANELLI: Morris; Thomas; Grist (Holloway, 56); Jones ©; Surman; Venables (Follows, 74); Evans; Corbisiero; Griffiths (Llewellyn, 78); Bond; Moses; Subs. not used; Bowen; Williams; Davies.

SCORERS: Llanelli – Griffiths, 25; Moses, 37; Bond, 41.

YELLOW CARDS; Carmarthen Town – Bevan.  Llanelli – Thomas.

LLANELLI STAR MAN: Chris Thomas.

REFEREE: Mr. Brian James (Cardiff).

ATTENDANCE: 414.