Last home game produces a win

Llanelli 3 Prestatyn Town 2

Entertaining visitors who had lost their last eleven league games and with only three away successes to date, the Reds made hard work of eventually securing the three points despite creating numerous chances, and will certainly have to up their game come the play-offs next month.

They made the best possible start when a corner conceded by Gareth Wilson led to Chris Venables rising at the far post to direct a header goalwards, and the upraised flag of the assistant confirmed the ball had crossed the line in the 2nd minute.

A Chris Thomas delivery into the middle saw Paul O’Neill block the effort from Craig Williams, and the same visiting player deflected another Venables attempt following good build up play involving James Secker and Thomas.

A deep cross by Lloyd Grist into the goalmouth was narrowly missed by Jordan Follows, while a Rhys Griffiths near post strike rebounded off Wilson for a corner.

A challenge by Follows on halfway led to him winning possession before sending Griffiths clear, but he could only fire into the side netting.

Prestatyn had barely troubled Craig Richards in the home goal, but on 35 minutes they were awarded a penalty when a challenge by Lee Surman on O’Neill led to the kick, and although Richards got his hands to the ball the power of the shot by Ross Stephens carried it into the net.

This unexpected success spurred on the visitors, and Richards did well to divert over an attempt by Chris Davies, but the teams went in at the interval all square.

Dave Roberts in the Prestatyn goal did well to divert a Follows shot on target away from danger with an outstretched leg, and did even better shortly after, pushing a Venables effort on to the post when Williams set up the chance.

Stuart Jones lofted a loose ball in the box just over the bar following a corner, while Griffiths directed his header into the hands of Roberts from close range when Thomas crossed into the middle.

A rare visitors attack culminated with Davies netting past Richards only to be denied by the upraised flag of the assistant, before at the other end, Follows was fractionally off target with a shot from the edge of the box.

Eleven minutes from time, the Reds did get their reward when Jones rose to connect with a Williams corner, and for the second time in the match the assistant indicated that the ball had crossed the line despite Roberts getting down to grasp it.

Eight minutes later, Craig Moses headed past the goalkeeper following another Williams cross to apparently seal a fairly comfortable win, but within a minute their opponents were back in contention when Neil Gibson scored from close range after Davies had done the initial spadework.

Despite this, the Reds held on to secure the win but will be under no illusions that they will have to perform to a considerably higher level if they hope to progress in the end of season play-offs.

MATCH STATS.

LLANELLI; Richards; Thomas; Grist; Jones ©; Surman; Venables; Corbisiero; Follows (Moses, 73); Secker (Bowen, 59); Griffiths; Williams; Subs. not used; Llewellyn; S. Evans; Legg; Houlihan; Hollingshead.

PRESTATYN TOWN; Roberts; Davies; France; Hayes ©; O’Neill; Wilson; Fisher-Cooke (Hughes, 84) Owen (Kemp, 78); Hannan (Gibson, 85); Stephens; G. Hughes; Subs. not used; Murray; Markland.

SCORERS; Llanelli – Venables, 2; Jones, 79; Moses, 87. 

Prestatyn Town – Stephens (P), 35; Gibson, 88.

YELLOW CARD; Prestatyn Town – Davies.

LLANELLI STAR MAN ; Antonio Corbisiero.

REFEREE; Mr. Kevin Morgan (Cardiff).

ATTENDANCE; 105.