Llanelli Town 4 Panteg 2

Having to contend with appalling conditions with torrential rain sweeping across Stebonheath throughout, both teams deserve immense credit in contributing to an enjoyable first round Nathaniel Cars League Cup tie, with the home side being pushed all the way against lively opponents who they have never previously met in any competition.

The Reds changed their starting line-up with Peter Scammell replacing Craig Richards in goal and who took his place on the bench along with Liam Samuel, Luke and Ross Jones and Leon Martin.

Matthew Hughes was deployed up front with Bruno Forkuoh and the two combined to set up the opening goal for the former after just 3 minutes with Richard Lewis initially involved, before his pass found Forkuoh who in turn played it into the path of Hughes whose finish beat Daniel Wise in the visitors` goal. Panteg retaliated with Chris Erasmus giving chase to a downfield clearance which forced Scammell off his line to allay the danger from outside the area.

Lewis sent a strike just over the Panteg bar, and when Jak Shannon set up Forkuoh he beat Wise to the ball before finding Declan John, but his effort was inches the wrong side of the near post. Having survived these scares, the visitors hauled themselves level in the 18th minute with Luke Dyke taking advantage of some slack defending before rounding Scammell and walking the ball into a vacant net.

Lee Bevan went close to restoring home advantage with a strike at the far post from a free kick which flashed across the face of the net without any success. Panteg then had a great chance of going ahead when Jon Butcher was found in acres of space and allowed a free run on goal, but he sliced his finish horribly off target. With the contest level at the break, there was drama in the first minute of the second period when David Gabbidon, who had been cautioned in the first half, was sent off for bringing down Forkuoh, leaving the visitors with an uphill battle for the remainder of the tie. Hughes volleyed over when he met a ball into the box from Lewis, and when Wise fumbled a high ball into the goalmouth it was directed towards the net but headed off the line.

Both teams were creating chances, with Jordan Ryan finding Dyke whose shot was just wide of the far upright, before the Reds struck again on the hour mark when a Steve Berry free kick driven low to the near post was parried by Wise but ran only as far as Bevan who found the back of the net.

The numerical advantage together with the weather conditions were beginning to take their toll on the visitors who were looking leg-weary, and after Robert Thomas had seen his goal bound effort deflect for a corner, it came as little surprise when the hosts went further ahead on 76 minutes with Forkuoh supplying a cross into the middle which John volleyed crisply past Wise from the edge of the box.

Forkuoh himself went close with an attempt which rebounded off the bar following a surging run by John, and five minutes from time the Reds were awarded a penalty when Berry was floored in the area, picking himself up to take the kick and smashing it past the keeper. Seemingly comfortably home, the hosts were rattled again as within a minute their opponents pulled one back with Dyke getting his brace with a finish past Scammell off the inside of the post on 86 minutes. The Reds closed out the remainder of the contest without any more setbacks, but they were given a tough time by the league newcomers who on this evidence should do well for the remainder of the campaign – and of course, they still have to meet each other in the league fixtures.

The Reds are on the road next Saturday when they travel to meet Pontypridd Town with a 2.30 p.m. kick off.

LLANELLI TOWN; Scammell; Napieralla; Lewis (R. Jones, 81); Berry; Powell; Bevan ©; Thomas; Shannon; Hughes; John; Forkuoh;

Subs. not used; Samuel; L. Jones; Martin; Richards (GK).

PANTEG; Wise; R. Williams; Hulme (James, 68); Gabbidon; J. Williams ©; Erasmus; Butcher (Miller, 61); Hicks; Mason (Taylor, 79); Ryan; Dyke;

Subs. not used; Dunne; Fears.

SCORERS; Llanelli Town – Hughes, 3; Bevan, 60; John, 76; Berry (P), 85.

Panteg – Dyke, 18, 86.

YELLOW CARDS; Llanelli Town – John; Hughes; Lewis; Bevan. Panteg – Gabbidon (2); Erasmus; Hicks; Taylor.

RED CARD; Panteg – Gabbidon.

REFEREE; Tom Bevan (Clarbeston Road).

ATTENDANCE; 148.