Llanelli Town 0 Llanwern 1

Llanwern secured their place in the last eight of the Nathaniel Car Sales League Cup courtesy of a 26th minute strike by Gareth Delve and inflict on their opponents only their second defeat of the season – both in cup competitions.

With promotion their main priority, the Reds can now concentrate fully on that aim, but will certainly have to address their appalling disciplinary record with a further four yellow cards in this game together with a red.

At this rate, they will have players missing for many of the matches will lie ahead – a scenario they can ill-afford if they hope to achieve their ultimate aim of higher echelon football.

They were already without the services of influential defender Richard Lewis who was serving a one match ban, while new recruit Sam Wilson was cup-tied having previously turned out for Haverfordwest County.

The opening stages produced little by either side in the way of any constructive moves, before the first chance of the tie fell to the Reds` Luke Jones who took advantage of a miskick by Michael Bishop to unleash a shot on target, only for keeper Chris Golton to pull off a fine save to divert it for a corner

A further chance for the home side arose when a Lee Bevan header flew off target from a Mark Napieralla free kick, and Golton did well to just get his fingertips to a Declan John corner which was destined for the head of Bevan.

The visitors had barely troubled Peter Scammell in the Reds goal, before he was forced to grab a near post effort from Matthew Hibbs when he turned sharply on the by line, before they took the lead when a burst up the right by Nic Hooper culminated with a driven cross into the goalmouth being met by Delve who forced it home from point blank range.

Llanwern should have increased the advantage when Ross Jones gave away possession in midfield, allowing Hooper to thread a pass into the path of Hibbs, but with only Scammell to beat, the keeper got the faintest of touches to concede a fruitless corner.

Matthew Hughes did well to head clear a dangerous high cross to the far post from the home goal, before the Reds best chance prior to the break arose when Jak Shannon found Bruno Forkuoh who in turn squared the ball infield to Luke Jones, but Bishop brought off an important block to deny him a shot on target.

Twelve minutes into the second half, the home side were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Luke Jones who was brought down on the edge of the penalty box leading to a free kick, but referee Tom Bevan`s attention was drawn by the upraised flag of his assistant, Gareth Elliott, and after a brief consultation Bevan produced a red card, presumably for foul language.

Scammell was called upon to push away a shot by Hibbs, and then brought off a great block to deny the same player when he was found in space by a pass from Delve.

As the tie reached its closing stages, the Reds upped the tempo and became much more assertive, with Steve Berry striking the outside of the upright following some good approach work up the left involving Forkuoh and Hughes.

Golton had to react quickly to push over a well directed cross by John which was drifting into the top corner, and Shannon could well have forced extra time when he met a Robert Thomas delivery at the far post, but could only direct his header at the keeper who was able to push it around for a corner.

On the basis of the overall play, the second division outfit just about deserved the win, but the Reds can now get on with the job in hand and focus on the league programme with the visit of Panteg to Stebonheath next Saturday. Kick off 2 p.m.

LLANELLI TOWN; Scammell; Napieralla (Berry, 60); Hughes; R. Jones (Williams, 67); Powell; Bevan ©; Forkuoh; Shannon; L. Jones; John; Thomas;

Subs. not used; Holmes; Martin; Richards (GK).

LLANWERN;Golton; Barry; James; Bishop; Dwyer; Jones (Curtis, 90+1); Hartrey © (Whiskey, 68); N. Hooper; Hibbs; D. Hooper; Delve;

Subs. not used; Fordham; G. Morgan; R. Morgan (GK).

SCORER; Llanwern – Delve, 26.

YELLOW CARDS; Llanelli Town – Powell; R. Jones; Thomas; Berry

Llanwern – Whiskey.

RED CARD; Llanelli Town – L. Jones.

REFEREE; Tom Bevan (Claberston Road).

ATTENDANCE; 108.