MAJOR ISSUES FACING REDS

THERE was never any danger of the Reds ending the visitors’ eight-match unbeaten run as another underwhelming display saw them slump to a dispiriting home defeat in JD Cymru South.

The side seems to have lost its way as a unit, with too many passes going astray, a lack of awareness as to when to play a pass to a team-mate in a better position, and, most worryingly of all, an inability to create scoring chances.

In their most recent games the opposition goalkeepers have barely been tested, and this proved to be the case again on Friday night, with Jack Lansdown in the Llantwit goal experiencing a comfortable evening.

He watched an early James Loveridge attempt sail off target, before the visitors should have gone ahead from a break up the right by Josh Jones which culminated in him dragging his finish wide of the far post.

Shortly after, top scorer Tom Walters was also culpable when he was clean through with only Kai Rees, a late replacement for the injured Exauce Dimonekene, to beat, but he too failed to hit the net.

Rob Thomas, who prior to kick-off was presented with a plaque on his 150th Reds appearance, brought off a crucial interception to prevent Jones from collecting a pass that would have put him in the clear, and at this stage the home side were lucky to be still on level terms.

A header by Walters at the far post was ruled out by an offside flag, before the hosts created a half-chance following a Callum Saunders corner which was only cleared as far as Thomas, and his shot clipped the outside of the post.

The visitors took a 22nd-minute lead when Walters was unmarked in the middle of the goalmouth and directed his header past Rees.

Lansdown was called into a rare burst of action when he was forced off his line to push clear from Callum Bateman, while at the other end some last-ditch defending led to a Dafydd Owen cross being diverted for a corner.

The half drew to a close with a Llantwit free-kick by Conner Goldsworthy

blocked by the wall at the expense of a corner.

The home side were forced into a second-half change when Miles John went down injured on 52 minutes. Chris Thomas replaced him, and the Reds were showing more signs of making their opponents work harder, and they created probably their best chance of the contest.

Loveridge displayed impressive speed to get past his marker before cutting into the box, but Lansdown was quickly down to block his shot.

The visitors struck again in the 74th minute. Walters was again the beneficiary of poor defending when the Reds failed to clear their lines, and as the ball bobbled around the area Walters swept his finish past Rees.

The hosts at least made the last few minutes more uncomfortable for Llantwit when they pulled a goal back with five minutes left through Bateman, who bundled the ball over the line following a melee in front of the net.

Despite referee Teifion Cook adding on six minutes of stoppage time, the goal proved to be too little too late for the hosts, and some tough decisions need to be made if the club are to enjoy a successful campaign.

With the third round of the JD Welsh Cup taking place this weekend, the Reds have an open date. Their next scheduled league fixture is at Swansea University on Saturday, October 2, (2.30pm).

LLANELLI TOWN: Rees, John (C Thomas 52), R Thomas, Parsons, Loveridge, Bateman, Copp (capt), Saunders, Gerrard, Morgan (Williams 72), Weaver (Brown 67). Subs not used: Logan, Kerr.

LLANTWIT MAJOR: Lansdown, Owen, Goldsworthy, Emanuel, Miller, Evans, Kinsella (capt), N Jones (Gardner 63), Walters, R Jones, J Jones (Morgan 77). Subs not used: Keen, Williams, Davies (GK).

SCORERS: Llanelli Town — Bateman 85. Llantwit Major — Walters 22, 74.

YELLOW CARDS: Llanelli Town — Morgan, Copp, Loveridge. Llantwit Major — Kinsella, Evans.

REFEREE: Teifion Cook. ATTENDANCE: 315.