REDS HAPPY TO CLAIM A POINT
MIGHT have lost it, should have won it, just about sums up the Reds’ visit to Sketty Lane to take on their student hosts.
Following a dismal first half during which neither side looked capable of breaking the deadlock, the second period could not have been more different.
It did take the visitors going two goals down before they finally sparked into life to draw level, though, and they will rue a glut of missed chances which would have sealed the win.
Missing captain Kyle Copp through suspension, the Reds did welcome back Gavin Jones after a lengthy injury lay-off to boost the midfield, and they were the first to threaten following a searching ball by Zac Brown which saw Callum Bateman give chase, but goalkeeper Luke Martin just managed to grab it at his feet.
As the half wore on, the home side gradually took a grip on proceedings without seriously testing Exauce Dimonekene in goal.
In fact it was Martin who was called into some meaningful action when he diverted clear a Jones ball into the goalmouth.
Disaster then struck the visitors when Chris Thomas was shown a red card by referee Daniel Richardson on 17 minutes following a two-footed challenge on a home player, and the pressure on their goal intensified following this incident.
Harry Huddart passed up a good chance for the students, while Dimonekene got down to grasp a shot by Cam Langan.
Despite their overall dominance, the hosts were not creating many clear-cut chances, and it was the Reds who almost scored when Bateman directed a close-range header against a post following a Callum Saunders free-kick.
The second half began in an explosive manner, with the home side forging into a two-goal lead in the space of four minutes.
The first arrived in the 49th minute courtesy of a deflected shot by Huddart which gave Dimonekene no chance, while the lead was extended on 53 minutes when John Roberts, in acres of space on the left, was allowed to drive a cross low into the middle where Bruno Osorio guided it home.
Sandwiched between these successes, the Reds themselves might have scored, with James Loveridge having his close-range effort blocked on the line when Martin parried a Saunders set-piece into his path.
Another blow befell Llanelli when Jones was forced off injured, with Michael Morgan taking his place, although this enforced change proved to be the catalyst to a turning point in their fortunes.
Morgan brought a new dynamism to the play, and now with nothing to lose the Reds surged forward, and it was the turn of their opponents to resort to some desperate defending.
Some great chances were created, with Morgan, Loveridge and Bateman all seeing their efforts somehow kept out by an increasingly undersiege home side, before the pressure eventually paid off on 64 minutes when a well-weighted ball by the excellent Brown sent Loveridge clear down the left, and he cut inside before drilling his finish past Martin into the bottom corner.
The Reds’ tails were now well and truly up, and Martin turned over a well-struck shot from the edge of the area by Morgan, while a cross by
Saunders was somehow scrambled clear by a harassed defence.
Llanelli were not to be denied, however, and deservedly drew level when Brown was rewarded for his hard work, making inroads into the box before shooting home after 77 minutes.
The closing stages were dominated by the visitors, who should have sealed victory in the dying minutes when Loveridge met a far-post ball but blasted over when it seemed easier to score.
Llanelli now have to wait almost three weeks before their next league fixture at Stebonheath on Friday, October 22, when Taffs Well are the visitors (kick-off 7.30pm).
SWANSEA UNIVERSITY: Martin, Sheehan, E Jones, Hughes, Huddart,
Osorio (Toms 76), J Jones, Orme (capt), Hicks, Roberts (Thomas 84), Langan. Subs not used: Townsend, Eedy, Hodgson.
LLANELLI TOWN: Dimonekene, C Thomas, R Thomas, Weaver, Brown (Logan 84), Parsons, Gerard, Jones (Morgan 58), Saunders, Loveridge, Bateman. Subs not used: Phillipstaylor, Williams, James.
SCORERS: Swansea University — Huddart 49, Osorio 53. Llanelli Town — Loveridge 64, Brown 77.
YELLOW CARDS: Swansea University — Osorio, J Jones. Llanelli Town — Brown, Parsons, Bateman, Saunders.
RED CARD: Llanelli Town — C Thomas.
REFEREE: Daniel Richardson.