REDS DELIVER A SUPERB SHOW
IF the first game under the new management of Lee John and Dylan Blain is an indication of how Llanelli Town mean to progress, the future looks bright.
They were almost unrecognisable from the side that had performed so abysmally a fortnight previously against the same opponents.
John and Blain were in charge of the visitors on that occasion at Glanhafod Park, but their influence even at this early stage is obvious, with the home side once more demonstrating a fast-flowing style and passing game which has been sadly lacking for most of the season.
The only worry is the small squad of players available for selection, with two more, captain Kyle Copp and Zac Brown, leaving recently, while injuries are also a concern, with the latest casualty being Robert Thomas, who will probably miss the rest of the season.
Doubtless there will be efforts to strengthen the squad during the January transfer window.
But until then reserve and academy players will have to be used to swell the numbers.
On Saturday Llanelli were on the front foot from the outset, with the midfield particularly prominent, producing opportunities for the front runners, with a Callum Saunders delivery into the box being pushed clear by Scott Coughlan in the Goytre goal just before Callum Bateman was about to make a headed contact.
Thomas then went down injured and was replaced by Morgan Weaver after 18 minutes.
Bateman fired over after being played in by Chris Thomas, but despite their dominance the Reds went close to conceding when the visitors, with almost their first real threat, forced Exauce Dimonekene into a great save to deny Jay Thomas, and then make an even better stop to keep out the rebound from James Parry.
These near-misses spurred on Goytre, and a corner to the near post by Bradley Flay was headed against the upright by Tim Parker.
The hosts retaliated when a short corner by James Loveridge set up Sam Parsons, whose well-struck shot was just about kept out by Coughlan.
Loveridge then blazed over from a decent position.
The Reds continued where they had left off by taking the contest to their opponents after the break, and Miles John was unlucky when his near-post attempt deflected off Daniel Birch for a corner.
From this, Nathan Logan directed a header across the area to Bateman, but again Coughlan did just enough to prevent a goal.
Louis Gerrard fired narrowly wide of the Goytre goal from distance, but the final ball was lacking and the nearest the Reds came was from a Saunders free-kick which went inches over the bar.
For all their dominance, they also had to be vigilant at the other end, and John brought off a saving tackle on Parker to prevent him pulling the trigger.
And Goytre really should have taken the lead when an unmarked Flay headed wide from a few yards out following an excellent cross by Joseph Pelosi.
The Reds capitalised on this let-off by going ahead on 76 minutes through Logan, who was found some 25 yards out from goal and curled a delightful finish past Coughlan.
This proved to be his last action as he was replaced by Dylan Williams, but within three minutes the lead was extended with something of a freak goal when Saunders unleashed a speculative shot which Coughlan made a complete hash of, allowing it to bounce off his legs and into the net.
The visitors hauled themselves back into contention in the 86th minute after some initial attempts on the home goal had been partially cleared, with the ball eventually running loose to Kyran Steadman, who fired into the bottom corner to set up a grandstand finish.
With the clock running down, both Williams and Gavin Jones went close, before matters were finally wrapped up by Saunders in the fifth minute of added time when he despatched a well-taken set-piece past Coughlan to seal the points and a winning start for the new hierarchy.
Another tough assignment awaits Llanelli on Saturday when they travel to the Rhondda to play Cambrian & Clydach, kick-off 2.30pm.
LLANELLI TOWN: Dimonekene, John, R Thomas (capt, Weaver 18), Parsons, Jones, Loveridge, Bateman, Logan (D Williams 80), Saunders, Gerrard, C Thomas (Edwards 89). Subs not used: SD Williams, Rees (GK).
GOYTRE UNITED: Coughlan, Dix (Pelosi 70), Parry, Baker, Cronin, Steadman, Flay (Howell 84), Thomas, Parker, Hopkins (capt), Birch. Subs not used: Taylor, Ricketts, Williams.
SCORERS: Llanelli Town — Logan 76, Saunders 83, 90+5. Goytre United — Steadman 86.
YELLOW CARDS: Goytre United — Birch, Cronin, Parker, Baker.
REFEREE: Daniel Richardson. ATTENDANCE: 377.