10-MAN LLAN BATTLE TO SECURE A POINT
LLANHILLETH Athletic earned a well-deserved point in a 2-2 draw against New Inn despite playing the last 30 minutes with ten men following the dismissal of defender Ieaun James.
James was shown a straight red for a dangerous tackle on an opponent following on from a previous encounter minutes earlier when he felt he had been fouled whilst clearing an attack.
This left manager Chris Townsend having to reshuffle his defensive pack, which was already missing influential captain Lloyd Hurn who was side-lined following an injury in the opening game of the season 2-1 win at Lucas Cwmbran.
Goals from Craig Price and makeshift striker Nathan Thomas earned the points at Cwmbran and it was Thomas who again was on target firing home in the first minute to give the hosts the lead.
The lead was shortlived though as a defensive mix up allowed mid- fielder Junior Richards to calmly slot home into the top corner from 18 yards.
Thomas though soon restored the lead latching onto an inch perfect pass from home debutant
Brandon Withers who put in a fantastic performance in the centre of midfield at the tender age of 16.
With the game being played in atrocious conditions, errors were frequent but both teams failed to capitalize and Nathan Morgan playing his first game for many seasons between the sticks made a smart save to deny New Inn and to send the home side in one goal up at the interval.
The visitors who travelled with only one substitute received a roasting at half time from midfielder Ian Rosser and came out after the break searching for an equaliser.
A smart move down the right saw midfielder Luke Sallis chip Morgan and as the ball looked destined for the net team mate Robert Surtees looked to steal his glory and somehow his sliding finish cleared the ball off the line and into the grateful arms of Morgan as he scrambled back.
This was quickly forgotten though as Sallis took full advantage of another defensive mix up and fired home into an empty net to level the scores.
Following James’ dis-
missal the temperature of the game rose with players from both sides finding their name in the referee’s notebook, one was Thomas who was denied a hat trick as firstly he saw his shot go agonisingly past the post following great work down the right from Jonathan Lawrence and then his long range free kick was saved by visiting goalkeeper Craig Cooper.
Despite the visitors having a man advantage and pressing until the final whistle for a winner a sterling defensive effort led by captain for the day Curtis Pitt meant the hosts held out and grabbed a wellearned point.
Athletic host Fairfield United at the Park this Saturday kick off 3pm.