WOE FOR REDS AS RUN ENDS
MORE concerning than just losing their unbeaten away league record was the nature of Llanelli Town’s loss at Glanhafod Park.
The Port Talbot side were fully deserving of their win as they were superior in every aspect of the contest.
Quicker in thought and speed, the home side dominated their visitors who produced an error-riddled performance which never looked capable of causing Goytre any major problems, summed up by the fact that former Llanelli goalkeeper Scott Coughlin was not called on to make a worthwhile save throughout.
It took until the 77th minute for the home side to concede a corner.
Miles John and James Loveridge were missing from the Reds starting line-up, while Callum Bateman and Louis Gerrard were making their first returns to the club they left in the last transfer window.
Goytre began in explosive fashion. They were ahead within three minutes following an initial break down the left which led to the ball being diverted into the middle and met by Jay Thomas. He turned sharply before despatching his finish past Exauce Dimonekene into the bottom corner.
Thomas was to prove a constant thorn to the Reds throughout, not helped by the fact he was allowed far too much room in which to operate, and when he was afforded another chance from a free-kick, his attempt was just off target.
Dimonekene was forced into a fine save to deny home captain Josef Hopkins from another set-piece.
This turned out to be just a brief respite as on 12 minutes the lead was extended with the award of a penalty when ex-Red Tim Parker was brought down under a challenge, and Hopkins blasted the spot-kick into the net.
The visitors, already facing an uphill battle even at this early stage in proceedings, continued to struggle to establish any sort of foothold in the contest, with wayward passing and hopeful long clearances which rarely picked out anyone.
Their opponents continued to play incisive football, with Dimonekene again proving his worth by keeping out a fierce near-post attempt by Parker.
The home striker then saw another effort rebound off the bar and drop down on to the line, forcing the Llanelli keeper to react quickly by smothering it with Thomas hovering to take advantage of any fumble.
Just before the interval, Thomas struck a shot narrowly over the top, while the Reds’ sole reply was a Kyle Copp free-kick which bobbled wide of the near post.
With it all to do in the second period, the visitors brought on Morgan Weaver to replace Chris Thomas. But the pattern of play remained the same, with the home side dominant and well on top, containing their opponents with ease while always threatening on the counter.
A clearance off the Llanelli line from a header following a corner just prevented another home success, with the visitors attempting to instil some urgency into their play by bringing on Travis James at the expense of Michael Morgan.
And they created just about their only real chance with Coughlan being to cling on to an effort by Nathan Logan when he was found by Sam Parsons.
This did not stop the hosts pushing forward in their attempts to extend their advantage, and they did just this in the 59th minute when Parker won control of the ball and played a superb reverse pass into the path of Hopkins, who drilled his finish into the far corner past the helpless Dimonekene.
The visiting keeper again came to the rescue, diverting a header by Thomas over the bar.
A last throw of the dice by the Reds saw the introduction of Gavin Jones for Zac Brown, but again this made little difference to the overall picture with Goytre still on the front foot. Parker missed a good chance by heading over from 10 yards when he met a James Parry delivery.
A late foray by the visitors led to Parsons meeting a far-post ball by James but failing to turn it home, and the match ended with them a wellbeaten side.
Llanelli will have to raise their game considerably if they are to have any hope of achieving a positive result in the return match at Stebonheath
on Friday, December 3 (7.30pm).
GOYTRE UNITED: Coughlan; Robbins, Parry; Baker, Cronin, Steadman, Flay (Dix, 86), J. Thomas (Howell 83), Parker, Hopkins (capt), Birch (Pelosi 71). Subs not used: E. Thomas, Anderson.
LLANELLI TOWN: Dimonekene; R. Thomas, Morgan (James 53), C. Thomas (Weaver 46), Brown (Jones 69), Copp (capt), Saunders, Gerrard, Parsons, Logan, Bateman. Subs not used: Williams, Hughes.
SCORERS: Goytre United – J. Thomas 3; Hopkins 12 (pen), 59.
YELLOW CARDS: Goytre United – Baker, Cronin, Parker. Llanelli Town – Saunders, Copp.