RYAN TRANSPORT NORTH GWENT LEAGUE RESERVE DIVISION
LLANHILLETH ATHLETIC ...................... 1 RHYMNEY ..................... 7
LLANHILLETH Athletic slumped to a 7-1 reverse at the hands of table toppers Rhymney in an exciting encounter at the Park.
With the Gwent County squad still ravished by injuries the reserves were left short of four regulars as they were promoted to first team action at Mathern.
The home defence were soon being over-run as visiting full back Jack Rees hooked up with winger Rhys Evans and marauded down the right wing with a wave of attacks and it was no surprise when Matthew Beddis fired an unstoppable left-foot drive that home goalkeeper Duane Evans could only parry into the net.
With visiting skipper Josh Davies pulling the strings in the middle of the park, it was opposite wing Ashley Perry who profited from some poor defending firing home to double the lead.
The hosts pushed to get back into the game but again were caught out as Rees and Evans again combined to set up Perry for his second in five minutes.
As the midfield battle intensified, the referee took the time to inform both captains that the play had to calm down with dissent a constant problem.
With Evans now in full stride down the right he sent a pin-point cross on to the head of striker Daniel Jones who powerfully headed home from 10 yards leaving Evans with no chance.
With the home side still going in search of a goal, Ryan Torrance found himself fouled out wide and team manager Michael Osland fired in a longrange free kick that visiting custodian Kyle Brean was unable to keep out.
Athletic almost scored immediately from the restart, after winning back the ball in midfield a Dexter Deacon effort was blocked on the line, but the homes side’s fightback was short-lived as another visiting attack down the right saw Athletic defender Ryan Penn inadvertently put the ball into his own net whilst tackling Beddis.
In a frenetic finale to the half Osland saw his lastminute effort from close range saved by Brean.
The introduction of striker Nicky Pitt on the hour mark saw the hosts add some trickery and pace to the front line, but a hat-trick goal from Perry and a 35-yard pile-driver from Beddis ensured the visitors recorded their fifth consecutive victory.
Although left licking their wounds, the re- serves took comfort that their players who were promoted to the Gwent County side helped them gain a 3-1 away victory at Mathern, courtesy of goals from Nathan Jones (2) and Brandon Withers, the 16-year-old’s first goal of the season.