VICTORY DENIED BY LATE STRIKE
AN early James Loveridge goal gave Llanelli the advantage over great rivals Barry until a 96th-minute equaliser with the last attack of the game denied the Reds maximum points in Friday night’s JD Welsh Premier League clash at Stebonheath.
The Dragons did deserve at least a share of the spoils as they created several chances to put the result beyond doubt, only to be denied by some resolute defending by the home side and wayward finishing.
The hosts could not have wished for a better start. They were ahead within two minutes following a midfield challenge won by Joe Clarke. He emerged with the ball before lofting it over the Barry rearguard for Loveridge to gain possession, and with goalkeeper Mike Lewis rashly electing to come off his line, the Reds striker skilfully steered the ball around him before slotting into a vacant net.
With their tails up, the home side enjoyed a period of supremacy in the opening stages, and it took a timely tackle by Luke Cooper on Loveridge to halt his run when he was found by Jordan Follows.
Chris Jones volleyed narrowly off target when Follows again set up the chance, before the Reds were forced into a change when Kyle Graves was injured in a challenge with Mamadou Touray, with Robert Thomas coming on in his place after 19 minutes.
The visitors then had a great chance to level matters when Touray threaded a pass through for McLaggan to take the ball into the box. He sidestepped the challenge of goalkeeper Oliver Davies but with the goal at his mercy took a touch too many and his final effort ran along the line before Scott Tancock slid in to clear it, despite the attentions of Jonathan Hood at the far post.
As the half wore on, both Touray and McLaggan were becoming increasingly influential in the Barry forays, and the former was just off target with a header from a cross by Macauley Southam-Hales.
The home side were forced into a further reshuffle when Kurtis March was forced off, having been injured earlier. Ross Jones came on as his replacement and was almost immediately involved in the action, being in the right place to clear off the line from another Touray attempt.
McLaggan might have done better when he was found in space by Touray but sent his shot wide after Davies had fumbled a cross.
Having ridden their luck in the first half, the Reds were still unable to mount any worthwhile attacks after the restart. Loveridge was ploughing a lone furrow up front, although Lewis had to be quick to beat Chris Jones to a ball delivered into the area by Loveridge.
Chris Thomas was having an outstanding game in the middle of the home defence, bringing off several important challenges when the Dragons threatened, and although they were enjoying plenty of possession, Davies was not being unduly tested.
However, the visitors did go close when a Tom Fry shot rebounded off the foot of a post when McLaggan played him in, and Touray blasted over at the far upright when he met a clearance following a corner.
Mark Jones came on for Follows as the Reds made their final change, and they briefly threatened when Loveridge sent a shot on the turn goalwards where it was safely grasped by Lewis.
At the other end, Davies did well to push around a well-struck attempt by Touray, and then turned over a flighted corner from Fry.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men on 77 minutes, Clayton Green receiving a second yellow card from referee David Morgan, but they still continued to offer a threat, with Touray directing his header just wide following another corner.
With five minutes of additional time being played it seemed as if the Reds might hang on to their slender lead, before a free-kick to the visitors for a foul on Touray by Robert Thomas led to the ball being directed to the far post where it found the head of Louis Gerrard. He directed the ball into the middle where McLaggan this time made no mistake with his header from point-blank range on 96 minutes to bring joy to the Dragons and despair to their opponents.
Despite the obvious disappointment at not having won, the Reds can feel pleased with their overall performance, and on this showing they have nothing to fear from their elevation to the highest rung of Welsh football if they can maintain this level during the season.
The Reds travel to meet Aberystwyth Town on Friday evening for a 7.45pm kick-off. A coach will leave the ground at 3.30pm. LLANELLI TOWN: O. Davies, Graves (R. Thomas 19), C. Thomas, Tancock, March (R. Jones 33), Clarke (capt), Finselbach, J. Davies, Follows (M. Jones 63), Loveridge. Subs not used: Khaton, Jenkins, Nelson. BARRY TOWN UNITED: Lewis, Southam-Hales, Hugh, Cooper (capt), Watkins (Gerrard 81), Green, Greening, Fry (Jones 87), Touray, Hood (Fahiya 73), McLaggan. Subs not used: Morgan, Cosslett, Press, Baker (GK).
SCORERS: Llanelli Town — Loveridge 2. Barry Town United — McLaggan 90+6.
YELLOW CARDS: Llanelli Town — Clarke, J. Davies, Loveridge. Barry Town United — Hood, Green (2), Cooper, Jones.
RED CARD: Barry Town United — Green.
REFEREE: David Morgan (Swansea). ATTENDANCE: 751.