REDS PAY FOR MISSED CHANCES
THE opening month of the Reds’ return to the Welsh Premier League could be summed up as akin to the curate’s egg — good in parts.
After being crushed at home 7-0 on the opening day by Connah’s Quay Nomads, they then produced a great comeback at Cefn Druids, clawing back a 2-0 half-time deficit to eventually win 3-2, before a creditable 1-1 draw with visitors Barry Town United.
But this latest loss at Park Avenue must be the one that sticks in the craw, as having dominated matters in the opening 45 minutes they had only a solitary James Loveridge goal to show for their efforts and eventually paid the penalty for missed chances.
Aberystwyth were a far different proposition in the second half, and the tactical changes made by them certainly paid off as the visitors were a pale shadow of the team that had begun the contest. The Reds were run ragged by the Seasiders, who fully deserved the three points.
There are no easy games in this league, and hopefully the Reds have taken something positive away with them from Park Avenue to ensure they do not capitulate quite so badly again.
They began brightly enough, with the first chance falling to Loveridge when a long kick out by Oliver Davies fell to home player Lee Jenkins, who attempted to find goalkeeper Terry McCormick but underhit his pass, allowing the Reds striker to close him down, and he was forced to keep out his effort with his legs.
As the half progressed the visitors continued to stroke the ball around to good effect, keeping the home side quiet.
And Llanelli deservedly took the lead on 17 minutes after Kurtis March picked out Loveridge wide on the right, and he made inroads into the box before firing low past McCormick into the far corner.
This pattern of play continued throughout the first half, with the Reds well in control and limiting the hosts to the occasional breakaway.
Despite their dominance they just could not find a second goal. Mark Jones had the best chance when Jordan Davies sent him clear, and despite rounding the oncoming goalkeeper and getting into a scoring position in front of the net, he took too long and McCormick was able to recover his ground and smother the ball on the line.
The home keeper was being kept fully occupied, just beating Loveridge to the ball on the edge of the box and kicking it clear, while about the only chance for the Seasiders came from Alan Goodall, whose strike from distance was touched over by Davies.
A Chris Thomas run down the left culminated in some desperate defending in the home area before the danger was hacked over for a corner, but despite all their pressure, the visitors were still only one goal to the good at the break.
This proved to be crucial as the second period got under way, and the major cause of the home revival was the introduction at half-time of Porya Ahmadi for Paulo Mendes, and he proved a thorn in the side of the visitors from the off, forcing Thomas to concede a corner from his dangerous cross early on.
An injury to Anthony Finselbach forced the Reds into a change, with Jordan Follows coming on in his place, but by this stage the game had changed dramatically, with the Seasiders now in the box seat and their opponents being forced back to defend their slender advantage.
But two goals in as many minutes changed the whole complexion of the contest. Ahmadi met a deep cross from Wes Baynes to find the top corner with a great header in the 62nd minute, before Geoff Kellaway controlled a ball on 64 minutes to volley it past Davies and put the hosts ahead.
Now well in control, the Seasiders kept up the pressure, not allowing the Reds many attacking opportunities, although Loveridge did force McCormick into a good save to keep out his fierce shot.
However, any hopes of a comeback were well and truly put to bed when the home side struck again on 77 minutes when a ball played into the goalmouth led to a melee before it was forced home by Joe Phillips.
When Loveridge was fouled just outside the box Follows could only drive the free-kick into the wall, before Davies did well to deny Ahmadi by keeping out his finish with an outstretched leg.
Davies was called into action again, this time pushing clear an Ashley Ruane effort when he was played through the middle.
This was a chastening experience for the Reds, who must have thought they were favourites for the three points following their first-half display.
But the game is not over until it’s over, and hopefully some valuable lessons will have been learned from the defeat.
The Reds make the long journey to Bala Town on Saturday, with a coach leaving Stebonheath at 8am.
ABERYSTWYTH TOWN: McCormick, Baynes, Goodall (Rimmer 80), Wollacott, Kellaway (Phillips 74), Mendes (Ahmadi 46), Walker (capt), Edwards, Jenkins, Jones, Ruane. Subs not used: Williams, Blake, Rowe.
LLANELLI TOWN: O. Davies, R. Jones, C. Thomas (Smith 81), Tancock, Clarke (capt), C. Jones, Finselbach (Follows 56), J. Davies (Khaton 90), March, M. Jones, Loveridge. Subs not used: Indja, Jenkins, Rees (GK).
SCORERS: Aberystwyth Town — Ahmadi 62, Kellaway 64, Phillips 77. Llanelli Town — Loveridge 17. YELLOW CARDS: Aberystwyth Town — Ahmadi. Llanelli Town — Clarke. REFEREE: Kevin Parry (Anglesey).