REDS ENJOYING HOME COMFORT
LLANELLI TOWN ................. 2 CWMBRAN CELTIC ............. 0
LLANELLI Town completed their 2021 JD Cymru South home league fixtures with a reasonably comfortable win on Friday night, although they made heavy weather of it at times.
Leading through a Nathan Logan strike on the stroke of half-time, it was not until the 63rd minute, when they were awarded a penalty that was converted by James Loveridge, that they could finally feel the three points were safe.
Once again, injuries forced some positional changes to the starting line-up, with Dylan Williams, who had featured in a striking role in the previous game at Cambrian & Clydach, now being asked to take over at full-back in place of Miles John, while Ben Bowler-Edwards made his senior debut in midfield instead of the absent Sam Parsons, and both emerged with credit.
In addition, the substitutes bench contained another three academy players in Owain Phillips-Taylor, Sion Dafydd Williams and goalkeeper Evan Williams, a testament to the strength of the club’s thriving youth set-up.
An entirely forgettable 20 opening minutes burst into some kind of life with the visitors launching an attack up the right involving Jack Martin and Alex McDowell, culminating in the latter firing over the top.
When the hosts eventually cobbled together some worthwhile passes, which involved Loveridge and Logan, they in turn played in Callum Bateman, but his finish was a wild one, high over the Celtic goal.
The visitors came close to opening their account when it took a clearance out of the goalmouth by Louis Gerrard to prevent Isaac Powell steering his finish just inside the far post.
At the other end, a Callum Saunders free-kick skimmed the bar and landed on top of the net, but the Reds finally broke the stalemate on the stroke of half-time when Gerrard lofted a delivery to the far side of the area and it was met by Logan, who struck a superb first-time volley which gave Lewis Watkins in the Celtic goal no chance.
The hosts were quickly on the front foot after the restart, with Bateman striking the bar after Jones had set up the chance, while Logan went down in the box but referee Tom Bevan waved play on.
The visitors again went close through Powell, whose quick turn and shot flashed across the face of goal.
When the home side countered through Logan, he found Williams up in support and it took a smart save by Watkins to deny the youngster.
Another of the home academy recruits was then instrumental in earning a penalty award in the 63rd minute when Bowler-Edwards was played though by Logan and made ground before being brought down by Watkins, earning the Celtic captain a yellow card.
Loveridge made no mistake with an assured finish from the spot.
The Reds were now dictating matters, and Bateman had a near-post effort grabbed on the line by Watkins, while Logan made inroads down the left before driving his shot into the side-netting.
Exauce Dimonekene had enjoyed a relatively quiet evening in the home goal, but he was called into action when in attempting to cut out a through ball, his feet slid out of his area, leading to a free-kick in a dangerous position.
This led to an almighty scramble in front of the net, but with the home defence standing firm, the ball was eventually diverted out for a goal kick.
There was just time for Bateman to force Watkins to push another effort around the upright.
But the home side were pleased to round off their home programme with three points with a couple of difficult games awaiting over the festive period.
These both involve Briton Ferry Llansawel, with the first at Old Road on Monday, December 27 (12 noon), while the return at Stebonheath is on New Year’s Day, Saturday, January 1 (2.30pm).
LLANELLI TOWN: Dimonekene, Weaver, Jones, Bowler-Edwards (James 70), Loveridge, Bateman, Logan (Morgan 78), D Williams, Saunders (Phillips-Taylor 84), Gerrard (capt), C Thomas. Subs not used: SD Williams, E Williams (GK).
CWMBRAN CELTIC: Watkins (capt), Broom (Smale 78), Connor, Prosser, Meaney, Davies, Martin, McDowell, Powell, McCauley (Quarterly 46), Hinwood (Townsend 65). Sub not used: Grinham.
SCORERS: Llanelli Town — Logan 45, Loveridge (pen) 63.
YELLOW CARDS: Llanelli Town — Morgan. Cwmbran Celtic — Watkins. REFEREE: Tom Bevan. ATTENDANCE: 304.