REDS ARE DENIED IN CRUEL FASHION

LLANELLI Town were denied a precious point by a cruel 94th-minute winner against Taffs Well on Friday night in JD Cymru South.

It followed a goalkeeping error by Josh Hutchings, who is keeping Exauce Dimonekene out of the side, when he allowed a cross to slip from his grasp, with Jamie Owen taking full advantage to drive home the winner.

The visitors paraded their two new signings with Daniel Barnard and Brandon Griffiths making their debuts, and both acquitted themselves creditably, particularly Barnard, who was a tower of strength in the middle of defence with a series of clearing headers and displaying an all-round solid game.

The first half was a dire affair, scrappy and fragmented.

Joseph Shephard tried his luck from distance for the home side but his shot went just wide.

A ball over the top by Scott Hillman set up David Lyons for a further attempt on the Reds goal, but again it gave Hutchings few problems.

The Wellmen were looking the more likely to score and they did just that on 28 minutes, although the lead up to the goal was controversial.

There appeared to have been an obvious foul on Nathan Logan but referee Kim Fisher allowed the move to continue, and it culminated in Sam Pashen being played down the right before unleashing a shot across Hutchings into the top corner.

The decision was to prove one of several contentious rulings by the referee, most of them to the Reds’ detriment.

The visitors did finally begin to inject more urgency into their play, and keeper Tomos Bodger came to the hosts’ rescue when he dived at the feet of Logan when the striker pursued a long clearance into the box.

The Wellmen, themselves, then went close following a corner to the far post which was met by Hillman, whose header struck the top of the bar and went over.

The Reds showed far more creativity after the restart, and when Logan was put clear down the middle it was only the legs of Bodger that denied him.

Miles John also had an effort on goal blocked, before Llanelli were given a lifeline with a penalty on 66 minutes after Logan was brought down by a clumsy Daniel Hooper challenge. James Loveridge easily despatched the spot-kick.

The visitors made a change with Ryan Bevan replacing Griffiths, and shortly afterwards Loveridge went close with a long-range attempt which had Bodger scrambling.

Hutchings did well to keep out a close-range effort by Jack Fox, and Well threatened again following a Hooper free-kick which was met at the far post by Owen, but he lofted his finish over the top.

With the contest in stoppage time, the home side pressed up the right, the ball was crossed into the area and seemed to have been safely grasped by Hutchings, but he allowed it to slip out of his gloves and Owen gratefully accepted the gift.

It was a disappointing finale to a contest in which the Reds on their second-half performance deserved at least a share of the spoils.

With their losing streak now extended to three matches, Llanelli will hope to right matters when basement club Port Talbot Town are their visitors on Friday, February 25, 7.30pm.

TAFFS WELL: Bodger, Pashen, Ward, Hillman, Hooper, Shephard, Lyon, Fox, Cann, Jones (capt, Hayes 88), Maerling (Owen 88). Subs not used:

Treharne, Davidson, Webber.

LLANELLI TOWN: Hutchings, Williams, Barnard, C Thomas, Gerrard (capt), Parsons, Hillman, John, Loveridge, Griffiths (Bevan 72), Logan. Subs not used: J Thomas, Finlay, Phillips-Taylor, Dimonekene (GK).

SCORERS: Taffs Well — Pashen 28, Owen 90+4. Llanelli Town — Loveridge (pen) 66.

YELLOW CARDS: Llanelli Town — Hillman, Logan.

REFEREE: Kim Fisher.