REDS SUFFER SPOT-KICK WOE

LLANELLI Town were eliminated from the Welsh Blood Service League Cup by Barry Town United after a penalty shootout in their secondround tie.

The Reds will be disappointed to have gone out of the competition in this manner as the previous week at Canton Liberal, in the JD Welsh Cup, they had been successful in progressing in a similar manner by converting all of their attempts.

But this time both Louis Gerrard and Sean Cronin failed to hit the target.

Llanelli could well have secured a result in normal time as they outplayed their opponents, who were relegated from the JD Cymru Premier at the end of last season, for long periods.

But they lacked a vital cutting edge which could have brought dividends.

An early chance arose when Nathan Logan was found by James Parry, whose delivery into the middle was deflected for a corner taken by Ryan Bevan. His inswinger forced Michael Lewis in the Barry goal to turn it over the top.

The half progressed with both sides cancelling each other out, having plenty of possession but without offering a tangible goal threat.

When chances did occur, the home side looked the more likely to achieve a breakthrough, and Jamie Baker might have done better when he directed his header over the bar following a Josef Hopkins cross to the far post which was directed back into the middle.

The visitors were offering little in the way of a goal threat, and goalkeeper Scott Coughlan was having a relatively quiet game. The only occasion he was called into action was a sprint off his line to clutch the ball at the feet of Drew Fahiya when he pursued a clearance to the edge of the box.

A long-range effort by Jordan Cotterill was safely dealt with by the Reds keeper and at the break the contest remained scoreless.

An early home threat led to a strong run by Miles John culminating in him finding Tim Parker, but he was quickly closed down by the defence and the move fizzled out.

A long throw by Adam Robbins into the box was headed down and met by Baker, whose effort was just off target. And a similar scenario arose when Cronin met another Robbins missile but headed inches wide.

The hosts were now dictating matters and outplaying their opponents, but still lacked that final killer ball to unlock the defence, the nearest chance arising when Gerrard met a near-post delivery which forced Lewis into a save.

The Reds were desperate to end the contest in normal time, but the visitors held out to ensure the tie would be settled by penalties.

Gerrard was first up, but Lewis saved his kick with some ease, and when Cronin struck the woodwork with his attempt Llanelli’s hopes were already vanishing.

Kayne McLaggon, Liam Warman, Evan Press and Troy Greening all netted for the visitors, with Hopkins and Bevan just about keeping the home side alive.

And when Coughlan denied Gavin Beddard, an unlikely comeback was on the cards. But he was desperately unlucky when he parried the final kick by Greening, only to see it drop over his head and into the net.

This was the first defeat for the Reds in a run of 12 matches, and they have a chance to quickly redeem themselves against the same opponents when they travel to Jenner Park on Friday evening for a JD Cymru South fixture (7.30pm).

LLANELLI TOWN: Coughlan; John (Gerrard 89), Parry (Marsh 78), Cronin, Baker, Bevan, Steadman, Robbins, Parker, Hopkins (capt), Logan (D Williams 65). Subs not used: E. Williams (GK), Rees, Rumbelow, Blain.

BARRY TOWN UNITED: Lewis; George, Cooper (capt), Greening, Cotterill (Bennett 72), Graham (Beddard 70), Walsh, Johnson (McLaggon 71), Fahiya (Warman 72), Rowlands, Press. Subs not used: Hugh, Perrett, Djalo.

YELLOW CARDS: Llanelli Town – Logan. Barry Town United – Greening.

REFEREE: Joshua Howells.

ATTENDANCE: 320.