DERBY GLORY FOR OLD GOLD
HOME side Llanelli disappointed a sizeable crowd with an inept display against their near neighbours and never looked like making it a competitive contest, being outplayed in every department.
The Old Gold were on top of Friday’s JD Cymru South contest from the outset, and gave an early indication of their intentions, with home keeper Scott Coughlan turning around a long-range effort by Greg Walters.
This was just a foretaste as within four minutes they were ahead when Jordan Vickers was allowed far too much time and space to measure his delivery into the box where ace goalscorer Liam Thomas glanced his header across Coughlan into the bottom corner.
As the half progressed the visitors continued to call the tune, and the Reds were finding it difficult to contain them, with Coughlan again being tested by a well-struck Tom Dyson effort which he managed to turn around the upright.
Ifan Knott in the Carmarthen goal had barely seen any action, although he was grateful when a Sean Cronin attempt rebounded off the bar following a half-cleared corner.
The hosts continued to struggle, with Vickers in particular causing problems when in possession, and he provided another searching ball into the middle which led to a miskick in front of goal which could well have led to a further score.
On a rare occasion when the home side did show some attacking flair, a free-kick by Jamie Baker was met by Keane Watts but his shot was blocked by a defender.
Scott Tancock directed a set piece into the home box which led to hesitation on the part of Coughlan, but eventually he was helped out by his defence at the expense of a corner.
The Reds did eventually get the ball into the Carmarthen goal following a flag kick which ended up with it being lashed into the roof of the net, but an offside decision denied them.
When Thomas Hillman was brought down by Tancock just outside the box Ryan Bevan’s free-kick was ballooned high and wide.
Somewhat fortunate to be only one down at the break, the home side made a change at the start of the second half, with Dylan Williams replacing James Parry, and they were the first to threaten, with Josef Hopkins directing his header inches wide from a Robbins assist.
This was about the closest they came to levelling matters as Carmarthen were still calling the shots, and in an attempt to inject some urgency into their play Llanelli made another couple of changes, with Tim Parker and Eli Phipps coming on for Bevan and Robbins on 61 minutes.
Parker’s involvement lasted just seven minutes as he was red-carded for a challenge on Walters, making an already tough cause even more difficult.
And so it proved, as within two minutes the visitors doubled their lead when a corner to the far post was met by Lee Surman, who directed his header over Coughlan and into the net.
The Old Gold were still firmly in charge, and it took two great saves by Coughlan in quick succession to prevent further misery, before matters were well and truly wrapped up in the 81st minute when Thomas completed his double.
He seized on a through ball before making ground and firing past Coughlan to compound a miserable evening for the hosts.
The Reds will certainly have to up their game when they make the long journey north on Saturday to face Cefn Druids in the third round of the JD Welsh Cup.
LLANELLI TOWN: Coughlan, John, Parry (D Williams 46), Cronin, Baker, Robbins (Phipps 61), Watts, Bevan (Parker 61), Gerrard, Hopkins (capt), Hillman. Subs not used: Marsh, Steadman, E Williams (GK).
CARMARTHEN TOWN: Knott, Vickers, Jones, Surman, Tancock, Delaney, Walters (capt), Thomas, Dyson (Rickard 86), Daley (Gibbings 76), Parsons, Subs not used: James, Harvey, Walters, Holland (GK).
SCORERS: Carmarthen Town — Thomas 4, 81, Surman 70.
YELLOW CARD: Carmarthen Town — Tancock.
RED CARD: Llanelli Town — Parker. REFEREE: Alex McInch, ATTENDANCE: 390.