Report by Alan (The Reds) Evans
Two second-half goals by Jordan Follows clinched the visitors three hard-earned points against opponents who belied their lowly league position, posing plenty of problems throughout.
Still missing three or four regulars, the Reds` drafted Liam Samuel into an unfamiliar right back position, but both Jordan Davies and James Loveridge started, although the latter lasted barely five minutes, pulling up with a hamstring problem with Follows taking his place – a blessing in disguise as later events were to prove.
By the time of the substitution, the visitors were already trailing, with Gareth Cullimore seizing on a ball up the left flank from Cai Smith before making ground into the box and firing past Scott Coughlan after 3 minutes.
The Reds` countered, but Lee Trundle sent his finish over the top following a quickly taken free kick, and when he played in Follows with a great ball, the legs of Undy keeper James Smallcombe diverted his shot for a corner.
An even better chance then came the way of Follows when Davies provided the opening, but he failed to find the net from close range with only Smallcombe to beat.
The hosts were still looking dangerous on the break, and when an error by Robert Thomas allowed Ryan Dorrian to gain possession, he in turn found Cullimore in space, but this time Coughlan did well to turn his well struck shot around the post.
Coughlan was proving to be the busier of the keepers, and was called into action again, this time to deny Chris Parry when he was set up close to goal, while a lung-busting run by Dan Jarman from his own half culminated in him getting to the byline before his near post attempt was blocked for a corner.
When the Reds went forward, a run by Trundle into the area led to a pass inside to Davies, but he was unable to direct his effort on target.
Just before the break, Follows headed wide following a build-up involving Samuel, Trundle and Davies, and after the restart the visitors began gradually to assert themselves and take control of proceedings, with Smallcombe called into early action by smothering a Follows header into the goalmouth on the line following a far post cross by Trundle.
He had better luck on 56 minutes when he brought the Reds level, following a superb through ball by Joe Clarke which sent him clear down the middle, and this time he made no mistake, slotting his finish low past the Undy keeper.
As the half progressed, the contest developed into something of a stalemate with both sides enjoying plenty of possession, but lacking a cutting edge, before the Reds eventually broke the deadlock in the 76th minute.
Clarke and Trundle were involved in the initial move, with another great ball by the latter finding Follows wide on the left, and he cut inside before beating Smallcombe just inside his near post.
The Reds` then made a couple of changes, with Chris Jones replacing Chris Thomas and Luke Jones coming on for Follows, but apart from a late run and finish by Undy`s Ben Lawrence which was dealt with capably by Coughlan, the visitors held on for a morale boosting win following their JD Welsh Cup exit the previous week.
UNDY ATHLETIC; Smallcombe; Jarman (Lawrence, 67); Smith; Parry ©; Clayton; Thompson;
Wright; Dorrian (Coombes, 76); Power; Cullimore; Marrett (Barnes, 67);
Sub. not used; Davies.
LLANELLI TOWN; Coughlan; Samuel; Facciuto; R. Thomas; C. Thomas (C. Jones, 78); Bevan;
R. Jones; Davies; Clarke ©; Trundle; Loveridge (Follows, 6 (L. Jones, 86);
Sub. not used; Morris (GK).
SCORERS; Undy Athletic – Cullimore, 3.
Llanelli Town – Follows, 56, 76.
YELLOW CARDS; Undy Athletic – Dorrian; Wright; Clayton; Smith.
Llanelli Town – Bevan; R. Thomas; Trundle; L. Jones.
REFEREE; Jordan Harman (Newbridge).
Next Friday evening, the Reds welcome near-neighbours Cwmamman United to Stebonheath, kick off 7.30 p.m.
