Afan Lido Football Club

Llanelli have for the last two seasons been unbeaten in the league with only one draw in each season blotting a 100% record. One of the two draws was against us last season so perhaps it was appropriate that we took their long unbeaten record.
The early stages gave no clue that we would be victorious as Llanelli kept possession and played the ball around the park with their usual skill. Connah Williams in the Lido goal produced the best performance that I've seen from him. As early as the sixth minute he saved after a Llanelli forward went past a couple of challenges then, with the ball on the floor he managed to push the ball away for a corner. Initially we were restricted to free kicks, one found the head of Luke Borrelli at the far post but his header was too close to the keeper. Again Llanelli's approach work was good but once in the area they failed to find the target. Connah again did well on 21 minutes when he made a diving save, turning the ball behind for a corner. On the half hour, Niall Lewis crossed from the right but it was just ahead of Ellis Harris and the chance was lost but this was our first real opportunity from open play, the ball was cleared by the Llanelli defence but only to Luke Borrelli, his cross was headed goalwards by Ellis Harris and it forced the keeper to turn the ball over the crossbar for a corner. The corner was played to the near post and Ellis Harris got ahead of his defender to score with a right footed shot from close range. Llanelli almost equalised on 36 minutes when Grant Fisher headed the ball back to Connah Williams but it was short and a Llanelli player nipped in to lob it over Connah but wide of the far post. They did equalise 5 minutes later however when we switched off and disputed a corner decision, a number of players felt it was a goal kick and as such we didn't respond when the ball was played to the far post and knocked in from a couple of yards. They were only level for two minutes as for some reason their keeper made a rash challenge on Nathan Doyle almost on the edge of the area with Nathan going away from goal. The keeper was booked and Matt Beynon restored our lead from the penalty spot.
In the second half we played with the wind and for a time struggled to get the right pace on our passes, as a result Llanelli had numerous throws or goal kicks in the opening 10 minutes. On 55 minutes Llanelli squandered a golden opportunity to level when from a free kick although being unmarked they headed wide for a goal kick. On 64 minutes we almost increased the lead when Remi Whitelock took a corner and placed it under the crossbar, the keeper doing well to punch it clear, Remi played it back in but this time there was a foul in the box and a free kick to Llanelli. Three minutes later, Ellis Harris won us another corner, this time we found Matt Beynon who headed it back across the goal for Dean Hudson but it was just too high for him and the chance was lost. Llanelli failed to heed the danger as a minute later a repeat move this time saw Dean heading in from close range to give us a two goal advantage. Llanelli responded and won a series of free kicks but we defended well to maintain our advantage. From yet another corner a defender did well to head the ball out from virtually under the crossbar and Llanelli's usually steady defence was certainly rattled in the closing minutes. In the last minute we caught Llanelli on the break, Carl Payne made ground down the right and squared the ball to Matt Beynon in acres of space but instead of composing himself, he shot first time the ball ending up over the crossbar.

Lido side:  Connah Williams, Sam Nolan, Remi Whitelock, Dean Hudson, Grant Fisher, James McEvoy, Luke Borrelli, Jonathan Hood, Ellis Harris, Matt Beynon, Niall Lewis

Subs:
12 Nathan Doyle for Jonathan Hood 18 
14 Levi Coakes
15 Carl Payne for Ellis Harris 70
16 Callum Fleming

Booking: Jonathan Hood 13

Goals: Ellis Harris 30,  Matt Beynon (Pen) 43 and Dean Hudson 68.