LLANSTEFFAN v Felinfoel (19/11/11)

With last weeks dissapointing draw at Pontarddulais now behind them, Llansteffan returned to home soil keen to start picking up a valuable win rather than the less productive draws seen most recently.

Felinfoel, sitting in third place prior to kick off, provided the opposition on a lovely day be the seaside.

With Richard Whalley and Terry Maynard missing through injury and family responsibilities, Llan started the game with Danny Brooks and manager Jody Thomas up front.

The recent fine form of youngster Gino Dragone ensured he retained his starting place on the left flank supported by Sean Pemberton, Steve Rowlands and Barry Coles in midfield.

A slight change in defence saw Michael Leefe dropping back to centre half alongside Ian Barrett.  Jamie Fleig and Oliver Soanes slotted in at right and left back respectively, with ever present Jon Durbridge filling the goal.

Llansteffan started the game brightly enough and were positive in their play, if not as effective in the final third as they would have liked.  Felinfoel however were very much in the game and were playing their part in what was a tough battle for both sides.

After a relatively even first 20 or so minutes, the visitors took the lead in the 25th minute.  Another scrappy effort at the near post saw the ball reflected in off a visiting striker.

This seemed to stun the Seasiders for 5 minutes before Llansteffan again came out positively to try and get back in the game.

Having forced several corners and dead ball opportunities in Felinfoel’s half after the goal, Llan got the goal their play deserved.  This time another scrappy effort saw a 5 man melee resulting in Ian Barrett proding home from a foot out!  A fine finish !

Felinfoel claimed that their keeper had hold of the ball, however the rules clearly state that full control needs to be had of the ball – it was not and Llansteffan capitalised.

1-1 at half time and all to play for.  Thomas and assistand Carl Wilson explained to Llansteffan’s players at half time that the 3 points were very much their for them to take.

The rallying call worked.  Llansteffan produced a dominanat display in the second half.  Dragone gave his marker a torrid time, working tirlessly for the team before producing several quality saves.

A header from Flig was cleared off the line, and Brooks came close from a long range effort.  Llansteffan were now very much looking to win the game.  The defence were solid and this gave Llan the foundation to go forward at every opportunity.

Steve Rowlands and Pemberton were pulling all the strings in the second half as Foel began to tire.

Barry Coles also tormented his marker in the seconfd half, taking him on at every pooprtunity.

Llansteffan’s wining goal deservedly came in the 78th minute.  Sean Pemberton finishing well from a tight angle after beating two with skill.

This was what Llansteffan deserved and although Felinfoel threatened briefly at times, Llansteffan’s defence stayed strong and resolute.

A very decent advert for the Carmarthenshire league ended with Llansteffan deserved winners.  A win that was most welcome after 4 successive draws.

Team: Durbridge, Soanes, Barrett, Leefe, Fleig, Coles, Pemberton, Rowlands, Dragone, Brooks, Thomas

Subs: Deschoolmeester (Soanes 70), Reed (Thomas 85), Evans, Evans

Wellfield Rsvs v LLANSTEFFAN RSVS (19/11/2011)

With the seassiders looking to keep up the impressive start to the campain, and still undefeated in 7 games, they travelled to the plucky wellfiled side
with the early exchanges not going llans way, wellfiled battled hard and control play for most of the opening 15Mins
when a 30Yds shot flew into the llan net, leaving keeper christian rowlands helpless to stop it.
with Llan on the back foot for the next 15Mins but not surrendering another goal, give the three central midfilders of
steve john, mark elsdon and mathew Evans a good platform to start playing the normal passing football they are accustomed to,
with Nicky Howells working hard up the line and with a long throw in from John, Elsdon was able to head home from 5Yds out,
This give the seasiders the boost they needed,  and within a few minutes foud themself 2-1 going into the break, with Adam ‘psycho’ Morris
darting in at the rear post to slot home.

With the game in the balance manager Steve Hodge asked of the players to come out fighting and fighting they did, as the back 4 of
Jason Davies, Phil Richards, Hodge and Morris, tighning up at the back this then easied the pressure on the rest of the team and withing minutes
Elsdon extended the seasiders lead to three with a passing move that had the home fans clapping, with Hodge playing it out of defence to
Elsdon and a neat 1-2 which sore Steffan James  lob the ball over the defence and into the path of Elsdon, who finished with the faintest of touches
to put it away from the keeper and into the net, this then opened the flood geat’s with time stil on the clock  substitue Phil Morris came on
and with his very first touch, neattly couchened a header to make it 4 to the seasider, as llan grew with confidence Captain for the day Hodge
joined in the scoring with a late run to the back post from a long throw and flick on from peter Burge and phil Morris Respectible.
with time ticking down John’s got his deserves with a wel taken goal, to complete the route and make it 6-1

Squad
;- christian rowlands Jason Davies  Phil Richards  Steve Hodge  Adam Morris  Nicky Howells Peter Burge  Steve John  Mark Elsdon Mathew Evans
Steffan James Phil Morris

Pontarddulais v LLANSTEFFAN (12/11/11)

Llansteffan arrived in Pontarddulais in determined mood to stop a defensive rot which has plagued thri season so far.  Manager Thomas also stressed the importance of beginning to pick up maximum points after two successive league draws.

The Seasiders started brightly and began to dominate the early proceedings.  Steve Rowlands and Barry Coles were causing problems on the flanks with Danny Brooks working tirelessly up front supporting the returning Richard Whalley.

Sean Pemberton was also back after serving a suspension and was pulling the early strings in midfield with Michael Leefe sat in front of a back four of Deschoolmeester, Fleig, Thomas and Soanes.

With the pitch heavy and wet, both teams struggled to pass the ball on the deck as they would have liked.  Llansteffan however were creating the better chances.

Richard Whalley, giving the Seasiders the lead in the 25th minute, gave the defence real urgency to hold out and secure their first league clean sheet of the season.

With many chances going begging, Llansteffan’s nerves began to come to the fore.  Still, the away team remained on top for large periods.  Keeping the ball well and stretching the home side was a dominant feature of the first half.

Jon Durbridge in the home goal was required on a couple of occasions to make saves to shut Dulais out.  However, in dramatic fashion it was Durbridge himself who had an impact at the other end.  With the ball in his hands, Durbridge punted up field and to the surprise of everyone the ball ended up in the home net after bouncing over the home keeper.

2-0 at the break.

It is indeed a game of two halves!!  Pontarddulais came on strong in the second half and Llansteffan seemed to cave in as has been the case on so many occasions this year.

One soft goal and one wonder free kick gave the home side a share of the spoils, much to the frustration of Llan.

Felinfoel at home next week which is fast becoming the biggest game of the season.

Team: Durbridge, Deschoolmeester, Soanes, Fleif, Thomas, Coles, Rowlands, Pemberton, Whalley, Brooks

Subs: Thomas, Dragone, Evans, Evans, Barrat