Llanelli Town 2 - 1 Arthurian League

Friendly

​Match report from David Lederman​

​The Arthurian League Representative side began their preparations for the 2025/26 season in the unusual surroundings of one of world football’s backwaters – Steboneath Park in Llanelli, home of Llanelli Town AFC, recently promoted into the Welsh Premier League. A’s manager Billy Jenkins pulled a few strings to line up this prestigious friendly, with the Welsh side already five weeks into their pre-season preparations ahead of a return to the top division in Wales. A squad of fifteen travelled west on the morning of the game, an early start at Paddington station required for the two and a half hour train journey.
 
On arrival at the ground, following a twenty-minute walk through some fairly nondescript streets with barely a local in sight, the As’ preparations for the game were suddenly hampered by a hamstring injury to winger Aren Sargood suffered in the warm-up. A crying shame for a player trying to force his way into the squad on a regular basis. Fortunately, there was a more than adequate replacement in the form of Joffee Bradley, who joined Sam Allam and Josh Riley in attack behind main striker Jake Raine. Nicky Samra and Callum Holland provided a skillful, intelligent midfield pairing, although the lack of physicality against experienced semi-professionals already five weeks into pre-season could prove a test. But there was plenty of physicality at the back for the As, with keeper Ollie Bowles protected by a back four of Shaw, Rutherford, Langley and Felstead. With Sargood now injured, the bench looked rather thin with Fraser Lane, Harry Darnell and keeper Teddy Jefcoate the only genuine replacements, Lederman’s ‘have boots, will travel’ philosophy ensuring he would be available in an emergency. And with rumours that the Welsh side were going play an entirely different XI in the second half, the visitors would clearly need everyone to contribute.
 
Conditions at kick-off were excellent with a slight breeze blowing but an excellent pitch and suitably temperate conditions for the time of year. In truth, the first half proved rather a lacklustre affair, with neither side able to forge a chance worthy of note until ten minutes before the break. The As acquitted themselves well, Jake Raine falling foul of the assistant’s offside flag a few times before his first effort at goal, a volley on the turn that was comfortably held by the Llanelli keeper. Riley fired a shot wide having cut in from his perch on the left wing, Oli Shaw showed flashes of promise down the right and Matt Rutherford made some commanding interventions at the back. But both sides found the final ball impossible to deliver with any quality.
 
The As shuffled their pack prior to the break, Lane and Darnell replacing Bradley and Samra. And with nine minutes remaining to half-time, the first and only genuine chance of the half arrived. It fell to the hosts, the Llanelli number 11 dragging Rutherford wide before firing a powerful drive just past the far post with his left foot. Unsurprisingly, there were a few tired bodies at the break, the visitors having competed hard to stay on level terms. But, as feared, their work had only just begun, with the Welsh side making ten changes at the break, only one of the two centre-backs keeping his place for the second half.
 
As the second half panned out, it was clear that Llanelli version 2.0 was an upgrade – not a significant one, but an upgrade nonetheless. The hosts seemed more fluid and sharper after the break, with the right-back and a centre midfielder in particular catching the eye. The As continued to battle to stay on terms, Jake Raine having the first shot of the half from a narrow angle before the opposition forced several corners – the two towering centre-backs well marshalled by Rutherford and Langley.
 
As players tired, spaces began opening up across the pitch and the final half-hour provided the drama the game had been lacking to that point. With just over an hour played, Ollie Bowles made his two vital interventions of the afternoon: the first, a superb one-handed save low to his right from a first-time shot that appeared destined for the far corner; then, moments later, another flying save, acrobatically tipping a header from a left-wing cross over the bar. The manager clearly felt Bowles had provided his money’s worth as he was immediately replaced by backup Teddy Jefcoate.
 
Having barely threatened since the opening minutes of the half, it was something of a surprise when the visitors took the lead thirteen minutes from time. Llanelli pressure on the As goal was broken up and a swift counter down the right was launched. Langley’s header found Bradley and he delivered a fine pass down the line. Sam Allam ran onto the ball, crossed into the box and Raine beat the keeper to the ball, his header falling to the far post where Riley had made up the ground to head in from practically on the goal line.
 
But within four minutes the lead had been lost. Jefcoate raced out from his box to intercept a ball down the Llanelli left but caught the man and was duly shown a yellow card. The free-kick was delivered into the box with pace and a Llanelli player was somehow allowed a free header from six yards out right in front of goal.
 
That was disappointing enough, but with just over two minutes to play worse was to follow. With a hard-fought draw appearing just reward for their efforts, the As finally cracked under further Llanelli pressure. Some tired challenges failed to stop a winger carrying the ball across the edge of the box before a low shot on the turn forced Jefcoate into a save. The keeper couldn’t hold and a Llanelli player was on hand to tap in from close range.
 
It was cruel luck on an Arthurian side who had battled gamely against the odds, the superior fitness of the Welsh players finally counting in the closing stages. Nevertheless, the game served as an excellent first outing for the side ahead of what promises to be an exciting season, with the Inter League Cup to defend and dreams of representing England in a UEFA tournament once more.
 
Post-match celebrations in the bar included a shirtless boat race between the teams, won by the Welsh, and a singing competition, also won by the Welsh, Tayo Felstead’s much-heralded musical ability failing to stand comparison to the boys from the valleys. To commiserate at having lost at football, singing and drinking to the Welsh all in the space of a few hours, manager Billy Jenkins then led the squad on a night out in Swansea where they could at least practice two of those three skills. In the words of Xenia Onatopp, the Georgian femme fatale in Goldeneye: ‘I hope the third is where your real talent lies.’