Lido started well Jordan Edwards pinged a cross into the box for Evans to meet with his head but Rano got down well to save. Ammanford minute but it was flagged offside. We had another let off on nine minutes when Ammanford twice hit the post, Firstly Fisher shot from distance which evaded Couch but rebounded off the post to Jenkins. His follow-up deflected off Couch but again rattled the woodwork and bounced clear. Lido were forced into an early substitution when Samm Harrison limped off to be replaced by Taylor Evans. Ammanford were starting to create a series of chances  putting pressure on the Lido defence and asserting territorial dominance in the Lido half. However Lido started exerting pressure of their own as they win three corners in a row. On 32 minutes Ioan Evans went down in the area under a challenge but referee Ben Williams ignored the appeals.

Ioan was then booked for a late challenge on Matthew Fisher. Fisher and Dillon are subsequently booked for retaliation as the incident sparked a melee in the middle of the park. On 41 minutes  Ammanford were awarded a soft penalty but Couchie was the hero saving Trundle’s spot kick which he placed to the bottom right and Couch made a superb save to turn it around the post. The drama wasn’t over as a minute later Lido were awarded a penalty as Edwards drove into the box and was brought down. Jordan got up and coolly slotted past the Ammanford keeper. There was another chance for Lido as Ioan Evans shot but Rano in goal managed to block the shot.

The second half started scrappily with neither side able to get their foot on the ball and dictate play. However, the Lido created a handful of chances with both Jordan Edwards and Ioan Evans going close. On 58 minutes Leon Britton misplaced a back pass straight into the path of Jordan Edwards but Rano closed down his shot which then found Harry Davies whose rebound was deflected just over the bar. On the hour Lido replaced Liam Griffiths with Josh Webber as Ammanford pushed forward and once again there was a great save from Couch. Fisher tried to guide a low shot goalwards from the edge of the box and Couch got down to tip it wide. Ammanford equalised on 67 minutes from a corner as Euros Griffiths rose above the defence to head home. Worse was to follow as on 70 minutes Ioan Evans went down in the box but the referee adjudged it to have been a dive and showed Evans the red card.  Despite being down to 10 men Lido pushed forward and were unlucky when Edwards beat his defender and squeezed a shot past Rano which looked to be rolling in but it rebounded off the far post and wriggled clear. Minutes later in a virtual repeat Lido went back into the lead, Edwards released Josh Webber clear and he placed his shot into the bottom corner. The lads battled hard and it was going to be a tough ten minutes weathering the inevitable storm. Jordan Edwards went off injured to be replaced by Luke McDonald, with 3 minutes of normal time to go there was another save from Couch as he got down low to turn a shot behind. We held on with some heroic defending for a welcome 3 points.

Despite a dominant start where the Reserves could have been three up early on they were hanging on for a point at the end in a reversal of form. Michael McCalmon had a shot saved by the keeper’s feet inside the first 45 seconds of the game. He wasn’t to be denied though as he scored in the third minute. Llanelli responded with a free kick just outside the area that hit the wall and went out for a corner which saw a Llanelli player shoot wide. On ten minutes good link up play between Tian Mills and Luke McDonald saw the ball played to Michael McCalmon but he couldn’t keep his shot down and it went out for a goal kick. Then a great ball from Liam McDonald found Liam Griffiths but again the keeper saved with his feet. Llanelli drew level when they scored with a right footed shot from outside the area. Play after this evened up with neither side able to create a goalscoring chance until Liam Griffiths was fouled in the area for Luke McDonald to score from the spot and restore the lead just before the interval. Lido had the first opportunity of the second half but Harry Davies shot wide. On the hour a left wing cross found Harry Davies in space but he headed wide. Taylor Evans broke up a Llanelli attack and set up a chance for Liam Griffiths but his header was straight at the keeper. Lido increased their lead on 62 minutes when following a short free kick on the edge of the area Michael McCalmon scored, his shot going in off the post. Liam Griffiths then headed a corner behind as Lido looked for a fourth goal. As the game entered the final twenty minutes Llanelli started to get the upper hand in midfield and the pulled a goal back on 78 minutes. Worse was to come as a shot was fumbled by Louie Cirotto and as he dived forward to recover the ball he was kicked by a Llanelli attacker. The ball ran loose and with the referee not blowing up Llanelli equalised. Llanelli now pushed forward looking for a winner but despite some close shaves the game ended all square.

The Reserves lost their 100% record in a disappointing performance against Pontardawe. Errors at both ends of the field cost them dearly while their passing wasn’t up to the required standard.

Lido took the lead on 18 minutes when Luke McDonald confidently converted a penalty but this only inspired Pontardawe even more. Toby Link-Jones did extremely well to head clear a dangerous free kick as the pressure built. Pontardawe equalised on 37 minutes when a through ball split the Lido defence for Tomos Blizzard to run through and slot the ball past Steffan Rogers. Just before half time Samm Harrison had the chance to restore the lead when he intercepted a clearance but after driving into the penalty area he shot wide.

Pontardawe took the lead through Iwan McNab on 54 minutes. The ball had been played back to Steffan Rogers but his clearance kick was poor going straight to McNab who shot past the diving Rogers. Pontardawe increased their lead on 66 minutes when Sam Demery scored after Steffan Rogers failed to cut out a cross.  Lido had just used two substitutes but the third goal went in before either touched the ball. Lido now had a mountain to climb and Gareth Couch replaced Steffan Rogers in goal. Substitute Jordan Edwards was unlucky heading a free kick inches wide then the Ponty keeper lost the ball under pressure but the defence managed to clear for a corner which not for the first time was much too long. Jordan Edwards headed wide from a couple of yards when it seemed easier to score and a great run and cross from Michael McCalmon was just too long for anyone to get a touch. As Lido continued to press Matthew Andrews turned in a free kick only to be given offside. That just about summed up the night.

The girls went down 6-4 at Caerphilly Castle yesterday. Alison Vickers gave them the lead on the half hour but Caerphilly equalised on 34 and took the lead on 39. They made it 3-1 just after half time before Carly Mason-Thomas pulled one back on 48 only for Caerphilly to restore their two goal lead on 50 minutes. Georgia Thorne then netted on 59 minutes to make it 4-3 but once again within minutes Caerphilly scored again. Georgia Thorne netted her second on 77 minutes to make it 5-4 to again give us a chance but Caerphilly rounded off the scoring on 83 minutes to secure the points.

Three players, Harry Davies, Luke McDonald and Tian Mills made their first starts for the club with Tian making his first appearance in first team colours. He can be pleased with his debut before being substituted on 71 minutes. Harry and Luke also made telling contributions and staked a claim for further appearances.

Lido’s play was a lot more positive despite several regulars missing. They had the better of the early exchanges winning a couple of corners, the second of which resulting in a Cai Owens header going just over the bar. On 16 minutes some positive play from the Lido ended with a Ioan Evans shot that went just over the bar

Goytre responded with an attack down their left with a dangerous cross shot which went just wide of the far post with no Goytre player in support. A quick break saw Goytre again in an attacking situation but the move ended with a poor cross drifting out for a goal kick. Steffan Rogers was called into action on 35 minutes when following a long throw he dived on a loose ball inside the 6 yard box before any Goytre player could react. Lido were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area which Luke McDonald took and almost caught out the keeper with a low shot on target which forced the keeper parried away.

Lido took the lead in the 48th minute following a corner which Liam Griffiths met perfectly to head in his second goal for the club, this time against his former team.

Cai Owens went into the book for a challenge on the half way line, the free kick was played into the box and headed across before a great Liam Griffiths clearance while facing his own goal. As the half progressed Goytre were putting on tremendous pressure but the Lido boys were defending really well. It was a case of would Goytre equalise or Lido hold on for three valuable points. With 4 minutes to go a great cross from the left found Harry Davies who had a free header but he couldn’t keep it down and it went just over the bar. A minute later and a sharp turn on the edge of the box by the Goytre front man brought a sharp save from Steffan Rogers in the lido goal. The Goytre pressure finally told as Tim Parker equalised with a shot from the edge of the box. In added time disaster as a 30 yard deflected strike from ex lido player Jay Thomas went into the net to rob us of what would have been a hard earned point. There were positives from the game, with excellent debuts for 3 players and the fighting spirit which has been missing in recent weeks was back. We now need to build on this for the next game at Ammanford on October 1st.

The first half saw some of the best football played at the Marston’s this season with both sides contributing to an entertaining 45 minutes of football. Lido won an early corner before Port Talbot attacked and it took two good blocks by Luke McDonald and Jackson Hall to prevent them taking the lead. Lido took the lead on 4 minutes following a right wing corner. The ball bobbled around in the 6 yard box for a while before Harry Davies rifled a shot past the keeper for the first of his 3 goals. Port Talbot responded with an attack which resulted in a free kick which Steffan Rogers held to clear the danger. Michael McCalmon had a shot from distance which the keeper held before Lido had an effort cleared off the line. Lido won a series of corners as they looked to increase their lead and the Port Talbot keeper made a flying save off a Jordan Pike free kick. The elusive second goal arrived on 37 minutes and it was no surprise it came following a corner. The corner was cleared but Michael McCalmon picked it up outside the box he found some space and fired a shot against the underside of the crossbar and in. Port Talbot attacked down the right and Steffan Rogers made an outstanding save off defender Matthew Andrews who cut out a dangerous cross but only managed to divert it goalwards. Stefan was alert to the danger and dived to save. Lido went 3 up on 40 minutes following a good move involving several players. The ball was played into the area and Luke McDonald rose to volley the ball into the net giving the keeper no chance. Port Talbot had the better of the early second half exchanges and Steffan Rogers again held a free kick. Cameron Harris shot over the bar on the hour before former Lido player Adam Llewellyn reduced the arrears on 68 minutes and a second for them would have made the last quarter of an hour nervy. However, Lido regained the advantage with Jackson Hall hitting the crossbar with a close range shot following a corner. Lido’s fourth goal arrived on 81 minutes when following yet another corner Port Talbot failed to clear and in the scramble the ball hit the post and diverted to Harry Davies who scored from a couple of yards. He scored again on 85 to now head the goalscoring charts for the reserves. Cameron Harris was unlucky not to make it six when following a good run, he hit the post and the keeper dived to save. The next game is on Tuesday the 21^st when unbeaten Pontardawe are the visitors for a 7.30 kick off

A miserable night in the valley wasn’t helped by the result. Lido weren’t helped by the decision to send Steve Morris off when awarding Cambrian a penalty. A difficult task became almost impossible and it was only the fact that Cambrian players wanted to score the spectacular goal rather than ensuring they scored that kept the score down to five.

Cambrian used the flanks as they put pressure on the Lido defence, no chances of note had been created but it looked like a matter of time before the home side would score on what was a difficult surface. Lido were forced into an eighth minute substitution when Lewis Holder went off injured to be replaced by Samm Harrison. The first real chance for Cambrian fell to Ryan Prosser in the twelfth minute as he twisted and turned on the edge of the box before getting a shot off but it drifted wide. Cambrian continued to probe using the flanks well and they took the lead on sixteen minutes not surprisingly from a cross which Jordan Smith rose to nod home. Two minutes later a disaster for the Lido when the ref awarded a penalty and gave Steve Morris a straight red card. Prosser tucked the penalty away despite Cirotto getting a hand to it.

Lido created their first chance on twenty seven minutes as Ioan Evans was released free on goal but Clarke narrowed the angle and got down well to block the shot for a corner, Cambrian went straight up the other end with Smith going on a blistering run and he took a shot from distance which crept past the far post. Lewis Butler tried a long range shot on twenty nine minutes but he couldn’t get it on target and it drifted narrowly wide. Cambrian nearly made it three on the half hour, Joe Thomas rolled past two defenders before taking a shot that deflected into the path of an unsighted Cirotto who managed to beat the ball clear with his outstretched legs. It was only a brief respite as Cambrian made it three five minutes later as Morgan rounded Cirotto to tap into an empty net. It should have been four on thirty nine minutes, Morgan squared the ball on the edge of the box to Prosser who, with the goal gaping, blazed it over the bar. Five minutes before the interval Ioan Evans met a low cross while under pressure from the home defence and tried to turn the ball in but he couldn’t get his body over the ball and it crept wide. Cambrian then hit the crossbar when Smith took a speculative effort from the edge of the box. The rebound fell back to him but his second shot was blasted wide

Ten minutes into the second half and Lido created a chance when Griffiths was released free and squared the ball for the onrushing Evans who couldn’t keep his effort down. Lido went four down on fifty seven minutes when a poor clearance from Cirotto was intercepted and the ball eventually found Sam Jones who drilled a powerful shot home. Only some resolute Lido defending was keeping the score down and they were again unlucky when they broke through Jordan Edwards who beat his defender for pace before squeezing a great shot through on goal which forced Cameron Clarke into a good save. Cambrian then hit the post, It was nearly an own goal as John Hall tried to clear a low cross and hit his own upright. Sam Jones executed a great take from a long ball and tried a speculative effort on goal from a tight angle which rippled the side netting With four minutes to go Cambrian added a fifth with a free kick floated into the top corner.