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