Harsh lesson for Reds
Llanelli lose out on away goals
Harsh lesson for Reds
By Brad Green
July 9 2007
Llanelli became the first Welsh side to win an Inter-toto Cup leg last weekend, but unfortunately they missed out on the away goals rule, winning 5-3 on the day but drawing 6-6 on aggregate with Vetra of Lithuania at Carmarthen's Richmond Park. Rhys Griffiths hit a hat-trick for the South Wales Reds but it wasn't their day.
Harsh lesson for Reds
July 9 2007
Llanelli became the first Welsh side to win an Inter-toto Cup leg last weekend, but unfortunately they missed out on the away goals rule, winning 5-3 on the day but drawing 6-6 on aggregate with Vetra of Lithuania at Carmarthen's Richmond Park. Rhys Griffiths hit a hat-trick for the South Wales Reds but it wasn't their day.
LLANELLI became the first Welsh club to win an InterToto Cup match in 32 attempts, but still crashed out on away goals to Vetra despite a 5-3 win.
A second-half hat-trick, including a penalty, by striker Rhys Griffiths at Carmarthen Town’s Richmond Park proved not enough as the Lithuanians held out to set up a second-round meeting with Polish outfit Legia Warsaw.
Needing two goals to draw the tie level on aggregate, the Reds looked dead and buried after just four minutes when Lima Severino fired Vetra ahead.
But they gave their fans some hope by levelling in the 18th minute when Vetra goalkeeper Stanislav Koyzrev touched Andy Legg’s long throw into his own net.
Another long Legg throw led to central defender Wyn Thomas heading home to give Llanelli the lead, but any hopes of a comeback seemed to have disappared when Vetra scored twice in three minutes.
Vitaljhs Stankevicihs converted a spot kick after Antonio Corbisiero had handled and goal from Egiditus Jhska put Vetra 3-2 ahead at the interval.
Griffiths got in on the act 10 minutes after half time, but the tie still seemed to be slipping away until the Welsh Premier Golden Boot winner struck again with two minutes remaining.
There was still time for the Welsh Premier League's Golden Boot to convert an injury-time penalty after Andrius Skerla handled.
"We thoroughly deserved to win this game and perhaps another few minutes would have been enough for us," said frustrated Llanelli manager Peter Nicholas.
"But it is frustrating playing at this time of year with next to no match practice and I’ve no doubt had we been playing with the same amount of games as Vetra, then we would have beaten them.
"In both matches, they’ve been give penalties at the right time for them while the one we got came a bit late.
"But defensively, we’ve given some poor goals away here and we’ve shot ourselves in the foot really and that is very disappointing.
"We’ll have a bit of a rest now to regroup before starting preparations for the new season," he added.
A second-half hat-trick, including a penalty, by striker Rhys Griffiths at Carmarthen Town’s Richmond Park proved not enough as the Lithuanians held out to set up a second-round meeting with Polish outfit Legia Warsaw.
Needing two goals to draw the tie level on aggregate, the Reds looked dead and buried after just four minutes when Lima Severino fired Vetra ahead.
But they gave their fans some hope by levelling in the 18th minute when Vetra goalkeeper Stanislav Koyzrev touched Andy Legg’s long throw into his own net.
Another long Legg throw led to central defender Wyn Thomas heading home to give Llanelli the lead, but any hopes of a comeback seemed to have disappared when Vetra scored twice in three minutes.
Vitaljhs Stankevicihs converted a spot kick after Antonio Corbisiero had handled and goal from Egiditus Jhska put Vetra 3-2 ahead at the interval.
Griffiths got in on the act 10 minutes after half time, but the tie still seemed to be slipping away until the Welsh Premier Golden Boot winner struck again with two minutes remaining.
There was still time for the Welsh Premier League's Golden Boot to convert an injury-time penalty after Andrius Skerla handled.
"We thoroughly deserved to win this game and perhaps another few minutes would have been enough for us," said frustrated Llanelli manager Peter Nicholas.
"But it is frustrating playing at this time of year with next to no match practice and I’ve no doubt had we been playing with the same amount of games as Vetra, then we would have beaten them.
"In both matches, they’ve been give penalties at the right time for them while the one we got came a bit late.
"But defensively, we’ve given some poor goals away here and we’ve shot ourselves in the foot really and that is very disappointing.
"We’ll have a bit of a rest now to regroup before starting preparations for the new season," he added.
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