Holloway is Reds' Extra-Time Hero as Former Saint turns Sinner
Llanelli 4-2 Wrexham (After Extra time)
FAW Premier Cup Result at Stebonheath, Llanelli.
Midfielder Chris Holloway was the toast of Llanelli this evening, when he scored an Extra-Time brace to send the Reds through to the Semi Final of the FAW Premier Cup at the hands of the Football League's bottom club Wrexham, who have now been defeated in their last seven matches. It could have been so different for Brian Little's side though, who led 2-1 in the final minute, before their former TNS Centre-Back Steve Evans conceded a penalty and was subsequently sent-off, which allowed Llanelli to equalise and take the match to Extra-Time.
The League 2 side almost made the perfect start when Chris Llewellyn looked to be heading in on goal within 20 seconds of the kick-off but Reds' 'keeper Ryan Harrison beat the Welsh International to the ball to clear his lines. Llanelli then dominated the next ten minutes as Gary Lloyd tested the Dragons' debutant 'keeper Gavin Ward twice with long-range efforts. There was a controversial moment shortly afterwards when Mark Jones looked through on goal, but was hauled to the ground by another of Wrexham's debutants Phil Bolland on the outside of the box. A free-kick was awarded and a yellow card shown by referee Mark Whitby, which was the correct decision with former TNS star Steve Evans covering. The resultant free-kick was fired in by Lloyd who again brought the best our of Ward. It was completely against the run of play when the visitors took the lead, when under no real pressure, Antonio Corbisiero passed back to Harrison, but it was far too short on the slow surface and Llewellyn pounced on the opportunity to round the keeper and finish coolly on 12 minutes. The ball was in the back of the net shortly afterwards for Llewellyn, but this time he was adjudged to be offside. Llanelli's top scorer, Rhys Griffiths then had a chance to equalise when he beat the off-side trap, but his volley crashed into the side netting on eighteen minutes.
The impressive former Norwich City forward Llewellyn, did grab his second to stun the hosts on 23 minutes as the Reds were guilty of poor defending again. Levi Macken beat both Andy Mumford and Lloyd too easily and his lay-off found Llewellyn who rode a challenge from Andy Legg before beating Harrison for the second time. The doubled lead only lasted a minute though as Wrexham found themselves gifting their hosts a goal in return. Mike Williams took too long on the ball at the back and under pressure from Craig Jones, the Wales Under 21 International was dispossessed by the Reds winger who laid the ball on a plate past Ward for the prolific Rhys Griffiths to calmly slot the ball into an empty net. The Reds then looked far more settled for the rest of the half as they battled it out with their League opponents, although no further chances were created by either side.
Half-Time...Llanelli 1-2 Wrexham
The opening twenty minutes of the second-half was much of the same, with few chances for either side, but Llanelli teenager Craig Jones began to make an impact with his skill on the ball and after a mazy run, he created a chance for Griffiths, but the hotshot was offside. The Reds continued their search for the leveller and Wrexham's Steve Evans was caught in possession after 67 minutes and Chris Holloway almost took advantage, but his 20-yard effort glided past the right upright. With a quarter of an hour remaining, a poor Ward clearance went straight to Andy Mumford who shot directly at an open-goal, but the ex-Leicester City stopper managed to get back into position and claim the on-target effort.
With ten minutes remaining, Wrexham almost sealed their win when a 25-yard free-kick from defender Ryan Valentine brought the best out of Harrison, who pulled off the save of the match to keep the Reds' Semi-Final hopes alive. Peter Nicholas' side endeavoured to draw level and were rewarded in the final minute, when a mistake by Evans saw Griffiths through on goal ten metres out and when Evans tripped the striker with his hand, referee Whitby had no option but to dismiss the former TNS man and award a penalty, which Griffiths confidently smashed home for his eighth goal in three games this calendar year, to send the tie to extra-time.
Full-Time...Llanelli 2-2 Wrexham
The Reds then took the lead In the fourth minute of added time, when the League 2 club failed to clear their lines and a Griffiths cross found the head of Holloway who capitalised from two yards out, despite the challenge of Bolland. Less than two minutes later, the hosts were delirious when a long trademark Andy Legg throw found the head of Mumford, whose effort was parried on the line by Ward only for Holloway to grab his second in as many minutes and his third of the competition.
The Llanelli win again guarantees a Principality Welsh Premier League side in the lucrative competition's final, as the Reds now meet the winner of Wednesday's Carmarthen Town versus holders, TNS tie in the Semi Final.
