Llantriv Major took 3 points from Llanelli in the South section of the Welsh Championship on Saturday. To be fair, the visitors arrived in Llanelli looking to escape the bottom of the table, but they left with their tally of 2 points unchanged. It was a straightforward afternoon for the hosts, who finally looked like they could string a few things together.
The decisive moments came early, and here's the thing about football: 2 goals in 4 minutes changes everything. A. Roscrow opened the scoring in the 27th minute, capitalising on a defensive error that seemed to catch the away side sleeping. He doubled his advantage just 4 minutes later, making it 2 goals in quick succession. By then, Llanelli had little left to play for beyond saving face. The manager on the touchline watched his team unravel in real time.
Llantriv Major sit 15th in the table after 6 games, carrying 4 points from their opening fixtures. They have 1 win, 1 draw and 4 defeats so far, which is hardly a promising start. This result lifts them slightly above the relegation zone, though they remain rooted to the foot of the pile.
Llanelli are bottom of the league with 9 games played and just 2 points to show for it. They have 0 wins and 7 losses, a record that reflects their struggles to find any rhythm. Their recent form has been poor, losing 3 straight before a draw, and this defeat extends that misery. For a club with such history, the current trajectory is worrying.
Llantriv Major have been struggling to score, going 5 games without a clean sheet in their recent outings. They drew 1:1 with Treowen Stars earlier this month but had suffered heavy defeats to Aberystwyth Town and Baglan Dragons earlier in the season. There is a sense of relief here, even if the performance wasn't perfect.
Llanelli’s situation is far more desperate. They lost 3:0 to Cerai Elai and 2:0 to Treowen Stars in their recent fixtures. Before that, they managed a 2:2 draw against Carmarthen Town, but since then, they have been on the wrong end of a scoreline every time. They are weighing up a move for a new direction, or perhaps just a new player. The board will be looking at options.
The gap between the two sides remains small in the table, but the quality gap is evident. Llantriv Major extend their unbeaten run slightly, while Llanelli continue their winless streak. Football is a game of momentum, and right now, one side has it while the other does not.
