FRUSTRATION over the failure from their previous game versus Ammanford to put it to bed after dominating proceedings, probably played a part when Llanelli Town tackled league leaders Briton Ferry Llansawel, as once again they were wasteful when the opportunities presented themselves.
Despite playing for over an hour with a numerical advantage following the dismissal of home defender Declan Evans, they failed to totally dominate their opponents who, to their credit, did not allow the setback to affect them unduly, and themselves posed a threat going forward.
The visitors included new signing Taylor Marsh in the match-day squad, and when he came on as a replacement for Eli Phipps just before the hour, he acquitted himself well and looks to be a useful addition with a good turn of pace and deft touches on the ball.
In a somewhat scrappy opening forty five minutes, both sides virtually cancelled each other out and little was offered in the way of goalmouth action, the nearest to an opener arriving when Reds` defender James Parry coughed up possession to Rio Dyer who made ground before seeing his final effort clip the bar and go over the top.
When the visitors countered, Thomas Hillman scuffed his finish wide of the home goal, with the Ferry again going close through a Jack Hurley free kick which skimmed the bar before landing on the roof of the net.
As the half wore on, play became somewhat fractious with a number of handbag incidents occurring which led to referee Jordan Harman producing a few yellow cards, while his patience was eventually broken with the sending-off of Evans after 30 minutes.
The Reds survived another close call when Parry repeated his earlier gaffe by this time allowing prolific home striker Tom Walters to dispossess him before making inroads into the box, and it took a good strong hand by keeper Scott Coughlan to divert his finish away from the target at full stretch.
Miles John then made a run up the right before delivering a ball across the area which was only partially cleared by the home defence, allowing Hillman to get away a shot which forced Rhys Wilson in the Ferry goal to just about keep out at the foot of the post.
It seemed likely the sides would go in at the interval with the contest goalless, but the scenario all changed in the third minute of stoppage time following the award of a home free kick some distance out, but undeterred by this Walters stepped up to launch a superb strike over Coughlan into the top corner and put daylight between the teams.
Stung by this setback, after the restart the visitors began to make more of their overall numerical advantage, and the Ferry goal survived some close calls typified by a ball from John into the goalmouth which was somehow kept out by some last ditch defending.
Wilson was then called into action, denying Tim Parker from point blank range when the Reds` striker met another searching delivery, while Keane Watts just failed to connect when a ball into the Ferry box afforded him the chance.
A Ryan Bevan free kick awarded on the edge of the home penalty area was blocked by the wall, before the visitors eventually achieved the breakthrough when another dangerous delivery led to an
almighty scramble in front of the net with Parker eventually getting the final touch to force the ball past Wilson on 78 minutes.
With the clock ticking towards the final whistle, the Reds pushed forward in their quest for the winner with an inviting ball squared low across the home box not being converted.
Five minutes of the ninety remained when the Ferry were forced into a goalkeeping change with Wilson, who had been in discomfort for some time, being forced off and replaced by Tyler Evans, and his first action was a relieved one when Watts headed wide from close range.
The remainder of the contest well into stoppage time was end-to-end, with both sides all out to claim the points, and the visitors` goal survived some near misses from the Ferry attack, before the last word fell to the replacement home keeper who excelled himself with a wonderful save to keep out a Parker attempt which was destined for the top corner.
On reflection, a point apiece was just about a fair result, and on this showing both teams are in for a decent season.
The Reds host league newcomers Ynyshir Albions on Friday night, kick off 7.30pm, and on Bank Holiday Monday entertain Goytre United at Stebonheath with a 2.30pm start.
