NOBODY said it was going to be easy, and the Reds continue to find that life in the Welsh Premier League is a continuous learning curve with each match throwing up different problems, particularly when players are not available due to suspensions, injury or unavailability.
This proved to be the case with the visit of a full-time TNS side on Friday (Sept 14), with the hosts stretched to field a team capable of standing up for the inevitable onslaught and ready for a backs-to-the-wall defensive effort.
To their credit, they achieved this aim to some extent, and the cricket-score forecasts by some pessimists did not materialise, although the visitors always seemed capable of turning their attacking prowess up a few notches if needed.
The Reds also have goalkeeper Oliver Davies to thank for a number of good saves, while the woodwork also played its part, twice coming to the rescue when the Saints got behind the home rearguard.
While Paul Harrison in the visitors` goal was a virtual spectator for large swathes of the game, he was the first to be called into action early on when he was forced to turn over a well struck free kick by James Loveridge.
That effort was about as close the Reds got to a breakthrough, as from then on their opponents dominated proceedings with constant attacks, spreading diagonal passes to either flank, causing endless problems for the overworked home defence.
It took just 9 minutes for the lead to be established when a slick move ended with Aeron Edwards slotting his finish beyond Davies.
This early success confirmed the pattern of play for the remainder of the half, with Daniel Redmond seeing Davies keep out his strike at the expense of a corner, while a cross from the left flank found Simon Spender at the far post, but his header rebounded off the post to safety.
When the home side were in possession of the ball, which was not too often, they were careless with their passing, conceding it back to their opponents far too easily.
A surging run by Adrian Cieslewicz took him into the home box before it was halted by a saving tackle, while the upright again came to the Reds` aid when Redmond unleashed a 30 yard rocket.
The same player then had his deflected shot on target turned around by Davies, but with the half time interval approaching, it appeared as if the home side would go in just trailing by the solitary goal.
However, with literally seconds remaining, Jon Routledge got to the byline before cutting the ball into the goalmouth, where it appeared to come off Reds` defender, Chris Thomas, and past Davies for an own goal.
With their task of taking something out of the game now made even harder, the hosts were subjected to more of the kind of relentless pressure they had endured in the first half following the restart, with Davies again standing between the Saints and further goals, denying Dean Ebbe when he was through.
A long range attempt by Tom Holland was fractionally off target when the visitors again pushed forward, before a rare home sortie arose from a Chris Jones pass which sent Loveridge clear, bur Harrison was quickly off his line to clear the threat.
A close range volley from Kurtis Byrne from a Routledge delivery whistled just over the top, and Davies again showed his mettle when he pushed clear a shot by Routledge, and then turned over a further attempt by the same player.
At the close, the Reds would be thankful the final tally was not higher, the only consolation being that they will not face teams of this calibre every week, although there appear to be no easy games at this level.
The Reds face the long trip to Caernarfon Town on Saturday (Sept 22), with a coach leaving Stebonheath at 8am.
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