Llantwit Major opened their Cymru South campaign with a 2-0 victory over Cwmbran Celtic at the Windmill Ground.
Anthony Rawlings scored six minutes from time in addition to Kyran Gardner’s 12th-minute opener to give Karl Lewis’ side a winning start.
The home side were on the front foot quickly and were passing the ball around the pitch. Making use of their wide players Llantwit were able to get crosses into the box.
Llantwit had the first chance of the game after their good passing play found Josh Jones. Jones took a shot but fired the ball over the bar.
Josh Jones was having a flying start to the game and his good work found Cullen Kinsella on the edge of the box. The Llantwit captain went close to opening the scoring as his shot went just over.
The early exchanges were all Llantwit as Thomas Walters forced a save from Lewis Watkins. Soon after the ball was in the net but there was an offside in the build-up.
Celtic couldn’t get a grip on possession and their early attacks were easily dealt with by the home side’s defence.
Just after the opening ten minutes, Major made the break though. Kyran Gardner lashed a long-range strike from the edge of the area into the top corner of the goal.
After the setback, Cwmbran started to settle and Thomas Meechan went close to a response as he dragged his a shot just wide of the post.
But the home side were dominating the first half and summer signing Ioan Emanuel headed agonisingly wide from a corner in search of a second.
Later, Josh Jones had two chances to get on the score sheet. Firstly he was able to cut inside and forced a decent stop from Lewis Watkins.
He then pounced on Evan Prosser’s loose pass back but Watkins was alive to the danger and quick to clear it out of danger.
In the second half, there was a change in how Celtic approached the game and they began to cause some problems. Josh Hinwood put a long-range attempt over the bar.
This signalled a good spell of pressure by the visitors with Hinwood’s corner giving Andrew Lancombe a chance to shoot. Lewis Iles saw his header just cleared away by the defence.
Two half opportunities presented themself for James Kinsella’s side as Matthew Brown made a good break down the right and was in on goal but Jack Lansdown was out quickly to clear. They kept the pressure on as Hinwood sent a free-kick towards the far post that forced Lansdown out to punch clear.
Iles then went close again as he headed just wide again after a good ball to the far post.
After a period in which they were firmly under the cosh, Llantwit finally found their rhythm again with Thomas Walters narrowly missing the target with a low snapshotted effort.
As the game entered the final 20 minutes it was all to play for. Both teams pushed for a chance and were fighting for every loose ball with some strong tackles going in from both sides.
Llantwit sealed the win in the final ten minutes thanks to Rawlings as he poked the ball home. Dafydd Owen sent a good ball across the box giving Rawlings an easy close-up finish.
Llantwit Major: Jack Lansdown (G), Dafydd Owen, Kyran Gardner, Rob Jones, Sean Williams, Ioan Emanuel, Cullen Kinsella (C), Nathan Jones (Jonathan Fletcher 75), Thomas Walters, Anthony Rawlings (Lewis James 85), Josh Jones (Josh Morgan 66).
Goals: Kyran Gardner 12, Anthony Rawlings 84
Cwmbran Celtic: Lewis Watkins (G) (C), Evan Prosser, Josh Hinwood (Dominic Connor 70), Elliot Jones, Jordan Meaney, Taylor Davies, Matthew Brown (Jordan Williams 84), Jai-jnr Johnson, Thomas Meechan, Lewis Iles, Thomas Neville (Andrew Larcombe 45).
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