PURE SWANSEA: Pure bragging rights as Llanelli brushed aside in Cymru South

Pure Swansea kept up their 100% record in the Novira Cymru South as goals from Jordan Hughes, Mason Kelly and Jordan Lloyd-Evans saw the league leaders to a 3-0 victory over Llanelli Town at Swansea Bay Sports Park.

Both sides came into the game in contrasting form, with newly promoted Pure top of the pile with back-to-back victories, whilst rivals Llanelli have struggled since relegation with just a solitary point to their name from the opening two rounds.

An early spell of pressure for Pure saw a surging run forward by captain Hughes earn his side a corner.

After a succession of set-pieces where Llanelli failed to clear their lines, Zac Brown’s pin-point delivery into the penalty area met the head of man of the match Hughes at the near post to nod past Luke Masrani in the Llanelli goal and give the home side the lead at the break.

Pure continued to dominate, with Brown and influential youngster Kelly finding space regularly on the flanks.

It would be the latter who would create the game’s next big moment. A whipped ball from the left played into new signing Kyle Copp caused panic in the Llanelli penalty area, with the Pure forward caught by Llanelli midfielder Kieran Dawe, resulting in a penalty and a chance for Pure to double their lead.

Copp would dust himself down to take the spot-kick, but the former Pontardawe hitman would see Masrani at his best to guess the right way and make a fine save to keep the powerful effort out.

Despite the setback, Pure would continue to threaten with slick interplay and distribution from the full-backs into the channels, causing Llanelli plenty of problems, and it wouldn’t be long until they would score the crucial second goal of the game.

Substitutes Noah Osbourne and Bradley Gibbings combined from a long throw into the box. The latter’s spectacular bicycle kick would be only half cleared by the Llanelli defence, but only as far as Kelly, who would rifle home for his second goal of the season.

Kelly would turn from finisher to provider as Pure capped off a fine performance with a third goal in stoppage time. The winger used his pace on the left to beat his marker before crossing to find top scorer Casey Coughlin. Last week’s hat-trick hero’s effort would be only half cleared to Lloyd-Evans, who would bury the loose ball into the bottom right-hand corner past Masrani, who had a fine game between the sticks for the visitors.

It would be a stunning victory for the Swansea-based side in their first home game of the season, in front of the day’s highest attendance in the Novira Cymru South of 581.

Manager Jack Midwinter had asked before the game for a crowd of 400 or 500 to get behind his players. He got more.

Three games have now brought nine goals scored and none conceded, with Coughlin’s hat-trick at Baglan Dragons and Saturday’s three from three different scorers.

Pure, who continue to be the pace setters in the league, next travel to Cwrt yr Ala Road in Cardiff on Friday night to face sixth-placed Caerau Ely, who picked up their first win of the campaign 4-2 at Trethomas Bluebirds.

Pure Swansea XI

Kane Draper, Daniel Ingram, Jacob Lund (Ricky Kerr), Jordan Hughes (c), Jordan Lloyd-Evans, Mason Kelly, Josh Cole (Bradley Gibbings), Zac Brown (Noah Osbourne), Ollie Roberts (Harvey Chapman), Kyle Copp (Morgan Wright), Casey Coughlin.