Neath Athletic 0 - 1 (H)

Deryn Brace was insistent that his side should have been awarded a spot kick and a chance to level after Tim Hicks was brought down in the penalty area by Neath keeper Wyn Walters.

"Yes big decisions can obviously change the course of games and this is one that's got away from us. The ref's made an honest decision but I think everyone else thought it was a cast iron penalty”.

“It’s not he first time we’ve not had a big decision go against us and of course the penalty has other consequences because had the referee given it he would have to send the keeper off. We’re going to have to look at it. What everyone has to realise is that these decisions are going to have a major influence on where clubs are going to be next season”.

Manager Deryn Brace felt his side deserved something out of the game. "Yes we should definitely have had something out of the game. That’s the difference between the clubs at the moment. Things are happening for them but we’re not making it happen for us. The boys very rarely let you down when it comes to competitiveness, they've got a great will to win, but at the moment we probably need a little bit of guidance".

"We weren't clinical enough. The damage was done when they got the goal and we were left chasing the game. That was hugely disappointing. The home form has got to get a lot better. At the moment we're just too easy to beat".

"Second half we did step it up, we were in their faces a little bit more and put them under pressure. But when you're losing one nil sides will tend to play deep. They changed it to five across the middle and one up front with only one other player allowed past the half way line so it was always going to be difficult".

How did Brace see the goal? "It was a scrappy ricochet that's fallen to Llewellyn he’s driven into the box and we've allowed him to dictate. We've dived in, we should have asked more questions. It was a horrible goal to concede although I think Neath will say it was good play. My side of it, being a defender, I thought we went to ground too easily. They hadn’t been in our box until then".

Are panic bells ringing? "No there aren’t any panic bells but the concern is there. There is no point in saying things needlessly. The concern is there because we seem to be taking a step forward and then a step back every other week. We seem to be having the same routine and it is frustrating".

Having reviewed the TV footage Brace was adamant his side should have been awarded a spot kick. “It’s a definite penalty. It’s a clumsy challenge from the goalkeeper. It’s one of those situations if the goalkeeper comes for it he has to get it. He hasn’t, Hicksy’s knocked it around him and he’s taken the player out. There’s no question in my mind it’s a poor decision. The keeper can say he didn’t mean to bring him down but he did. From my point of view there’s no question it’s a penalty. He’s got away with it.”

Town v Llanelli Preview

Not having won a festive fixture against the Reds Town manager Deryn Brace is looking to set the record straight and put an end to Llanelli's sequence of holiday wins. With Saturday's game against Champions Rhyl a victim of the freezing weather Brace is confident that his squad has the quality to secure some festive cheer.

“I was disappointed at Saturday’s postponement. I really wanted it on, but of course only if the pitch was playable and safe. It would have been a good test for us. I honestly believe that if the boys perform to their maximum we can beat anybody on our day. It’s just looking for that consistency.

“Llanelli games are always exciting affairs. There’s usually plenty of goals but obviously they’ve had the upper hand against us in the last couple of years.

“Earlier in the season we played them in the cup down at their place. I thought we did fantastically well but obviously the result got away from us. So we need to learn from that. We’ll need to be stronger and defend certain situations better.

Apart from a couple of doubts Brace is confident that he will have a full squad available for the holiday games.

“Nicky Palmer has taken a knock to his knee but we hope Dyfan Pierce is going to be available. If Wednesday’s game had gone ahead he would have taken part in that. So apart from a couple of doubts everyone else should be fine and available.

Deryn's Dugout