Llandegfan Antelope FC suffered an unlucky 2-4 defeat this Saturday afternoon in their final pre-season friendly before their first ever Anglesey League match next week.

The home side were missing key personnel in the shape of defenders Adam Weatherhead, Ian Morgan, Chris Dawson and Stephen Owen Williams which meant Luke Bedson had to drop in to emergency centre back. The hosts were also missing key midfield duo Otis Hinds and Jacob Meaton.

And it was the visitors who took the lead seven minutes in following some sloppy defending, which allowed the Llanrug forward to run through and slot the ball past keeper Sion Roberts. 0-1.

It was 0-2 fourteen minutes later when Llanrug broke down the right hand side; an excellent delivery was converted to double the visitors' advantage.

The home team were keeping the ball well and creating plenty of chances but it was Llanrug who were taking full advantage of their opportunities. Their third goal followed some more sloppy defending as the Redmen striker ran through and lofted the ball over the advancing Roberts. 0-3.

Player Manager Jamie Davies had seen enough and made immediate changes. They certainly worked and the Lope were almost immediately back in the game; Aled Hughes releasing Jack Higgins, only for the trickster to be denied by some good goalkeeping. Minutes later, they were back in the game. Hall of Famer Hughes was brought down on the edge of the box and up stepped dead ball specialist Luke Bedson to place a free kick into the bottom corner. 1-3.

Aled Hughes then had an effort cleared off the line after being sent through by midfielder Chris Arthur, but it remained 1-3 at the interval.

The second half began with Antelope pushing on once more in an attempt to get themselves back into the game. The pressure eventually told when Jack Higgins raced clear following a delightful passing move. The forward finished with his trademark chip to end a tantalising passage of play. 2-3.

The home side were pushing for the equaliser, but the visitors restored their two goal advantage when a ball into the box wasn't cleared; goal scorer Bedson was the culprit as the ball was bundled in from two yards. 2-4.

Llandegfan AFC continued to press, with Higgins, Twm Jones and Steffan Bullock all having efforts at goal. Mathew Jones also had two glorious chances, one from a Gareth Davies flick on before a wicked Higgins delivery was diverted wide by the ginger-haired assassin.

Unfortunately for the Anglesey League side, they could not get the telling touch and Llanrug Reserves ran out victorious.

Manager Davies was relatively pleased, "I thought we actually played very well today. We were missing several key players and were trying something new with the way we set up; we kept the ball very well and, but for some shambolic defending in the opening twenty minutes and some wasteful finishing, we'd have been up at the break."

"There are plenty of positives to take; the emergence of Chris Arthur, Tomos Jones and Gareth Davies in the middle have been good for us and I have every faith in them stepping up when it matters. Plus, our second goal was some real liquid football. We will be working hard in training this week and are definitely looking forward to the opening League match."

TEAM: S Roberts, I Bullock, D Roberts, L Bedson (S Bullock 78), D Owen, G Davies, C Arthur (J Davies 65), A Hughes, G Brown (T Jones 25), G Williams (M Jones 55), J Higgins.

GOALSCORERS: L Bedson, J Higgins