NEW boss Neville Powell admitted that Aberystwyth need ‘leaders’ in certain areas, after two late goals meant his side slipped to a 4-3 defeat to Welsh League side Llanelli in their first friendly at Park Avenue on Saturday.

Goals from Malcolm Melvin, Cledan Davies from the penalty spot and Jonny Spittle had seen a new-look Aber side 3-2 up with just minutes remaining - after the Reds had twice taken the lead through Swansea City legend Lee Trundle.

An own goal from Ryan Wollacott and a stoppage time James Loveridge winner, however, earned Llanelli the victory.

These warm-up matches are clearly not about the results, with Aber fielding a number of trialists and Academy graduates in an experimental side, but Powell has identified the need for experience.

“It was our first friendly, and a good competitive game to be fair, a lot of positives came out of it,” he said.“We lost the match 4-3, but the result, doesn’t really matter, it’s about taking a look at the players that are there, and the players that we need.

“Obviously we need to get three or four experienced Welsh Premier League players in, that’s the first thing for sure. We’ll need leaders.

“You need a bit of experience in there, and a few winners, but if we can get the right calibre of experienced lads into the spine of the team, there’s no reason why we can’t be pushing for the top six.”

The Reds were ahead within 12 minutes as Jordan Davies was fouled outside the area, and talisman striker Trundle expertly curled his perfectly-placed free kick beyond goalkeeper Chris Mullock.

The Aber keeper pulled off a fine save to deny Trundle a second goal shortly after, with Davies again setting up the chance - but the home side equalised after 22 minutes.

Geoff Kellaway’s corner was punched out by Craig Morris, but only as far as Malcolm Melvin, who steered home with his low finish.

The Reds were back in front five minutes later as a careless midfield pass was seized upon by Davies, who found Trundle, and the former pro floated the ball delicately over the stranded Mullock into the net.

Within two minutes it was all-square again as referee Aled Jones pointed to the spot after a challenge in the box, and Cledan Davies coolly sent the keeper the wrong way.

Aber reeled in the changes in the second half and took the lead for the first time on 68 minutes following a corner, which saw summer signing Jonny Spittle heading in.

Academy graduates Harri Horwood, Sion Ewart and Dan Hopton all joined the fray in a second half of few chances, and Melvin saw his long range effort tipped over.

With full time approaching, however, a Trundle corner to the far post found Lee Bevan, whose header struck the post but was deflected into the net by Wollacott - and then in stoppage time Ross Jones laid on a pass for James Loveridge to rifle past Mullock for the winning goal.See this week's Aberystwyth edition for full report and reaction