Motherwell 0-1 Llanelli

Motherwell’s Europa League hopes hang in the balance after a disappointing defeat to Llanelli in the first qualifying round first leg.

Stuart Jones scored the only goal of the game in the 28th minute as Jim Gannon’s reign got off to a bad start.

The Steelmen dominated possession at the Excelsior Stadium but they could not find a way through and now must win in Wales to remain in the competition.

They made a good start to the game and Jamie Murphy could have opened the scoring in the fourth minute.

A great ball over the top had the midfielder in acres of space in the area but he elected to pass to John Sutton instead of shooting himself and the ball was cleared behind.

Then from the resulting corner, Steven Saunders volleyed Steven Hammell’s kick narrowly over the bar.

Llanelli lost defender Lee Jarman to injury early in the half but they took a surprising lead in the 28th minute.

Player / manager Andy Legg won his side a corner from a long throw and from the set piece, Jones headed the ball past Michael Fraser at the far post.

The Steelmen pressed for an equaliser but they were frustrated by the visitors, who kept eleven men behind the ball. The only real chance of the first-half fell to John Sutton but his header from a Jim O'Brien cross missed the target.

Paul Slane replaced Keith Lasley at half-time and the youngster almost made an immediate impact. Cutting in from the left he left three players in his wake before firing a goal bound looking effort that was cleared by the deflecting head of Jones.

McGarry flashed a header just wide and Sutton almost drew his side level with a neat header from ten yards but Morris was well placed to pluck the ball out the air.

Motherwell continued to press and Jamie Murphy tried his luck from distance but his shot flew harmlessly wide of the mark.

Substitute Slane did force Morris into action late on though, and the Llanelli keeper did well to get down and block the youngster's shot at the near post.

Forbes also had one last effort which Morris held easily, but it was too little too late from Motherwell, and new boss Jim Gannon will hope for a much improved performance in the second-leg.

Motherwell: Fraser, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan, Sutton, Lasley (Slane 46), Murphy, O'Brien (McHugh 74), McGarry, Forbes, Saunders. Subs not used: Smith, Fitzpatrick, Hutchinson, Page, Kosiorowski.

Llanelli: A Morris, Mumford, S Jones, Corbisiero, Griffiths, C Jones (Follows 65), Venables, Jarman (Wyn 16), Legg (Warlow 51), Phillips, Howard. Subs not used: C Morris, Jenkins, Thomas, Moses, John.

Booked: S Jones (4), Griffiths (30), Howard (45)

Goals: S Jones (27)

Referee: Tero Nieminen

Attendance: 4,307