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3rd May 2008
Town lose legs in last ten minutes in an excellent experience
Having worked very had all season after dropping out of local league football and playing at a higher and harder level of football we were rewarded with a trip to Ewood Park and to play against Blackburn Rovers Academy. What a great experience for myself, the players and parents. Before the game I kept telling the lads this is why we play Academy football as today we were playing Blackburn Rovers from the Premier League, not Afan Lido or Porthcawl, so lets go out and enjoy and that you will only enjoy the experience if you give your all otherwise you will regret it for a long time. Thankfully they did give their all. In the first period we started trying to close down their passing and we did through being focused, disciplined and prepared for anything. Our back four were fantastic as was Rhys in goal and Calvin went close to putting us ahead as the first period finished 0-0. In the team talk the boys were buzzing, encouraging and had the big B word belief. Blackburn changed their tactics in the next period and started to run with the ball more instead of passing as much but we held our lines well and our midfield and forward were working their socks off. Rhys again made some fantastic saves and we then put some good passing together and found Calvin who used his strength and speed and a great finish to put us in front! It was if there were 50,000 people in the ground as everyone was ecstatic. We then went close to making it 2-0 but an unlucky deflection found their striker and Blackburn drew level. A corner then put them in front and our boys were becoming tired and could not wait for the refs whistle to bring the period to a close. In the final period we knew we were playing for time more than we normally do but we gave our all and Calvin went close. Our defending by Alex, Tom, Evan and Ryan was fantastic as everyone. New lad Zack Coombes then rounded the goalkeeper and made it 3-2 (you had a great game Zack) and we were unlucky not to draw level from an Alex free-kick. The last ten minutes however we could not compete as Blackburn were outstanding and we were dead on our feet at one stage with only nine players on the field at one stage through tiredness. Blackburn then made us pay and the final score was 7-2. But we were fantastic and were everything that Port Talbot Town is about. The Blackburn coach was very impressed and the officials said that we gave them their hardest game for a long time. I am proud of everyone of you lads you all did yourselves proud and I told them that if you can take that performance into next seasons Academy games it will not matter who we play as we will have no reason to fear anyone. Rhys, Tome, Evan, Alex, Zack, Ash, Calvin, Mac Evans, Nathan, Lloyd, Kieron, Nathan and Darcy, you were all great.
Man of the Match - Rhys Parry.
David Davies
Port Talbot Town Under-12‘s Academy Coach
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