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25th August 2008 - South Wales Evening Post
Mixed fortunes for Port Talbot Town’s McCreesh
Liam McCreesh experienced both joy and pain as Port Talbot gained their first point of their Welsh Premiership campaign at Aberystwyth. The former Boys and Girls Clubs of Wales youth international slotted home a low Martin Rose cross at the far post two minutes before half-time. But the Afan Lido product was stretchered off with a leg injury following an ill-timed challenge from Aberystwyth substitute Colin Reynolds in the 76th minute. He was replaced by Swansea City loan signing Scott Evans. There was more misery for the Steelmen four minutes from the end when the Park Avenue outfit were awarded a penalty after full-back Mark McGibbon had obstructed Aneurin Thomas, and Luke Sherbon powered home the spot kick. And as the match approached added-on time, Port Talbot skipper Darren Davies clashed with Thomas but Aberystwyth's appeal for a second penalty was dismissed by referee Simon Jones. Port Talbot began the match in positively, and there were testing times for the Aberystwyth back four when Stefan Morrison picked out Thompson whose 25-yard shot flashed over the bar. The breakthrough almost arrived on the half hour when the Black and Greens were awarded a free-kick after Sherbon had been tripped by Matthew Rees, but Thomas's 20-yard effort was intercepted and cleared by Lee Surman. Having secured the lead just before the interval, Port Talbot had the opportunity to add a second goal eight minutes into the second half, Thompson being denied by Roberts who fingertipped the ball around the post following an opening created by McCreesh. Just before the hour mark, Scott Barrow was introduced in place of James Burgin, and within two minutes the Manselton-born teenager sped down the left and supplied a cross which fellow substitute Lee John steered inches wide. Aberystwyth had an opportunity to draw level on 72 minutes but Kristian Rogers beat away a fierce rising shot from Sherbon. The action switched to the opposite end nine minutes later with a second scoring chance for Thompson; a surging run by John saw the former Llanelli youngster unmarked but he mistimed his shot and the ball flew narrowly over the top. Aberystwyth finally found a way back on to level terms from Sherbon's spot-kick in the final minutes. "I would have settled for a point before the game," said Port Talbot manager Nicky Tucker, "but the way the match developed, with us under pressure towards the end, a lot was owed to goalkeeper Kristian Rogers, who was outstanding. After 86 minutes, when we were a goal in front and having had enough chances to kill the game off, it was disappointing to allow Aberystwyth back with a late penalty. We've not played well in pre-season and we were not good at TNS last week, but there were a lot more positives from this game, and it's given us some hope for our next match against NEWI Cefn Druids." Tucker added: "We did carve out two additional good chances, which both fell to Matthew Thompson. The finishing was disappointing, if we'd taken one of them to secure a two-goal cushion, it may have been game over. Kristian Rogers made some great saves, but with four minutes to go things went wrong. Mark McGibbon appeared to give Aneurin Thomas a nudge. Some referees may or may not have awarded the spot-kick, but on this occasion it was given, despite Kristian Rogers clearly claiming the ball."
24th August 2008 - Wales on Sunday
Luke’s strike saves the day for Aberystwyth
A late Luke Sherbon penalty salvaged a point for Aberystwyth after the Seasiders had been frustrated for long spells at Park Avenue. Having hit six in their league opener against Neath, the Black-and-Greens failed to reach those heights against a Port Talbot outfit who had not lost in their previous five Welsh Premier visits. In fact, the Steelmen had won their last three outings to Park Avenue and looked in sight of another success after Liam McCreesh had broken the deadlock just before half time. Aber, however, earned parity as the encounter opened up late on, with Sherbon converting an 86th minute penalty after Aneurin Thomas was adjudged to have been pushed by full back Mark McGibbon in the box. The Seasiders then went close to winning another penalty moments later, but their strong appeals that Gareth Hughes had been brought down were turned down by officials. “We kept going right to the end and it would have been a travesty had we not got something out of the game,” said Aberystwyth manager Brian Coyne. “I thought we played well again. It was a good game and perhaps we could have won it at the end. But Port Talbot are a good side, so we’re happy with a point and the start we’ve made to the season.” Solid defensively, the Steelmen were a hard nut to crack with clear-cut chances seldom in the first half, although home youngster Robert Evans put one effort wide from a Glyndwr Hughes cross. Two minutes before half time, it was the visitors who made the breakthrough when McCreesh finished off following a mazy run by Martin Rose, who left several defenders in his wake as he broke into the box. Aberystwyth strove for the leveller after the break, but found Kristian Rogers in solid form in the visiting goal with a couple of excellent saves. Home defender Aneurin Thomas went close from a couple of set plays, one header being superbly saved low down by the highly-rated keeper. But the Steelmen continued to stand firm in search of their first points of the season following the opening day 2-0 defeat at The New Saints.
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