Port Talbot Town 1-0 ENTO Aberaman - Welsh Cup 2nd Round Match Report

Influential midfielder Gareth Phillips remained out of the side through injury for this potentially difficult Welsh Cup match against undefeated Welsh League side ENTO Aberaman as manager Nicky Tucker made changes to the side that were defeated at home to Newtown the weekend before. Darren Davies was dropped to the bench as David Biggs was handed his first start of the season at right back and with it pushing Leigh De-Vulgt into midfield. Port Talbot started the better of the two sides and could have earned themselves a comfortable two goal lead in the opening exchanges but ENTO Aberaman goalkeeper Neil Collins was in excellent form to twice deny the home side from claiming the early advantage. Collins became the main figure of the opening half as Martin Rose, James Burgin and Lee John all tested the impressive keeper in the first half. The best save of the half came at the other end however as Port Talbot were almost made to pay for not taking their chances and had to rely on Kristian Rogers to make a superb save at the near post to prevent the visitors taking an unexpected lead. The second half started with the ENTO Aberaman taking the game to their opponents but a defensive error from the experienced Danny Street allowed Lee John to open the scoring for the home side on 57 minutes when he made the most of his opportunity with a fine finish. The goal rattled the visitors and again Collins was called into action to prevent the lead being extended. Darren Davies made an appearance on 77 minutes to strengthen the defence but he lasted less than fifteen minutes after replacing David Biggs when he received a straight red card for an elbow just before the final whistle.

3rd October 2008 - www.welshleague.org.uk
Match Report
Unbeaten Division One club ENTO Aberaman were denied a place in the Welsh Cup, third round, by a 57th-minute goal from Lee John, punishing a rare mistake by the underdogs. Aberaman, at the very least, deserved extra time, and they were never overshadowed by their Welsh Premier League opposition at the Victoria Road ground tonight. Both sides, hard working, produced excellent play between penalty areas but in sharp contrast were extremely wasteful when it came to finishing with the home side the biggest culprits, particularly in the opening half. Port Talbot ended the game with ten men when substitute Darren Davies, in the game for ten minutes, was dismissed for a challenge on Mike Jones with less than a minute of the match remaining. Aberaman were a well organised side with full backs Anthony Taylor and Dan Hooper lending fine support whenever their side went on the attack but they rarely put Port Talbot keeper Kristian Rogers under real pressure. It was a different story for Aberaman's impressive keeper Neil Collins who spent three years with Football League outfit Scunthorpe - and his manager David Morgan reckons his star of the show could make a return. Morgan, a goalkeeper in his playing days, said: "I think he is the best in Welsh non-League football and he proved it. He is a wonderful shot stopper." Collins, from Ynysybwl, is in his fourth season with Aberaman and with the tie being screened tonight, it will do his cause no harm at all. Morgan added: "I think he will play professional football again - he gets better and better." There is little doubt that Aberaman missing the scoring talents of vastly experienced striker Chris Summers who is sidelined nursing a dislocated elbow and he isn't expected back for at least a month. Port Talbot were almost punished for being so way off target in the first-half when Rogers pulled off a super save to deny Jon Phillips a goal on the stroke of half-time. It was certainly the best of the opening 45 minutes. As Aberaman pushed more players forward in search of an equaliser they were stretched in defence and Collins really came into his own. He escaped when James Burgin hit the underside of the bar but then he first foiled Matthew Thompson and then denied Scott Evans. Morgan added: "I think most people, who didn't know, would have thought it an all-Premier clash. It was our first defeat in 19 matches (including pre-season and a run at the end of last season) and it was a big ask to come to a Premier club and turn them over. While I'm disappointed with the result I thought my boys were superb. I think we did the Welsh League proud. We made one mistake and were punished." A very entertaining game - just a pity that the finishing didn't live up to all other aspects of the game.

3rd October 2008 - www.entoaberamanafc.co.uk
Match Report
ENTO Aberaman were knocked out of the Welsh cup at Port Talbot going down 1-0. After a very good first half which saw good chances being created at both ends it was ENTO keeper Neil Collins who was the busier of the two keepers that saw Neil pull off two fantastic saves that kept the scoreline level. Kift and Phillips were working hard up front for ENTO and created some good chances themselves. A good move down the ENTO left saw a cross by Taylor being met by Phillips whose diving header was well saved by Kristian Rogers. The second half saw ENTO start the stronger, with some good penetration of the flanks, the crosses were being well met by the head of Mathew Rees who was dominating the backline. 57 minutes saw the breakthrough, Craig Hewings was caught in possesion and Lee John went unopposed to slot the ball under Collins to give Port the lead. ENTO were pressed in to action and sent on Mattie Davies and Layton Maxwell replacing Jon Phillips and Geraint Passmore, immediatetly a chance was created for Davies but failed to connect. With ENTO pressing it left gaps at the back and Port were beginning to expose the defence with some blistering attacks with again Collo coming to the rescue bringing off several class saves. On 83minutes GarethJones replaced DannyStreet to try and add some pace to the ENTO game.A elbow by Darren Davies on Dean Morris was enough for the referee to show a red card and Port were redused to ten men. Despite some pressing ENTO could not get the goal they wanted and referee Mr Whitby brought a end to the game.