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13th October 2008 - Evening Post
Port Talbot have no joy at Bangor
Port Talbot ran out of steam in the second half at Farrar Road yesterday after threatening a shock result against one of the top tier's favoured sides. Bangor have now gone 10 games unbeaten but their manager Neville Powell admitted his side were fortunate to be level at the break after the visitors built on their superb midweek League Cup victory over Llanelli. But the visitors fell behind in the ninth minute when Chris Sharp supplied Les Davies, who turned and fired past Kristian Rogers. The Steelmen, far from being despondent, poured forward but their reward only came on the stroke of half-time when Drnetted equalised. The visitors suffered a crucial blow three minutes after the break when Christian Seargeant blasted home a magnificent swerving free-kick, and he added another with 21 minutes remaining. Sharp slotted home the fourth with 15 minutes to go and, although Matthew Rees pulled one back, only the heroics of Rogers prevented a heavier defeat. "I'm disappointed as I felt at half-time we could go on and win it," said Port Talbot manager Nick Tucker. "We deserved to be ahead at half-time but their free-kick was a major moment. It was superbly taken but it should never have been awarded. That said, we ran out of steam after that and were well beaten by a very good side. That was the most worrying thing for me as we don't normally lie down. If it wasn't for Kristian it could have been worse. I've no doubt he is the best keeper in the league." Tucker added: "I know we were applauded by Bangor for our attacking style as we came looking for a win, but at the end of the day we are returning home with nothing. "We were without Martin Rose up front and we missed him badly, but we showed in the first half that we have the ability to match and beat any side in this league. But we need to put it together for 90 minutes."
13th October 2008 - Daily Post
Match Report
Nev Powell’s Bangor City made it five straight wins by staging another sparkling goals show yesterday. The 4-2 win over Port Talbot Town at Farrar Road stretched their unbeaten run to 11 games since the season’s opening day. City manager Powell said: “The way we played in the second half proved the character of the squad, because we had been poor earlier and needed to sort out a few things. “We produced numerous chances and could have won by a lot more but their keeper (Kristian Rogers) had a great second half, making some fantastic saves. Port Talbot, to be fair to them, were the first side to come here to have a go at us, although we took an early lead and they equalised just on half time.” Powell added: “We were tremendous in the second half and sent the fans home with smiles on their faces, because it was a good game for them. The trouble is we picked up a few knocks, which will cause selection problems for the Loosemores Cup game against Caersws on Tuesday.” City were off the mark on nine minutes, when Les Davies swivelled in the box following Chris Sharp’s right-wing drag-back to fire past Rogers from 15 yards. Stoppage time was being played at the end of the period when mistakes by Peter Hoy and Dave Swanick let in Port Talbot’s Liam McCreesh for the not unexpected leveller. Bangor raised the tempo after the resumption and peppered the opposition target leading to a further three goals and to rue an array of saves, blocks and misses. Chris Seargeant converted an edge-of-box free-kick on 49 minutes and fired home another 18-yarder from a Sharp set-up on 69, while the latter scored from 10 yards thanks to Kevin Lloyd’s creation on 75. Port Talbot’s Matthew Rees stabbed a close-range reply on 78, while the other highlights featured the acrobatics of keeper Rogers, who ensured the scoreline remained respectable.
13th October 2008 - Western Mail
Citizens storm back
A magnificient second-half performance gave Bangor City a comfortable victory over gallant Port Talbot who looked on course for a possible upset at half-time. But an interval discussion with manager Neville Powell put the Citizens deficiencies right and such was their dominance after the break that the final score flattered the visitors. Powell said; “Port Talbot were the better team first half and played well. They were the first team to come here and attack us this season and they should be applauded for that. “Second half, the lads were absolutely superb and it was only the brilliant goalkeeping of Kristian Rogers that prevented us getting double figures. We created chance after chance and showed tremendous character as we looked a little heavy-legged before the break.” Powell added: “That’s 10 games unbeaten for us and things are going well, but we are now forced to play a league cup match on Tuesday night. We requested a move to Wednesday, but were refused so I now have a dilemma in what side I choose to meet Caersws with players carrying knocks. It doesn’t matter to us as we have already qualified, but if I put out my reserves and we lose Caersws will go through as one of the best losers, whereas Llanelli would qualify if we win. So, what do they expect me to do? It’s ludicrous.” Les Davies fired Bangor in front in the ninth minute when he turned in a fine Chris Sharp cross, but the Steelmen fought back spiritedly. Their reward came on the stoke of half-time when Drew Fahiya profited from a defensive mix-up to net the equaliser. Chris Seargeant’s magnificent 48th-minute free-kick restored Bangor’s advantage and it was one-way traffic after that. Seargeant added his second with a fine dribble and shot and Chris Sharp added the fourth with 15 minutes remaining. Matthew Rees secured a consolation goal two minutes later. “We ran out of steam which was disappointing,” said Port Talbot manager Nick Tucker.
12th October 2008 - www.the-citizens-choice.co.uk
Super Sergeant Topples Talbot
This was an open, end to end affair, which Bangor might have won by double the score and yet - before the interval - looked to be in danger of defeat. Kieran Killackey stood in for the suspended Mike Walsh who has now served half his two match ban. On 9 mins Les Davies put City ahead with a good turn and low drive from eight yards. But the visitors responded well, and although their 46th minute equaliser had a touch of the KeyStone Cops about it, they deserved to be level at the break. A high sliced clearance by Peter Hoy was miskicked by Dave Swanick allowed Port Talbot to cross for Drew Fahiya to score from point blank range. Whatever the management team said to his side at half time it did the trick. Three minutes after the restart the blundering shaven headed Matthew Rees clattered Christian Seargeant who exacted full revenge with a twenty yard freekick beyond the impressive Kristian Rogers. This set the scene for some unbelievabel goalkeeping by Rogers who - within five seconds - kept out Marc Limbert's corner and close range shots from Peter Hoy and Jamie Brewerton. He saved bravely from Les Davies who ran on goal and did even better to push Chris Sharp's low drive away. But he could do nothing to stop Christian Seargeant placing the ball wide of him with twenty minutes left on the clock. On 75 minutes it was 4-1 and just about all over. Young substitute Kevin Lloyd passed to Chris Sharp who finished with calm conviction to impress former blues personalities Graeme Sharp, Ken Mckenna and Dean Martin. But it was not quite done and dusted. Some bizarre rebounds in the box allowed Matthew Rees to partly atone for earlier indiscretions with a close range finish. City might have reached five but John Corrigan's breakaway and pass to Kevin Lloyd caught the youngster off balance and he dragged his shot wide. All in all and good win, three more points and all this despite the attentions of a loudly criticised bunch of officials who were never at the races!
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