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5th January 2009 - Evening Post
Port Talbot denied by late Aber equaliser
A goal seven minutes from time by Aberystwyth Town skipper Bari Morgan denied Port Talbot a deserved victory at the ice-cold GenQuip Stadium. Darren Davies's superb strike on the half-hour mark appeared to have secured all three points for Mark Jones's side, but the visitors took a stranglehold at a vital time in the match and Morgan scrambled home their reward. The 1-1 result takes the Seasiders two places up the Welsh Premier table to fourth, while Port Talbot remain in 11th spot. The main talking point pre-match was why the money-spinning New Year's Day encounter with Neath was postponed while, in identical conditions, this match was allowed to run its course. The positive attitude of both camps must have been a big plus for referee Wayne Tregonning, from Merthyr, who declared the pitch playable, which concurred with an early morning decision by a local qualified Welsh Premier official. And Tregonning was proved right as both teams played the hard but flat surface competitively but sensibly, although it was never going to be a classic. Jones said: "There were no complaints from anyone in our dressing room about the game going ahead." Aber's boss Brian Coyne added: "The pitch was no different from those we have to play on in pre-season." The late Morgan leveller was the only downside in an encouraging performance by the Blues, who are now showing a steely resolve that has been missing at times during the campaign. Jones said: "We should have won and it's two points dropped from my point of view. We had five clear-cut chances to their one and our keeper (Kristian Rogers) did not have one save to make until they scored. "We lost our shape a bit towards the end and I think it's a little bit of fear creeping in. The lads have not been winning regularly and playing at home can sometimes have that effect when a win is in sight. "The spirit's good but we are little light on numbers and I'm looking to address that now the transfer window is open again. "I am looking to bring in three players, a defender, midfielder and an attacker. "I know who I want and I am hopeful of getting them. It will make a big difference as on Boxing Day I only had a squad of 14 players available. "It was not a great spectacle today and I always felt we may have to score twice to win it. "But we have taken a point off one of the Welsh Premier's top sides. We did the same against TNS, and the win at Neath now means we are unbeaten in the three matches since I've been here. "That's a step in the right direction but we now have three matches on the road and that will test us." Port Talbot are at NEWI Cefn Druids next week followed by long trips to Connah's Quay and Prestayn Town. After a mainly uneventful 30 minutes Darren Davies fired the Steelmen ahead with a spectacular long-range effort after the eye-catching pink boots of Drew Fahiya had set up the opportunity. It looked like being the game's only goal but Morgan feasted off a Rogers parry as Aberystwyth upped the tempo, though Jones's side nearly stole a victory at the death. Substitute Matthew Thompson unleashed a fierce shot through a crowded penalty area and visiting keeper Dave Roberts did well to see it let alone pull off a magnificent save to his right. Earlier, Martin Rose had several opportunities to seal victory for his side. Fahiya supplied a superb near-post cross that Rose failed to get a touch on and two headers from Davies and Lee John crosses sailed just wide and inches high. Perhaps a draw was a fair and just reward for the decision to go ahead, with Tregonning earned plaudits for his efforts both before and during the match.
3rd January 2009 - www.welshpremier.com
Seasiders Stopper Roberts denies Steelmen Victory
Aberystwyth Town 'keeper Dave Roberts was in excellent form to deny Port Talbot Town all three points at the GenQuip Stadium. The game was far from being a spectacle, but credit must be paid to the Groundstaff at Port Talbot for providing the only playable grass surface in Top Flight Football or Rugby on a freezing January Saturday in Wales. There were few chances in a poor First Half, but the first fell to speedy striker Drew Fahiya for the hosts who latched on to a sublime pass from Lee John, but the young striker volleyed high and wide. The breakthrough came on 27 minutes, when Darren Davies, who was playing in midfield, shot from the edge of the box and after a slight deflection, the ball beat Roberts into the left corner. The only other effort in the opening period was from Chris Venables, but the Aber midfielder shot well over. Port Talbot's Martin Rose looked like he would double the lead after the break, but his flick across Roberts just flashed wide of the post. In his only mistake of the game Roberts then fumbled in his own area, but the Steelmen were unable to take advantage of the error, and the danger was averted. Aber boss Brian Coyne made changes in search of an equaliser and Graham Evans made a difference when he was introduced. Still nursing a hamstring strain, the ex-Caersws hotshot had Aber's first shot on target on 77 minutes, but Talbot skipper Matthew Rees cleared from the line. Five minutes later, the visitors were on level terms as Geoff Kellaway's dangerous cross was won in the air by Evans who flicked the ball over his head to Andy Evans. His shot was saved well by Kristian Rogers, but Aber skipper Bari Morgan was on hand to score the rebound. Liam McCreesh had a free header to win it from a Davies free-kick, but his chance went over the bar, then in the dying moments, another Davies shot into the corner was expertly saved by Roberts with his fingertips, to deny Port Talbot a deserved three points.
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