Port Talbot Town 0-0 Carmarthen Town - Principality Welsh Premier League Match Report

Manager Mark Jones named an unchanged starting line-up but recent signing Gary Bansor was named on the bench in place of Shelton Payne with both Scott Evans and new signing Karl Lewis suspended. Port Talbot edged the early exchanges with the pace of Drew Fahiya and Lee John causing the visitors a few problems but Martin Rose was kept quiet by former Port Talbot Town player Mark Dodds who produced a man of the match performance to limit Rose’s impact on the game. Carmarthen came back into the match but also struggled against the solid home defence as both sides were limited to long range efforts. Lee John did make the breakthrough for Port Talbot but was flagged for offside before he placed the ball past Neil Thomas as both sides went into half-time frustrated at the lack of chances. In the second half Port Talbot again started the better of the two sides with Liam McCreesh and Lee John both coming close to finding a way past the Carmarthen backline. The introduction of James Burgin for Drew Fahiya midway through the half offered Port Talbot a different attacking option but the strong defence of the visitors again prevented any clear cut chances on goal. Carmarthen had a strong spell of pressure during the last quarter of the match with Kristian Rogers called into action to make a close range save. Neither side could make the breakthrough however and despite the strong defensive performances from both sides the game was played in good spirits with referee Ceri Richards awarding just one yellow card in the ninety minutes.

6th February 2009 - www.carmarthentownafc.net
Match Report
Following significant cup wins for both sides last weekend it was honours shared at the GenQuip Stadium on Friday night. Despite plenty of action and edge there was not a huge amount of quality and despite both sides having periods of domination a winner remained elusive. The hosts had the better of the opening exchanges with Drew Fahiya breaking through dangerously on a couple of occasions and Lee John finding the net only to be flagged offside. Lee Hudgell did well down the left for Town and it took a great block from defender Matthew Rees to deny Town front man Craig Hughes just before the break. Fahiya, John and Martin Rose continued to probe following the resumption as Town defended a series of corners, but the Old Gold came back strongly. Sacha Walters latched on to a long clearance and played in Hughes who elected pass instead of pulling the trigger and minutes later Hughes was again denied this time by keeper Kristian Rogers following good work by Neil Smothers. With a quarter hour remaining Port Talbot won a number of free kicks and despite firing several balls across the face of the goal the ‘Steelmen’ lacked a final touch. Late on Paul Fowler sent his header stright at Rogers who a minute later again denied Hughes' powerful shot as both sides took a share of the spoils. Coach Mark Aizlwood told 'Y Dre ar Y We', "I thought we were off the pace a little in the first half but not enough to let them score. We were not as fluid as we were last week; maybe nine months ago we might have lost it. But we were better second half and I couldn't see us loosing it, I thought we might just nick it. Both teams looked like sides on a good run and hard to beat".

Port Talbot Town

1. Kristian Rogers
2. Leigh De-Vulgt
3. Scott Barrow
4. Gareth Phillips
5. Matthew Rees (c)
6. Lee Surman
7. Lee John
8. Darren Davies
9. Martin Rose
10. Liam McCreesh
11. Drew Fahiya

Subs

12. Matthew Thompson
(Unused)
14. James Burgin
(rep Fahiya - 68)
15. Gary Bansor
(Unused)
16. Rory Healey
(Unused)

Yellow Cards
None

Red Cards
None

Goalscorers
None

Carmarthen Town

1. Neil Thomas
2. Richard Hughes
3. Lee Hudgell
4. Nicky Palmer
5. Mark Dodds
6. Kris Thomas
7. Sacha Walters
8. Neil Smothers
9. Paul Fowler
10. Craig Hughes
11. Nathan Cotterrall (c)

Subs

12. Danny Thomas
(Unused)
14. Tim Hicks
(Unused)
15. Stuart Roberts
(Unused)

Yellow Cards
Paul Fowler (70)

Red Cards
None

Goalscorers
None

Attendance
222

Referee
Mr Ceri Richards