Port Talbot Town 2-1 Bangor City - Principality Welsh Premier League Match Report

Leigh De-Vulgt returned to the starting line-up in place of Matthew Thompson while Scott Evans replaced James Burgin in midfied as manager Mark Jones made two changes from the side that lost at Newtown the weekend before. Port Talbot started the better of the two sides with the pace of Drew Fahiya and Martin Rose causing the Bangor City defence a number of problems. At the other end Matthew Rees comfortably contained Bangor City striker Les Davies as the home side edged the opening exchanges. On 34 minutes Port Talbot opened the scoring despite being put under pressure from a series of Bangor corners as a break on the counter-attack enabled Rose to find Fahiya in acres of space and he made no mistake from close range as he slotted the ball past the advancing keeper. Port Talbot held onto their lead as referee Neil Morgan signalled for half-time and just minutes into the restart Fahiya doubled the advantage with his and his sides second goal of the game. A triple substitution from the visitors on the hour brought them back into the game as they looked to reduce the deficit but could not find a way through despite creating a number of chances on goal until James Brewerton’s shot struck substitute James Burgin and was deflected into the net. Port Talbot pushed forward deep into injury time but Lee John was tackled and the ball was cleared. John was then elbowed off the ball by defender David Swanick as he was shown a straight red card. Fahiya stepped up to the penalty spot but his effort was saved as referee Neil Morgan blew for full time.

23rd February 2009 - Western Mail
Port Talbot back to winning ways in Welsh Premier
Following last week’s first defeat in eight matches for Port Talbot manager Mark Jones, his team returned to winning ways with another committed display. “I’m very happy with the performance and result. We had a poor record against Bangor but records are there to be broken,” he said. “Bangor are a big club and we showed again that we can live with the best and I’m delighted with the attitude of my players.” Young Drew Fahiya was Port Talbot’s hero, drilling home the opener in the 34th minute and doubling the lead just before the break. In a frantic finale, James Burgin put through his own goal, Fahiya missed a penalty and Bangor’s Dave Swanick was red-carded.

23rd February 2009 - Daily Post
Ten-man Bangor City FC lose their way in the South
Dave Swanick will be forced to sit out Bangor City’s Welsh Cup quarter-final tie at Airbus UK this Saturday – and two other games – after a red card dismissal, writes Keith Evans. The right wing-back got into trouble for elbowing Port Talbot Town’s Lee John in stoppage time as City faced a 2-1 defeat. But Port Talbot’s Drewe Fahiya failed with the penalty attempt as City’s Paul Smith launched into a brilliant block. On a bobbly pitch, the hosts shaded the first half and picked up the only goal from Fahiya on 33 minutes, followed by a second from the same player two minutes into the second period. Bangor improved a great deal as the game wore on, notably when the three subs were deployed on 65 minutes, but the only consolation was Jamie Brewerton’s lob over keeper Kristian Rogers right at the end.

23rd February 2009 - Evening Post
Steelmen back on song at GenQuip
Port Talbot returned to winning ways with an excellent 2-1 victory over Bangor City at the GenQuip Stadium. The match was a personal triumph for young Town marksman Drew Fahiya, who took his season's tally to seven goals with a brace. His opener, in the 34th minute, came from the pace he injected to beat the Bangor offside trap and his second shortly after the break sealed the win. There was a dramatic conclusion to the match after James Burgin had lobbed an own goal over the head of keeper Kristian Rogers in the 90th minute. Dave Swanick, the Bangor defender, was shown the red card shortly after and Fahiya missed from the spot for what would have been his first top-flight hat-trick. "It would have been nice had he scored," admitted Port Talbot boss Mark Jones, who was delighted with the win. "Bangor are a big club and we thoroughly deserved to win. Bangor had a great record at our ground but, as I have said before, records are there to be broken. "It was important that we bounced back from last week's disappointment at Newtown and I thought the lads showed great commitment today. "We now need to go on a nice little run again. We're up to ninth now and that's terrific seeing where we were a few months back."

22nd February 2009 - Wales on Sunday
Jones regains his winning touch
Port Talbot manager Mark Jones rediscovered the winning touch after losing his unbeaten record last week since returning to the club with a big win over Bangor. Port Talbot are without star striker Chris Sharp for the rest of the season. This time the star of the show came at the other end in the form of striker Drew Fahiya, who scored in each half to clinch three vital points. The first came after 35 minutes when he beat the offside trap with a perfectly timed run to slot the ball home. Then, three minutes after the break, he doubled the Steelmen’s lead from close range before a triple substitution by the visitors put Port Talbot on the back foot. The Steelmen held firm until the 90th minute when Jamie Brewerton moved into the box to score with a header. But in injury time Port Talbot spurned the chance to put the game beyond doubt and Fahiya complete a hat-trick. Fahiya had a golden chance to wrap things up but missed from the spot.

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. Scott Evans
11. Drew Fahiya

Subs

12. James Burgin
(rep Barrow - 50)
14. Karl Lewis
(rep Evans - 75)
15. Matthew Thompson
(rep De-Vulgt - 78)
16. Rory Healey
(Unused)

Yellow Cards
None

Red Cards
None

Goalscorers
Drew Fahiya (34)
Drew Fahiya (48)

Bangor City

1. Paul Smith
2. Dave Swanick
3. Peter Hoy
4. Michael Johnson
5. James Brewerton
6. Keiran Killackey
7. Marc Limbert (c)
8. Michel Walsh
9. Les Davies
10. Paul McManus
11. Sion Edwards

Subs

12. Stuart Cooke
(rep McManus - 61)
14. Martin Beattie
(rep Killackey - 61)
15. Andy Mitchell
(rep Edwards - 61)
16. Alan Morgan
(Unused)

Yellow Cards
None

Red Cards
David Swanick (90+3)

Goalscorers
James Brewerton (90+2)

Attendance
174

Referee
Mr Neil Morgan