Loosemores Solicitors Challenge Cup Grp One
Tuesday, 18th August 2009
at The GenQuip Stadium, Port Talbot
Port Talbot Town 2-1 Neath
Goalscorers
Port Talbot Town
Nicky Holland (47 minutes)
Martin Rose (82 minutes)
Neath
Rob Spendiff (88 minutes)
Referee - Mr Brian James
Port Talbot Town
Team - Lee Kendall, Andy Boslem, Lloyd Grist, Gareth Phillips, Gary Bansor, Lee Surman,
Lee John, Matthew Thompson, Mark Jones, Liam McCreesh, Nicky Holland
Subs - Drew Fahiya (rep McCreesh - 80), Martin Rose (rep Jones - 74), Scott Barrow
(rep John - 68), Sam Baker (Unused)
Yellow Cards - Gareth Phillips (41), Mark Jones (62) Red Cards - None
Goalscorers - Nicky Holland (47), Martin Rose (82)
Neath
Team - Wyn Walters, Carlos Costan, Richard Ingram, Rob Folland, Ian Hillier, Ashley
Evans, Stephen Pockett, Luke Morgan, Craig Steins, Steve Davey, Carl Shaw
Subs - Sean Cronin (Unused), Liam Hancock (Unused), Dale Evans (rep Morgan - 68),
Rob Spendiff (rep Davey - 55), Liam Thomas (rep Shaw - 68)
Yellow Cards - Ian Hillier (61), Dale Evans (90) Red Cards - None
Goalscorers - Rob Spendiff (88)
Attendance - 182
Referee - Mr Brian James
Competition for places in the Port Talbot Town starting line-up stepped up a gear
following this Challenge Cup derby win as manager Mark Jones started with just four
of the team that defeated Elements Cefn Druids at the weekend. Kendall, Surman, John
and McCreesh were joined by new signings Boslem, Grist, Jones and Holland while Phillips,
Bansor and Thompson were also handed places in the starting line-up. Port Talbot
started the better of the two sides and maintained their superiority for the majority
of the match as visiting goalkeeper Wyn Walters struggled to defend a series of opening
half corners while Neath struggled even further to make any sort of impression on
the match at the other end of the field. After an impressive pre-season Nicky Holland
thrived on his competitive debut and caused a number of problems for Neath as they
failed to make any sort of stance on the match and it was Holland who would make
the breakthrough for manager Mark Jones side as he capitalised on a loose ball in
the area within minutes of the start of the second half to hand his side a more than
deserved lead. Port Talbot remained dominant in defence with Lee Kendall more than
aware to the few balls that passed the new defensive pairing of Bansor and Surman
as Neath became more and more frustrated at their lack of influence on the game.
Mark Jones strengthened his team as the match continued with the introduction of
Martin Rose, Scott Barrow and Drew Fahiya and it was Rose who would claim the second
goal of the game as he finished off a fine move on the left with a well-taken goal
after 82 minutes. With Port Talbot cruising to a derby victory Neath were able to
catch the side off-guard as substitute Rob Spendiff lifted the ball of Lee Kendall
from the edge of the area to offer his side a chance of taking something from the
match. It would prove too little, too late for Neath however as Port Talbot battled
hard for the remainder of the match to claim a deserved win over their local rivals.
