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8th October 2007 - South Wales Evening Post
Spirited West End push Port Talbot all the way
Early goals at the beginning of each half for Port Talbot from Martin Rose and Liam McCreesh edged out West End in this Welsh Cup second-round tie at Pryderi Park.The MacWhirter Welsh League division two side responded midway into the second half with Neil Phillips offering the Townhill outfit a lifeline, but the Steelmen stubbornly defended their slender lead for the final 15 minutes to move into the next round. Following their excellent midweek Premier Cup victory against Porthmadog, Port Talbot threatened to put an early shine on another cup performance by moving in front after only six minutes. On-loan Swansea City striker Kerry Morgan managed to find Gareth Phillips in support, and he had good vision to allow Rose to embark on an attacking route into the penalty area. Rose committed goalkeeper Alex Davies to making a save and then neatly planted the ball into the net from close range. Port Talbot continued to be the more adventurous in going forward and having gained a free-kick after 17 minutes, Leigh De-Vulgt found Kerry Morgan in space but the Merthyr-born teenager headed narrowly wide from 10 yards. The Welsh Premier side created another chance seven minutes later when Lee John combined with Kerry Morgan and the lively frontrunner found Dylan Blain on the edge of the six-yard area but he hastily side-footed the ball wide. Within a minute West End gained a free-kick after Jonathan Keaveny had been fouled by Craig Hanford, but from Rory Smitham's delivery, Port Talbot keeper Kristian Rogers gathered the high delivery on his goal-line. Port Talbot almost increased their lead with two attacks 10 minutes before half-time. Firstly, intelligent probing by Kerry Morgan set Gareth Phillips on an attacking route forward. He successfully picked out Blain on the right side but the opportunity was wasted when he sent a shot narrowly over the top. Fifty seconds later, Port Talbot did find the net for the second time, Rose nodding in an angled header following a De-Vulgt corner, but the goal was ruled out by referee Lee James for Rose being offside. With a minute of the opening half remaining, West End almost drew level when Ross Jones broke forward at speed but his goal-bound shot was intercepted on the edge of the penalty area by Lee Surman. Port Talbot began the second half again in attacking manner and increased their lead within four minutes. Gareth Phillips weaved into West End territory and from the edge of the penalty area he chipped the ball into the path of McCreesh, and the ex-Afan Lido player coolly finished with a shot into the roof of the net. There was finally a reward for West End midway into the second half when, from a quality delivery from Keaveny, Neil Phillips superbly headed home from close range at the far upright. That goal offered the Townhill side encouragement, and they went close to gaining a 75th-minute leveller when a precision pass from Ross Jones found Neil Phillips but he was off target with a low shot that flashed wide of the post. West End continued to tighten the screw and there was tension in the Port Talbot defence. Richard Jones made progress on a swift run forward, but Phillips was once more unlucky with a second opportunity going over the top. “I was well aware that West End were going to be a difficult side to overcome, especially in a one-off cup tie, and I certainly can't fault the performance and commitment from the players,” said Port Talbot Town manager Tony Pennock. “We stamped our authority on the cup tie with an early goal in each half, but we let West End back in midway into the second half, and from then on it was always going to be a scrap, but fortunately we held on.” West End manager Donny Smitham said: “Despite the double handicap of conceding goals in each half, we managed to draw on our resources to find a way back in the tie when Neil Phillips headed in from close range. For long periods we showed Port Talbot too much respect, but we certainly were equal to them and made them work hard for victory. After we scored, we then displayed great character and created a series of chances that unfortunately went wide of the target. Looking back at the final 15 minutes, we could have won the game, and at the end of the day we know what standards we have to reach, and we certainly made Port Talbot aware that they had to battle for the win.”
7th October 2007 - www.welsh-premier.com
West End panic the Steelmen
Ambitious West End gave the Steelmen a fright before finally bowing out of the cup. The Swansea-based Welsh League Division Two underdogs had recorded just one league win to date, but belied that poor form against their illustrious opponents. The game went according to plan in the early stages, with Martin Rose rounding keeper Alex Davies to slot Talbot in front on five minutes. And Liam McCreesh then produced a cool finish to extend the lead. But home hopes were revived on 58 minutes when Neil Phillips pulled a goal back and West End laid seige to the visitors' goal in search of a shock equaliser. It failed to materialise, but Tony Pennock's side were relieved to hear the final whistle.
7th October 2007 - Wales on Sunday
Match Report
This keenly contested Welsh Cup second round tie between two local rivals went the way of the Welsh Premier giants – but they were given a fright before earning a place in the last 32. The Welsh League Division Two underdogs had nothing to lose and, with just one league win to their credit so far, the form-book suggested nothing less than a comfortable passage for the mighty Steelmen. But the magic of the cup was played out in 20 frantic closing minutes as the Swansea-based minnows laid siege to the visitors’ goal in search of a shock equaliser. Yet it started as scripted for Port Talbot, striker Martin Rose racing through in the fifth minute to round keeper Alex Davies and slot home the opening goal. But later normal service resumed when Liam McCreesh popped up to produce a cool finish after gliding past the West End keeper. It seemed a damage limitation exercise was on the cards for the home side, but they pulled a goal back on 58 minutes via Neil Phillips. It was the prelude to a pulsating last quarter with the Steelmen forced to survive a very awkward period before moving into the next round.
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