Principality Welsh Premier League

Saturday, 27th March 2010

at The GenQuip Stadium

Port Talbot Town 1-0 GAP Connah’s Quay

Goalscorers

Port Talbot Town

Liam McCreesh (28)

GAP Connah’s Quay

None

Referee - Mr Paul Thomas

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Port Talbot Town

Team - Lee Kendall, Leigh De-Vulgt, Lloyd Grist, Gareth Phillips, Matthew Rees, Lee Surman, Lee John, Neil Thomas, Martin Rose, Liam McCreesh, Scott Barrow

Subs - Daniel Thomas (Unused), Karl Lewis (Unused), Drew Fahiya (rep John - 74), Chris Silva (Unused), Josh Wonnacott (Unused)

Yellow Cards - Neil Thomas (30), Gareth Phillips (45) Red Cards - None

Goalscorers - Liam McCreesh (28)

GAP Connah’s Quay

Team - Terry McCormick, Ben Alston, Tom Baker, Mark McGregor, Andy Alston, Craig Jones, Jamie Petrie, Stuart Scheuber, Chris Herbert, Sam McNutt, Robert Jones

Subs - Mike Hayes (rep Herbert - 47), Allan Glover (rep B.Alston - 34), Alan Hooley (Unused), Danny Pinch (Unused)

Yellow Cards - Robert Jones (7), Ben Alston (30) Red Cards - None

Goalscorers - None

Attendance - 162

Referee - Mr Paul Thomas

Midfielder Karl Lewis returned to the squad after a foot injury but could only take a place on the bench as manager Mark Jones had the benefit of a full strength squad to choose from for the visit of GAP Connah’s Quay. Port Talbot started the better of the two sides and that was how it stayed for long periods of the match although the result did not fully represent the sides dominance on the day. Martin Rose and Liam McCreesh caused problems for the home defence in the early exchanges but Port Talbot would have to until 28 minutes into the game to take the lead. Liam McCreesh scored the all-important goal when a deflected cross was met by McCreesh on the edge of the area and he drilled his shot into the far corner of the net. Matthew Rees came close to adding a second when he found himself on the end of a Scott Barrow corner at the near post but his effort was saved by Nomads goalkeeper Terry McCormick. Martin Rose also had chances to extend the lead but could not direct his two opening half efforts on goal while McCreesh could have added a second before the break but his shot went over the bar. Port Talbot were less effective in the second half but retained possession for long periods of the game as two enforced substitutions made things all the more difficult for the visitors. Drew Fahiya replaced Lee John with 15 minutes remaining and had one chance to make the game safe but he was denied by McCormick in the Nomads goal. The visitors pushed for an equaliser but struggled to find a way past the well-organised home defence as Mark Jones side held on for a comfortable victory despite the close margin of the result.

29th March 2010 - Western Mail

Port Talbot maintain Euro quest

Port Talbot’s dream of a first ever appearance in Europe remains on course after a hard fought victory over Connah’s Quay who now look certain to be relegated. The Steelmen are five points adrift of third-placed Aberystwyth with a game in hand but they now face tough matches on the road at Prestatyn and Bangor this week followed by trips to Neath and Bala. “It’s still on but this week is crucial for us. It’s just a matter of ticking off the results now as we only have six matches to go,” said Port Talbot boss Mark Jones. “Although it was 1-0 it was a comfortable win as they rarely threatened us but you are always nervous that they could break away and equalise.” Once again it was Liam McCreesh who decided the issue with a blistering 10 yard volley in the 28th minute but it should have been a lot more. “When Liam was banned for five matches we only won once so it makes you wonder what would have happened if he was on the field,” Jones added.

29th March 2010 - Daily Post

Match Report

GAP’S flirtation with 1-0 heart-stoppers saw them this time return pointless from the South Wales steel town’s GenQuip Stadium. Just four days after sinking title favourites Llanelli 1-0 having previously lost 1-0 to next-door neighbours Airbus UK, the Deesiders again had to accept a frustrating goal-less return. Said Gap manager Ken Price: “They are a strong side to be fair and we let them play too much football in the first half. We changed our formation around a bit at half time and had a lot more possession. There weren’t that many clear chances going to be honest and what there were we weren’t able to take.” The only goal arrived midway through the first half when Gap allowed Port’s dangerous top marksman Liam McCleesh to get into a scoring position and he swallowed the chance to fire beyond keeper Terry McCormick. “We were a little off the pace at that point but I felt we improved a lot and the prospect of a draw always remained on,” added Price. Gap’s Ben Alston and Rob Jones both collected first half bookings.

28th March 2010 - Wales on Sunday

Port Talbot stroll to Quay win

Port Talbot are chasing a finish in the top three again after a recent blip. Despite the scoreline this was one of the Steelmen’s most one-sided victories imaginable. The busiest player was visiting keeper Terry McCormick, who was under constant attack from Martin Rose and Liam McCreesh. It was a disappointing day for the visitors who were looking to follow up their shock victory over Llanelli in the week. But they had not bargained on meeting an in-form Port Talbot who should have won convincingly. The goal that separated the two sides came after 27 minutes when McCreesh produced a moment of individual magic by unleashing a thunderous 20-yard shot that was too hot for McCormick to handle.