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11th November 2007
Baker double just not enough as Town hold Merthyr
Port Talbot were within ten minutes of claiming a superb victory in this match. Manager Keith Hanford was forced to make changes to his side with Ben James suspended for the match and Callum Hanford unavailable as Liam Pullen and James John returned to the starting line-up. Merthyr started the far stronger of the two sides and pressured Port Talbot with a number of early corners while they kept possession well in midfield and used their pace upfront to create a number of chances as the home side resorted to clearing their lines at every opportunity. Merthyr took a deserved lead on 12 minutes when the dangerous Kalim Ali weaved his way into the area and placed the ball past Lloyd Clement in the Port Talbot goal. There were chances at the other end however as Port Talbot reacted well to the goal and both Rory Healey and Sam Baker had chances to equalise. A ball over the top by Merthyr lead to their second goal however as Chris Penny has on hand to make no mistake from a one-on-one situation with Clement in the Port Talbot goal to give Merthyr a convincing lead. Port Talbot hit straight back within minutes however as Josh Wannacott scored a superb header from a cross on 28 minutes to give his side belief ahead of the second half. Port Talbot grabbed an equaliser in the second half when Sam Baker found himself in space on the left and made no mistake with a cool finish past the advancing goalkeeper. Merthyr stepped up their game but were vulnerable on the counter-attack and struggled to cope with the strength and pace of Baker as he created a number of chances and on 68 minutes Baker gave Port Talbot a 3-2 lead with another well taken goal. At the other end Josh Wannacott was in superb form at the back and cleared every ball that Merthyr could put in the area. On 75 minutes the referee gave the visitors a very dubious penalty for a push in the area but Chris Perry placed his spot kick over the bar. Port Talbot could not quite hold onto their lead however as Kalim Ali found himself in space and scored from close range to equalise on 80 minutes. It would be the last goal of the match with Port Talbot taking plenty of positives from an excellent second half.
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