23rd November 2007
Tucker makes his point with clean sheet draw
New manager Nicky Tucker took charge of Port Talbot Town for the first time in this difficult match but came away pleased with a point despite creating the bettter chances over the ninety minutes. Carmarthen dominated the possession with some good passing play in the opening exchanges but Lee John and Scott Barrow were a constant threat in support of lone striker Martin Rose on the counter attack and created a number of chances for the visitors, the best falling to Barrow but his effort was saved by former Port Talbot goalkeeper Neil Thomas from close range. For all of the home sides possession they struggled to create many chances as Port Talbot defended well and Kristan Rogers was largely untroubled in the visitors goal. Martin Rose also had an opportunity to give Port Talbot the lead while Liam McCreesh also came close with a well struck shot before half-time. Carmarthen maintained the better of the possession in the second half but again could not create the breakthrough as Port Talbot defended well but the introduction of Chad Bond on 77 minutes offered Port Talbot another attacking option and the visitors enjoyed their best spell of the match. Bond was a constant threat alongside Martin Rose and it was his work that created the space for Liam McCreesh to have the chance of the match as he found himself one-on-one with Carmarthen keeper Neil Thomas but after controlling the ball he drilled his effort over the bar. Port Talbot forced a series of corners and almost took the lead in a goal mouth scramble but could not find a way past Thomas in the home goal. Referee Paul Thomas signalled for full time in an entertaining match that could have gone either way although Port Talbot will feel the harder done by of the two sides through the number of chances that they created during the match. Nicky Tucker can take a number of positives out of his new sides performance on the night as he enjoyed a strong start to his reign in charge of the team.

23rd November 2007 - www.carmarthentownafc.net
Match Report
With the outcome finally balanced throughout both sides seemed happy to share the points. Following the early ping-pong both sides played entertaining football with Martin Rose prominent for the visitors and Sacha Walters’ strong running testing the visiting defence. On the 20 minute mark Danny Thomas played in Jamal Easter and the with the wing man’s lob clearing keeper and bar a drive might have been more profitable option. Port Talbot raided both flanks and should have broken the deadlock when Dylan Blain took advantage of a Town slip but Scott Barrow lost out in a one on one with the keeper. Barrow continued to penetrate and a minute later it took a saving tackle from Chris Thomas and a double save from Neil Thomas to spare Town’s blushes. As the game swung from end to end Danny Thomas’ effort, following a corner, was cleared off the line and the Steelmen’s keeper Kristian Rogers produced a strong two handed save to deny Gregg Coombes’ powerful 20 yard angled drive. Walter’s ball in was pilfered off Danny Thomas’ head as it looked to have found the net and Rose was denied by a sliding tackle from Town keeper Thomas to keep it goalless at the break. The second half saw Town corral the visitors for long periods but without a final finish. Rogers again saved well from Danny Thomas and ten minutes into the half Town fans celebrated as Thomas found the back of the net, after Easter had blocked a clearance, but the Assistant flagged an offside to disappoint the Richmond faithful. With Port Talbot proving resilient as Town dominated Chad Bond replaced Barrow on 76 minutes and the substitution had an immediate effect as Bond and Rose combined well but McCreesh blazed over when well placed. A saving interception from Lee Surman denied Town but at the other end Thomas, who was determined to keep a clean sheet, produced a double save from Bond and Craig Hanford and a minute later steered away Blain’s fierce drive. But with the outcome in doubt until the final whistle both management teams seemed satisfied with the result. Town coach Mark Aizlewood thought it was an excellent game and a fair result. “Yes we were looking for three points but the game could have gone either way and sometimes over a season you mustn’t underestimate the value of a home point in a game like that because we could have lost it. We had most of the possession - they had the best chances. We created good opportunities but without creating good chances and the reason was our final ball was poor We needed to be careful that in trying to win the game we didn’t expose ourselves to lose it. They had their best chances on the break. On reflection the game was a good Welsh Premier derby. It could have gone either way”. Port Talbot’s newly appointed manager Nicky Turner agreed. “Yes very happy. Obviously we didn’t want to loose the game. One point is always, away from home and especially at Carmarthen, very satisfactory On chances we probably edged it and maybe we should have put one of them away”.

23rd November 2007 - www.welshpremier.com
Match Report
In a fast and open game in a bitterly cold Carmarthen, the hosts played out a goal-less draw with Port Talbot Town in what was Nicky Tucker's first game as boss for the visitors. Paul Reid continued to pick the Steelmen team and Martin Rose played as the lone striker, with Chad Bond on the bench. There were chances at both ends in the First Half with teenage winger Scott Barrow twice being expertly denied in a one-on-one situation by Neil Thomas in the home goal. The best chance of the Half though fell to Town striker, Danny Thomas who was centimetres away from prodding a Paul Fowler cross home. Town midfielder Gregg Coombes was also denied as Kristian Rogers saved well from his piledriver. As the frost made the pitch slippery underfoot in the Second Half, there were countless passing errors, which made for a free-flowing and end-to end second period, with glorious chances for both sides. Sasha Walters, the outstanding player on the evening, was pulling the strings for the Old Gold midfield and he helped to put Danny Thomas away who finished with aplomb, only to see Assistant Referee Eddie King correctly waving for offside. Rose and the energetic Dylan Blain both got beyond the Town defence shortly after, but Kris Thomas and Liam Hancock both pulled off last ditch tackles to deny the front runners. The greatest chance though fell for midfielder Liam McCreesh, just moments after Bond entered the fray. The sub picked up the ball in midfield and picked out Rose who crossed to the far post, eluding Bond and falling perfectly for McCreesh who took three touches, only to fire over from two metres - A chance spurned by trying to burst the net instead of picking his spot. The Steelmen continued to push for the winner and Rose was doubly denied by the outstanding Thomas, who pulled off another incredible save from defender Craig Hanford in the dying minutes.