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3rd December 2007 - Western Mail
Rhyl settle it early
Two first-half goals were enough to end Port Talbot’s unbeaten home record as Rhyl triumphed at the Remax Stadium for the first time in three years. It was a sad beginning to Nicky Tucker’s managerial reign on home soil, but the spirit shown by his players after the break will raise hopes of better to come. “I’m disappointed. We stepped up the pace after the break and created enough chances to have earned at least a point, but the first half was shocking,” said Tucker. “We gave the ball away far too often and their first goal was very poor from our view. You cannot give teams like Rhyl a two-goal start and hope to gain something – it’s too big a hurdle.” Rhyl’s opener in the seventh minute was down to poor concentration in the heart of the home defence which allowed Chris Roberts to pursue unchallenged a ball over the top and supply the on-rushing Craig Jones at the far post, and he made no mistake. Just seven minutes later, a dubious free-kick just outside the box was sweetly bent around the wall by Mark Connolly and, within 14 minutes of the start, Rhyl’s victory platform was firmly laid. Port Talbot, fired by Tucker’s half-time broadside, came out in determined fashion in the second half. Chad Bond wasted a gilt-edged chance, while the introduction of Scott Barrow nearly had an immediate impact, a surging run climaxed by a brilliant supply to Lee John, who blasted over from just six yards. Town’s only reward, a Martin Rose spot-kick in added time, came too late to affect the verdict. Rhyl boss John Hulse was delighted. “Port Talbot are a good, positive side with lots of pace, so this was an excellent result for us,” he said. “My only criticism of my players was they could have held the ball up better after going 2-0 up, but that would be unfair as this was a great win. We can’t afford for the gap on the top two to get any bigger.” The last word went to match-winner Connolly. “We can build on this result with a win over Porthmadog next week and push on from there.”
3rd December 2007 - Daily Post
Hulse is delighted with win
John Hulse believes his Rhyl side’s cavalier attitude made Saturday’s victory at the Remax Stadium harder work than it should have been. The Lilywhites led 2-0 at half time, but spent much of the second period pushing for a killer third. Their approach gave Port Talbot several opportunities before they were eventually rewarded by an injury time penalty, which proved scant consolation for their spirited fightback. “I was a little frustrated we tried to force the issue by chasing a third goal when we could have held on to the ball a bit more in the second half,” said Hulse. “But after coming to a place like this and getting a win you won’t hear too many moans and groans from me.” Having lost on their last three visits to Victoria Road, the Lilies had something to prove. But they almost fell behind early on when Martin Rose clattered the crossbar. It was against the run of play when on six minutes Mark Connolly’s left-foot shot slipped from the grasp of Port keeper Kristian Rogers and Craig Jones could not miss at the back post. In the 14th minute Dave Cameron was fouled outside the area by Talbot’s Leigh de Vulgt, and Connolly curled a rasping free-kick into the net. Playing into the fierce wind and rain after the break, the visitors came under pressure at times but it was apparent it was not going to be the Steelmen’s day when Lee John was guilty of a glaring miss from six yards. Two minutes into injury time Gareth Wilson hacked down Sam Baker in the box and Rose put away the penalty, but the Lilywhites held on for the points.
3rd December 2007 - South Wales Evening Post
Port Talbot pay for sloppy start
Top Port Talbot striker Martin Rose took his goal tally to 11 with a 90th-minute penalty but it arrived too late after high-flying Rhyl had established a two-goal lead in the opening 14 minutes.With driving rain hampering fast and fluent football, Rhyl's Paul O'Neil deflected behind a Rose header following a Leigh De-Vulgt free-kick after only five minutes. De-Vulgt sent the resulting corner into the six-yard area and Rose's half volley crashed back off the underside of the bar. Port Talbot were left to regret that miss when the Denbighshire side moved in front two minutes later. Connolly attacked down the left and from eight yards he drilled in a shot which Port Talbot keeper Kristian Rogers blocked, but the loose ball ran into the path of Jones and the full-back hit an angled effort just beyond defender Craig Hanford at the far post. More positive play from the visitors produced a second goal in the 14th minute after De-Vulgt conceded a free-kick, and Connolly curled the 20-yard effort over the top of the three-man Port Talbot wall and into the top far corner. The North Wales side were increasing the momentum, and after Dave Cameron had a shot fingertipped away by the Port Talbot keeper, Jones slid in, only for Rogers to recover quickly and clutch the ball to his chest. After Gareth Phillips was fouled by Rhyl skipper George Horan, Chad Bond's 25-yard free-kick rebounded back off the wall and his crisp strike flashed narrowly wide. Just after the hour new boss Nicky Tucker introduced Scott Barrow in place of De-Vulgt in an attempt to inject fresh pace into his attack. Within five minutes the former Swansea City youth product embarked on a lightning run wide on the left. He cut infield, sending a pass into Lee John's path but from four yards he somehow hammered a left-foot effort over the top. Port Talbot teenager Sam Baker was brought on after 75 minutes for Liam McCreesh, and he almost made an instant impact, only to power a close-range shot straight at former Haverfordwest keeper Lee Kendall. With the match heading into injury time, Baker threaded his way into the Rhyl penalty area, only to be fouled by Gareth Wilson. Referee Dean John pointed to the penalty spot and Rose sent the spot-kick into the bottom corner of the net. “I'm disappointed with the first half where we never really got into the game,” said Port Talbot manager Nicky Tucker. “We made a good start but we then gave away a goal through a lapse in concentration. Rhyl followed that up with a second goal soon after from a free-kick, which was a good goal. In the opening 45 minutes our play and passing was sloppy, but in the second period we came back at Rhyl with a very good team performance, and on chances created we deserved at least a point from the game.” Tucker added: “There were occasions when threats from Martin Rose and Lee John almost got us off the mark, but that just about summed up our day. Although we scored from Martin Rose's penalty, what we really needed was for us to score possibly 15 minutes earlier, which would have given us enough time to grab a second in difficult wet conditions.”
2nd December 2007 - Wales on Sunday
Port Talbot fall despite gutsy show
This solid performance by Rhyl, which kept them in third place in the table, took Port Talbot’s unbeaten home record. Not a great start for new manager Nick Tucker, but there were plenty of pluses to be found in a gutsy performance that saw the home side keep fighting and pressurising, despite suffering an early two-goal setback. Another plus is the playing surface at the Remax Stadium which was excellent, despite torrential overnight rain. It was never, however, going to be a pretty game given the strong swirling winds – and the heavy showers. Port Talbot started brightly, and Martin Rose hit the bar after only two minutes. This early promise was blighted by the first Rhyl goal, which came after only six minutes. The home side failed to stop Rhyl making progress down the left and, from the resultant cross, goalkeeper Kristian Rogers could only parry the ball with it dropping at the feet of Craig Jones who tapped it in. There was not much that Rogers, or anyone else for that matter, could do about Mark Connolly’s second, eight minutes later. Once the home defence had given away a free kick just outside the box, the die was cast. Connolly’s exquisite free kick was curled precisely into the top corner. Although the home side came back, taking more of the possession, they failed to create any good opportunities. Shortly after the start of the second half, the home fans were holding their heads in despair – as Lee John put the ball over the bar from just six yards. Soon after, a free kick into the box was not cleared, and the ball fell to Port Talbot centre back, Lee Surman, who miscued his shot. All Port Talbot’s efforts seemed destined to go unrewarded, until youth team product Sam Baker, on as a substitute, was fouled in the penalty area. Martin Rose stepped up and sent keeper Lee Kendall the wrong way. The goal came in injury time, but there was still time for a flurry of action, with Martin Rose breaking through, only for Paul O’Neill to stop him with a terrific last-ditch tackle.
1st December 2007 - www.rhylfc.co.uk
Port Talbot fall despite gutsy show
After the disappointment of last week's defeat against Bangor, the Lilywhites bounced back in great style to become the first visiting team to win at the Remax Stadium in the league this season. In atrocious conditions, the Lilywhites took a two-goal lead in the first 15 minutes and though forced to defend desperately at times in the second half, they held on for a momentous victory. Having lost on their last three visits to Victoria Road, the Lilies had something to prove but they almost fell behind early on when first Paul O'Neill almost put through his own goal, then Port striker Martin Rose clattered the crossbar. It was against the run of play when on six minutes Mark Connolly's left-foot shot slipped from the grasp of home keeper Kristian Rogers and Craig Jones could not miss at the back post. In the 14th minute Dave Cameron was fouled outside the area by Talbot's Leigh de Vulgt, and Connolly curled a rasping free-kick into the net. Rose went close again for the hosts before Cameron had two opportunities at the other end but weak shooting let him down both times. Playing into the fierce wind and rain after the break, the visitors came under pressure at times but it was apparent it was not going to be the Steelmen's day when Lee John was guilty of a glaring miss from six yards. Andy Moran fired just over the bar, then Lee Kendall grasped Scott Barrow's shot at the second attempt and was clattered by Liam McCreesh for his trouble, the offender fortunate just to get a yellow card. Two minutes into injury time Gareth Wilson hacked down Sam Baker in the box and Rose put away the penalty, but the Lilywhites held on for the points.
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