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17th December 2007 - Evening Post
First home win for boss
Port Talbot's leading scorer Martin Rose netted a late winner to lower the curtain on their pre-Christmas Welsh Premiership campaign with their first victory at the Remax Stadium for new boss Nicky Tucker.But the Victoria Road outfit had to do it the hard way, with Scott Barrow canceling out an opening goal from Caernarfon's James Thomas. And there was more gloom for the North Wales coastal side as they ended the game with both skipper Eifion Jones and Keiran Quinn sent off. After being put under early pressure, Port Talbot finally burst into life when Gendros born Lee Surman probed the visitors' defence to release Gareth Phillips. The former Swansea City and Merthyr Tydfil midfielder then made direct progress forward, but it was Eifion Jones who produced an intercepted clearance on the edge of the Caernarfon penalty area. Pressure gradually began to be applied to the Port Talbot back line, with Quinn drilling a low shot just wide of the upright after Layton Maxwell had created the eighth-minute opening. The Port Talbot goal had a let-off four minutes later, when a free-kick from just outside the penalty area by James Thomas scrapped the top edge of Rogers's crossbar. The Canaries continued to carve out the better openings, and midway into the first half Thomas saw his 25-yard shot pushed away by the Port Talbot goalkeeper. The deadlock was finally broken nine minutes into the second half when ex-Vauxhall Motors striker Thomas, found himself unmarked at the far post to drive a shot past Rogers after he failed to cut out a cross delivered by Paul Addo. Port Talbot gradually began to come more into the picture and there was reward on the hour when Liam McCreesh delivered a precision pass into the path of Barrow. The lively teenager seized on the opportunity to sweep the ball into the net from eight yards. Caernarfon were reduced to 10 men after 66 minutes when Eifion Jones was instantly red-carded by match official Kerry Morgan following a challenge involving Chad Bond. Port Talbot increased the tempo following that departure and secured the lead seven minutes from the end when Rose squeezed the ball in from close range from a Barrow pass, following a frantic scramble in the Caernarfon goalmouth. The North Wales outfit finished the game with nine men, with Quinn the second player to be ordered off following a late challenge on Bond, after having been yellow carded eight minutes earlier. "It certainly was a frustrating first half where we didn't perform, and to be totally honest we certainly need to learn quickly to be a 90-minute side," said new Port Talbot manager Tucker. "The second half saw us make a defensive mistake from Kristian Rogers to let Caernarfon move in front, but we then rolled our sleeves up and decided to play attacking football. "All of a sudden I think we realised that we were in a game, and from then on we dominated the match which was very pleasing, managing to secure the all-important three points." Tucker added: "We didn't really get Scott (Barrow) involved enough out wide in the first half, but after the interval he was more creative and caused the visiting defence numerous problems. "We go to Newtown next Saturday. we already have seven games with maximum points and the Mid Wales side appear to give inconsistent performances, so with the ambitions that I have here at the club, hopefully we can bring the three points back."
17th December 2007 - Daily Post
Match Report
Eifion Jones’ dismissal on 70 minutes swung this match in which the Canaries had competed well and were a goal to the good. The Caernarfon player was shown a red card for an alleged elbowing offence. But visiting manager Steve O’Shaughnessy vigorously defended his player and said that the club would be appealing. "Eifion’s simply not that kind of player and was gutted at the decision," said the Town boss. "We were in control of the match and playing well on a good surface, and I am sure that we would have taken the points." James Thomas, John Rowley and Layton Maxell all had good chances in the first period with Thomas a constant thorn in the flesh for the home side. The visitors deservedly took the lead nine minutes into the second period when Paul Addo’s cross was headed down by Rowley for Thomas to drill home from 15 yards. The dismissal of central defender Jones saw the visitors shut up shop to defend their lead but Port were on terms within seven minutes when Scott Barrow tapped home after Vinnie Whelan had parried a Chad Bond effort. The hosts pressed forward seeking to gain the initiative and Whelan was kept busy repelling the hosts. But he was eventually beaten seven minutes from time by Martin Rose, who got on the end of a Lee John cross. Caernarfon’s problems were compounded when Kieran Quinn received his second yellow card in stoppage time to ensure the visitors finished the match with only nine men.
17th December 2007 - Western Mail
Match Report
This was an important win for Port Talbot manager Nicky Tucker, his first since taking over at the Remax Stadium from Tony Pennock three matches ago. “I wanted three points today because, as a new manager, you are always keen to get that first win under your belt. I will sleep better now,” he said. James Thomas put the Canaries ahead in the 54th minute from Paul Addo’s cross, but Scott Barrow levelled within six minutes to set up a grand finale. The visitors’ cause was not helped when Eifion Jones was red-carded and they lost Kieran Quin, also, late on. In between, Martin Rose wrapped things up from close range following a goalmouth melee. The Steelmen have climbed to seventh spot, while Caernarfon’s inconsistency continues.
16th December 2007 - Wales on Sunday
Rose a thorn in Caernarfon’s side
This was Nick Tucker’s first win since leaving Dinas Powys and arriving at Port Talbot to be re-united with some players he had previously managed in the Welsh Premier. In particular, there is Martin Rose, who Tucker took with him from Taffs Well to Llanelli, and it was Rose who scored the winner, in the 83rd minute. A delighted Tucker said he was pleased with the performance levels of his new squad. However, there was not too much of that on show during a scrappy first half, which finished scoreless. Ten minutes after the break, a James Thomas shot put the visitors ahead but Caernarfon were reduced to 10 men when Eifion Jones received a straight red for using his elbow. It took Port Talbot seven minutes to get back on terms. A Chad Bond shot could only be parried by the visiting keeper, Vinny Whelan, for Scott Barrow to tap home the rebound. Port Talbot pressure forced good saves from Whelan, but he could do nothing to stop Rose when he side-footed home a cross from Lee John. In injury time, Caernarfon’s Kieran Quinn picked up a second yellow – and was off.
15th December 2007 - www.welsh-premier.com
Winning joy for Tucker
Port Talbot gave manager Nicky Tucker his first win since taking charge, but Caernarfon's red-card woe continued as Eifion Jones and Kieran Quinn were both dismissed in the second-half. After a scrappy and scoreless first period, James Thomas put the Canaries in front from Paul Addo's cross, but Scott Barrow delivered the equaliser on the hour when visiting keeper Vinnie Whelan could only parry a Chad Bond shot. Six minutes later, Caernarfon were reduced to 10 men when Jones used an elbow and Martin Rose squeezed in the winner seven minutes from time from six yards out. Quinn got his marching orders in injury time for a second yellow card to end an unhappy afternoon for Steve O'Shaughnessy's men.
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