1st January 2008
Bond and Barrow on target in derby victory
Port Talbot Town avenged their Boxing Day defensive mistakes with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Neath Athletic at Llandarcy Park in this New Years Day match. Manager Nicky Tucker included new signing Mark McGibbon in the starting line-up while fellow new signing Kyle Sheppard took a place on the bench with Matthew Thompson unfortunate to be dropped from the squad after a number of impressive displays. Port Talbot took charge of the match from the start and Chad Bond should have scored in the opening exchanges but he failed to convert after being set-up with an excellent ball from Scott Barrow. Lee John was next to come close for the visitors but he struck wide after ten minutes in one of his best performances for the side since his return from Newport County. Referee Wayne Tregonning favoured the home side in his decision making and denied Port Talbot a number of free-kicks and also issued debutant Mark McGibbon with a yellow card that would prove costly. Neath failed to create any worthwhile chances in the opening half and should have been reduced to ten men when goalkeeper Craig Morris punched Scott Barrow in the face after collecting the ball in a goalmouth scramble. Tregonning again missed the incident but Chad Bond made it a miserable afternoon for Morris and Neath minutes laer when he scored form a fine strike outside the area on 55 minutes. Scott Barrow then had his revenge on Morris seven minutes later when his strike on goal picked up a wicked deflection to double the advantage for Nicky Tucker’s side. Both teams were then reduced to ten men as Neath’s Jarrod Price displayed his dark side with a stamp on the face of Barrow to receive a deserved straight red card but McGibbon was shown his second yellow for his part in separating the resulting melee. McGibbon had done more than enough to impress the travelling supporters however despite his dismissal. Neath offered little but Kristian Rogers was called into action once although Liam McCreesh could have added a third in injury time but his double strike drifted wide of the target.

Neath Athletic

1. Craig Morris
2. Dale Evans
3. Jack Jenkins
4. Matthew Rees
5. Lee Bevan
6. Carl Jenkins
7. Stephen Pockett
8. Chris Pridham
9. Carl Shaw
10. Andrew Hill
11. Jarrod Price

12. Billy Timothy
(rep J.Jenkins - 69)
14. Richard French
(rep Shaw - 60)
15. Simon Dyer
(rep C.Jenkins - 79)
16. Gavin Jones
(unused)

Goals

None

Yellow Cards

None

Red Cards

Jarrod Price (63)

Port Talbot Town

1. Kristian Rogers
2. Mark McGibbon
3. Craig Hanford
4. Gareth Phillips
5. Matthew Rees
6. Lee Surman
7. Lee John
8. Liam McCreesh
9. Martin Rose
10. Chad Bond
11. Scott Barrow

12. Dylan Blain
(rep Barrow - 64)
14. Kyle Sheppard
(rep Phillips - 24)
15. Leigh De-Vulgt
(rep Rose - 76)
16. Sam Baker
(Unused)

Goals

Chad Bond (55)
Scott Barrow (62)

Yellow Cards

Lee Surman (12)
Mark McGibbon (15)

Red Cards

Mark McGibbon (63)

Referee

Mr Wayne Tregonning

Attendance

309

2nd January 2008 - Western Mail
Little cheer for Dyer
The only Christmas cheer for Neath boss Andrew Dyer has been the signing of Clayton Blackmore, who will probably make his debut ar Carmarthen on Saturday. In an even first half, Lee Surman for the visitors and Neath’s Lee Bevan both missed with unopposed headers when well placed. Chad Bond put the Steelmen in front in the 55th minute when he cracked a blistering 35-yard drive past a despairing Craig Morris. And, seven minutes later, Scott Barrow’s deflection ballooned over the head of a stranded Morris for number two. Late on, Andy Hill was brilliantly denied by visitors’ keeper Kristian Rogers.

2nd January 2008 - Evening Post
Match Report
Second-half goals by Chad Bond and Scott Barrow gave Port Talbot a crucial 2-0 victory over Neath at Llandarcy Park, a result that prevented the hosts from leapfrogging their visitors. After Neath's Lee Bevan and Port Talbot's Lee Surman had missed point-blank headers in the first half, the Steelmen went ahead in the 55th minute when a breakaway led to Bond lashing a fierce low drive past home keeper Craig Morris from 35 yards. Seven minutes later, Barrow cut inside from wide out and his shot deflected high over the head of Morris to put the visitors 2-0 in front. Andy Hill was denied by a brilliant Kristian Rogers save late on but both managers acknowledged the result was a deserved one for the Remax Stadium side. "We thoroughly deserved the win and I'm very pleased, but full credit to Neath who are a hard-working side and should do well for the rest of the season," said Port Talbot boss Nick Tucker. Neath manager Andrew Dyer said: "I can't fault the efforts of my players but it was just not our day and Port Talbot ran out worthy winners."

1st January 2008 - www.welsh-premier.com
Steelmen prevail in bad-tempered affair
Goals from Chad Bond and Scott Barrow gave Port Talbot the spoils in a bad-tempered derby at Llandarcy Park. Both sides finished with 10 men as Neath’s Jarrod Price was shown a straight red card for a stamp on Scott Barrow, while the Steelmen's debutant Mark McGibbon also took an early bath after becoming involved in the resulting melee. Bond opened the scoring for in spectacular fashion on 55 minutes with a fine strike from outside the area before Scott Barrow doubled the lead on 62 minutes with a deflected shot that deceived home goalkeeper Craig Morris. But the stopper was lucky to still be on the pitch after referee Wayne Tregonning missed his punch on Barrow minutes before the opening goal.