12th January 2008
Tucker frustrated at latest points dropped
Port Talbot again created more than enough chances to win this match but a lack of composure in front of goal and some awful defending handed the home side maximum points. Mark McGibbon returned to the squad on the bench after his recent suspension as manager Nicky Tucker kept a familiar starting line-up and his side almost took the lead in the opening exchanges when Lima McCreesh found himself one-on-one with the home goalkeeper but failed to beat the pint sized debutant shot-stopper from close range. Chad Bond and Martin Rose both went close despite Port Talbot wasting a number of corners and free-kicks but it was Airbus who would take the lead on 33 minutes when Kristian Rogers spilled a save into the path of the advancing Paul Hallows and the home striker made no mistake from close range to open the scoring. As the pitch became heavier it suited the defensive play of Airbus as they sat back on their lead throughout the second half and for all the possession of the visitors they again struggled to make any impact in front of goal. Mark McGibbon replaced Leigh De-Vulgt on 60 minutes and made an immediate impression with a number of testing runs and crosses on the right while in a surprise move top scorer Martin Rose was replaced on 65 minutes by young striker Sam Baker and the youth player did well with a battling performance upfront for the remainder of the match despite a harsh booking. Dylan Blain was the third and final substitution for Port Talbot as he replaced Liam McCreesh in midfield but Port Talbot were still unable to turn their possession into goals as their frustrations increased. Matthew Rees was pushed upfront in the final few minutes in a desperate attempt for an equaliser but Airbus remained solid at the back to hold on and claim maximum points from the match and leave Port Talbot to reflect on the number of early chances that they squandered in front of goal.

Airbus UK

1. Aaron Tyrer
2. Ryan Edwards
3. Gary Lovell
4. Danny Desormeaux
5. John Davies
6. Mark Allen
7. Darren Wright
8. Gareth Owen
9. Phil Molyneux
10. Paul Hallows
11. Gareht Caughter

12. Adam Hunter
(rep Owen - 90)
14. James McIntosh
(rep Molyneux - 66)
15. James Hussanney
(Unused)

Goals

Paul Hallows (33)

Yellow Cards

Paull Hallows (49)
Gary Lovell (60)

Red Cards

None

Port Talbot Town

1. Kristian Rogers
2. Leigh De-Vulgt
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 McCreesh - 77)
14. Matthew Thompson
(Unused)
15. Sam Baker
(rep Rose - 65)
16. Mark McGibbon
(rep De-Vulgt - 60)

Goals

None

Yellow Cards

Liam McCreesh (50)
Lee Surman (75)
Sam Baker (77)

Red Cards

None

Referee

Mr Lee Evans

Attendance

97

13th January 2008 - Wales on Sunday
Davies saves Airbus day
Airbus UK clinched a thoroughly deserved 1-0 victory over visiting Port Talbot, and they set their stall out straight from the start with Kristian Rogers in the Steelmakers’ goal pulling off a point-blank save from Darren Wright. Rogers had to be alert moments later to deny Danny Desormeaux with a good chance to break the deadlock, and the same player missed a golden opportunity soon after. The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute and Desormeaux was the creator, carving out a chance for Paul Hallows, who had his initial shot blocked but made no mistake at the second attempt. A Gareth Caughter cross found Hallows unmarked just prior to the break, but this time his effort was poor. The visitors came more into their own in the second half with Martin Rose in particular looking threatening. The Wingmakers were content to sit on their lead but had a late scare when Chad Bond and sub Sam Baker had to be denied by last-ditch tackles by John Davies.

12th January 2008 - www.welsh-premier.com
All-Hallows day for Airbus
Airbus clinched the spoils as visiting manager Nicky Tucker rued Port Talbot's inability to take their chances. The Wingmakers's success came courtesy of a 33rd-minute goal from Paul Hallows, who was set-up by Danny Desormeaux and converted at the second attempt after Steelmen's keeper Kris Rogers had blocked his initial effort. The keeper had earlier made a point-blank save from Darren Wright and also had to be alert to deny Desormeaux minutes later. Hallows failed to convert another good first-half opening created by Gareth Caughter's cross and the visitors threatened more after the break. Martin Rose posed a considerable threat, but it was Chad Bond and substitute Sam Baker who nearly snatched a share of the points late on. "We conceded another sloppy goal," said Tucker. "We have again created enough chances to win the match but poor finishing and even worse defending has cost us points."