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28th January 2008 - Daily Post
Match Report
Druids slipped to another defeat to remain deep the relegation scrap, leaving joint boss Waynne Phillips to reflect on his side’s recent goal drought. “We deserved something from the game, the performance was 100 times better than when we lost by six to Bangor last Tuesday night,” he said. “But we need to start scoring more goals. We had three or four good half chances, but we needed a bit more quality and composure in the final third of the pitch. At the end of the day, it’s another three points dropped and hurts just as much.” Druids started brightly with Karl Connolly and Osian Jones linking well before Jones shot narrowly wide, while Mike Thompson hit the bar with a right wing corner and Jones was unable to cash in with a free header. And it was somewhat against the run of play that the steelmen took the lead on 11 minutes as Martin Rose’s header looped into the net from Lee John’s corner from the left. But there were very few other opportunities in front a disappointingly sparse crowd at Plaskynaston.
28th January 2008 - Western Mail
Rose settles the points
There is a recent history of dour encounters between the two sides and add this one to the list. It was not a classic by any means. Port Talbot won it courtesy of Martin Rose’s 11th-minute looped header from a Lee John corner, but Druids were unlucky when Mike Thompson was denied by the bar. Veteran Karl Connolly tried his best to inspire the hosts, who had two good chances, both fluffed by Osian Jones and Darren Williams. Relieved visitors’ boss Nicky Tucker said, “I’m more than happy with a win. I’d have been satisfied with a point to be truthful.” Connolly, a recent acquisition, who played for Wrexham in the famous FA Cup victory over Arsenal, said, “After a poor midweek performance, we did better today and we’re disappointed to be pointless.”
27th January 2008 - Wales on Sunday
Match Report
Port Talbot picked up where they left off last week with the scalp of The New Saints, with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over NEWI Cefn Druids at Plaskynaston. The only goal of the game was after just 11 minutes from a well-rehearsed corner routine, and Lee John’s flag-kick was powerfully headed past Chris Mullock by Martin Rose. The visitors deserved their interval lead but in the second half it was Cefn who were much the better side. However, despite their territorial advantage, they failed to turn chances into goals. They almost squared the match late on, but a fierce free-kick by Mike Thompson was denied by the upright. On the counter-attack, Rose missed two good chances for Port Talbot to put the result to rest, but he was denied by Mullock.
26th January 2008 - www.welsh-premier.com
Rose a thorn in Druid’s side
A Martin Rose goal gave Port Talbot the spoils, but it was a hard-earned success after Druids mounted a second-half fightback. The Steelmen's striker was a thorn in the Ancients side from the start and outjumped the defence to head the only goal of the game after 11 minutes from a Lee John corner. Rose had several other chances for the visitors, the best when firing wide of the target after rounding keeper Chris Mullock. The misses almost proved costly as the home side came out of the blocks quicker in the second half, but they were unable to convert their superiority into goals. Mike Thompson, who had hit the angle of post and crossbar in the first half direct from a corner, almost grabbed an equaliser, but his free kick hit an upright, and Mullock twice denied the lively Rose.
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