8th February 2008
Allez Allez! Blues cruise to four goal win at Aber
A second half of quality from Port Talbot Town brought Nicky Tucker’s side back from a 2-1 deficit early in the second half to claim a comfortable and convincing victory. Liam McCreesh returned to the starting line-up after serving his two match suspension while captain Matthew Rees also returned after his recent operation. New signings Carl Evans and on-loan Swansea City defender James Burgin were named on the bench. Aberystwyth forced the early pressure with Tiago da Silva a problem for the Port Talbot defence with his height although the visitors were strong on the counter-attack with Scott Barrow, Lee John and Liam McCreesh creating chances for striker Martin Rose. It was Rose ,who opened the scoring on 18 minutes when he made the most of a mistake by home goalkeeper David Jones to pass the ball into an empty net. Aberystwyth continued to push forward however and equalised on 40 minutes through Geoff Kellaway. Scott Barrow was replaced by James Burgin at half time after picking up a foot injury in the first period but things went from bad to worse for the visitors when Luke Sherbon scored for Aberystwyth on 47 minutes. The lead would not last for long however as Port Talbot pushed forward and forced a number of crosses with Burgin influential on his arrival into the game. A scramble in the area brought the equaliser on 50 minutes from an unlikely source as Craig Hanford drove the ball home in style for his first ever senior goal. Buoyed from the vocal travelling support, Port Talbot continued to push forward against a rattled home side and Lee John put Port Talbot back in front eight minutes later when he edged the ball over the line from a well struck corner by Burgin. John was then replaced by Dylan Blain as he also suffered a foot injury and Blain made his presence felt with a goal three minutes after his arrival. Goalkeeper Kristian Rogers was called into action to make a number of top draw saves in the final few minutes but his side comfortably held on for a convincing win.

Aberystwyth Town

1 David Jones
2. Sion James
3. Matthew Roberts
4. Aneurin Thomas
5. Christian Edwards
6. Gavin Cadwallader
7. Geoff Kellaway
8. Geraint Passmore
9. Tiago da Silva
10. Luke Sherbon
11. Stuart Roberts

12. Andrew Evans
(rep S.Roberts - 69)
14. Robert Evans
(rep Silva - 69)
15. Bleddyn Rees
(rep M.Roberts - 69)

Goals

Geoff Kellaway (40)
Luke Sherbon (47)

Yellow Cards

Aneurin Thomas (62)

Red Cards

None

Port Talbot Town

1 Kristian Rogers
2 Mark McGibbon
3 Leigh De-Vulgt
4 Gareth Phillips
5 Matthew Rees
6 Craig Hanford
7 Lee John
8 Matthew Thompson
9 Martin Rose
10 Liam McCreesh
11 Scott Barrow

12. Dylan Blain
(rep John - 62)
14. James Burgin
(rep Barrow - 46)
15. Carl Evans
(Unused)
16. Sam Baker
(rep Rose - 88)
18. Josh Payne
(Unused)

Goals

Martin Rose (18)
Craig Hanford (50)
Lee John (58)
Dylan Blain (65)

Yellow Cards

None

Red Cards

None

Referee

Mr Huw Jones

Attendance

273

8th February 2008 - www.welsh-premier.com
Visitors show the Steel
Despite going into the game with only one recognised striker, Port Talbot overturned a 2-1 deficit to score four goals and maintain their recent push into the top six. The Steelmen had opened the scoring after 18 minutes when Martin Rose scored his second goal in consecutive games, punishing a mistake by home goalkeeper David Jones to pass the ball into an empty net. Aberystwyth continued to push forward and forged in front with goals either side of the break from Geoff Kellaway and Luke Sherbon, but it proved to be a false dawn. A scramble in the box brought an equaliser from Craig Hanford, who notched his first-ever senior goal to level the scores. Lee John converted an opening from debutant on-loan Swansea starlet James Burgin and Blain added the fourth, minutes after coming off the bench. Visiting keeper Kristian Rogers was forced into some good saves in the closing period as the Seasiders tried to fight back, but Talbot held out for a deserved win, missed by home boss Brian Coyne who was abroad.