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18th February 2008 - Evening Post
Nine-man Town hang on for win
Dylan Blain guided Port Talbot to their fourth consecutive Welsh Premier League win with a goal in each half against lowly Caersws at the Remax Stadium.Prior to those two goals from the Carmarthen-born midfielder, Liam McCreesh had made the early breakthrough for the Steelmen. Caersws hit back with a Graham Evans penalty between the dismissals of Matthew Thompson and Gareth Phillips. During the early exchanges Port Talbot had their defensive qualities examined when a corner from Mark Davies was snapped on to by midfielder Gari Lewis and it required a blocked clearance on the line by the alert Craig Hanford to deny Caersws an opening goal. Port Talbot responded by moving ahead after 16 minutes when a corner from James Burgin was seized upon by McCreesh and the former Afan Lido player turned the ball in from close range. Midway into the half Caersws almost drew level when a John Slater header was cleared off the line by Leigh De-Vulgt following another Mark Davies corner. But Port Talbot added a second goal in the 25th minute when Blain's cheeky looping shot dipped over Andy Mulliner from eight yards following an opening created by De-Vulgt. Having secured a two-goal lead, ill discipline crept into Port Talbot's game play. On 31 minutes Thompson squared up to Aeron Edwards and the Bournemouth-born player was ordered off for what appeared to be a clash of heads. Within a minute of that unsavoury incident the Bluebirds were presented with a penalty when Lee Surman clashed with Graham Evans, and it was Evans who stepped forward to fire the spot-kick into the net. The Steelmen suffered additional misery four minutes before the interval when Phillips became the second player to be instantly red-carded by referee Lee James following two over-eager challenges on Caersws players. With a numerical advantage, Caersws came more into the game early in the second half, and the defensive qualities of skipper Matthew Rees, Surman and Hanford were required to hold out against the strikeforce of Graham Evans and Andy Davies. Port Talbot created an opening on 70 minutes, Rose setting up Burgin on a swift attacking run, but his powerful angled shot flew over the top from 10 yards. Burgin continued to be the most likely creator of a third Port Talbot goal, and when he sprinted forward half the length of the field, having shaken off the attention of Colin Reynolds and John Jones, he cut infield to deliver the ball to Blain, who netted his second goal with a low shot. With a minute remaining, the Port Talbot goalmouth had an escape when Kristian Rogers got down quickly to push a close- range shot by Caersws substitute Sion Meredith around the post.“It was not the best of performances, but it was a tremendous team effort for not far off 50 minutes when we were down to nine players,” said Port Talbot manager Nicky Tucker. ”Three points was the aim before the game and we got them, so we have a lot to be happy with. However, I was disappointed with the sendings off. Matthew Thompson, yes, it was a red card and I can't argue with that. ''The second one, with Gareth Phillips being dismissed, I thought a yellow would have been ample. He went in with two feet, but it was on the ground and he actually won the ball.'' Tucker added: ''After the first of two goals from Dylan Blain I actually thought at the time that it may have been a four or five-nil game, but football can change very quickly. ''In the second half we stuck to our game plan, reorganising and reshaping things. I told the players what was expected of them, and in fairness, every single one of them went out and did their job. They had to dig deep and I think that we looked the more likely to score, which was satisfying. A very bright aspect of the second period was the excellent performance from James Burgin, who has been loaned to us by Roberto Martinez. He was making his full debut and he was absolutely fantastic. He won man-of-the-match award from the sponsors, making the goal for Liam McCreesh and then setting up Dylan Blain for his second goal following a blistering run into Caersws territory.''
18th February 2008 - Western Mail
Nine-man Port Talbot keep European hopes bubbling
Despite having to play 48 minutes with nine men, Port Talbot secured their fourth win on the trot to keep their European hopes bubbling. Referee Lee James dismissed Matthew Thompson in the 31st minute and Gareth Phillips 10 minutes later, but the Steelmen had already gained the ascendancy with Liam McCreesh and Dylan Blain giving them an early two-goal cushion. Delighted Port Talbot manager Nicky Tucker said, “To play for 50 minutes two men short and still win comfortably was a great effort by the lads. “I take my hat off to them and I learned a lot about the tremendous character these players have. I thought the first red card was right, but the second deserved no more than a yellow.” Welsh semi-professional international Graham Evans made it 2-1 from the spot in the 32nd minute, but Dylan Blain’s second 10 minutes from time sealed a brave victory.
18th February 2008 - Daily Post
Match Report
Caersws continue to look over their shoulders at the basement battle after succumbing to the Steelmen who played the entire second half with nine men. Trailing 2-1 at the break, the Bluebirds had realistic hopes of turning the game around, but failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage. “We did not deserve anything as we didn’t work hard enough,” admitted manager Mike Barton. “Port Talbot are a decent side but we didn’t do enough to really test them which was disappointing. We’ve got to dig deep every game, but when we don’t work hard enough, we look a poor side.” Jamie Burgin, on loan from Swansea City, was a real tormentor on the left for the Steelmen and set up Liam McCresh for a 16th minute opener with an excellent cross into the box. Gareth Phillips then clipped a fine through-ball for Dylan Blain to chest down and lob over keeper Andy Mulliner. But Matthew Thompson was red-carded on 31 minutes for an attempted head butt on Aeron Edwards and 10 minutes later Gareth Phillips saw red for a two-footed lunge. In between, Graham Evans reduced the arrears from the penalty spot after being pushed in the box. Despite their two-man advantage, the Bluebirds were unable to find a way through a well marshalled defence. And the home side made it three on 80 minutes as Burgin crossed for Blain to net his second. Caersws struggled to create openings, although Sion Meredith did force one good save from Kristian Rogers.
17th February 2008 - www.welsh-premier.com
Nine-man Talbot end home drought
Manager Nicky Tucker's call for better discipline went unheeded as Matthew Thompson and Gareth Phillips were both sent-off in the first-half at the Remax Stadium. But, already leading their lowly visitors from Caersws, the nine men more than held their own and added a further goal in the second-half to secure the points. The hosts had failed to score a home goal against the Bluebirds since October 2001, but quickly put the record straight with two inside the first 25 minutes. James Burgin provided the opening for Liam McCreesh to head the first past keeper Andy Mulliner, and the visit to South Wales looked bleak for the visitors when Dylan Blain chested down a Phillips cross to add the second with a well-judged lob. Thompson was first to be red-carded, with Graham Evans then reducing the deficit from the penalty spot. Phillips got his marching orders, but the nine men defended stoutly after the break before Burgin went past three players to square for Blain to side-foot his second goal and seal the victory.
17th February 2008 - Wales on Sunday
Port Talbot lose two but fight for win
This was a real roller-coaster for Port Talbot, as they took a two-goal lead and then put themselves under pressure by having two men sent off – all in a hectic first half. James Burgin made the first, putting an excellent cross onto the forehead of Liam McCreesh, and next Gareth Phillips clipped a fine through ball for Dylan Blain to chest down and lob the keeper – all in one movement. But, Matthew Thompson and Gareth Phillips departed with straight reds, and in the midst of the mayhem, Graham Evans scored a penalty for Caersws. Nick Tucker sent his nine men out to defend that slender lead in the second half, and they did him proud. In particular, the tricky Burgin enhanced his reputation, and he beat three men out wide on the left before squaring the ball for Blain to side-foot his second with 10 minutes left.
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