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25th February 2008 - Western Mail
Clubs content with draw
Perhaps there was too much at stake for both clubs for this to be a classic and it certainly wasn’t. But, at the final whistle, both managers were reasonably satisfied with the status quo, leaving Europe still very much in their minds. “I said this week that a win would be great, but a point would not be the end of the world,” said Port Talbot manager Nicky Tucker, whose side have now accumulated 13 points out of the last 15 played for. “It was a fair result, although I felt we had chances to have sneaked it.” The teams are making a habit of cancelling each other out as this was the third successive contest that has finished goalless. But the visitors will feel the momentum is with them as Neville Powell’s side have suffered a rare blip in an otherwise successful campaign, with just two points from their last three matches. The closest either side went to breaking the deadlock was a superb, long-range drive from Swansea City loan player James Burgin which rattled the woodwork. And Lee John was unlucky when his effort was cleared off the line shortly after he lobbed a good chance too high. Much-travelled Karl Noon was Bangor’s main threat, although Marc Limbert’s 20-yard drive was well saved by Kristian Rogers. The home side suffered a blow when goalkeeper Paul Smith was replaced due to a knee injury which could keep him out of action for next week’s Welsh Cup clash at giantkillers Guilsfield. Tucker acknowledged, “We have put ourselves in a nice position with this point which, when you consider we were without Gareth Phillips, Matthew Thompson, Lee Surman and Mark McGibbon, makes it a good afternoon’s work.”
25th February 2008 - Daily Post
Match Report
Disappointment with a draw rapidly became satisfaction at the conclusion of Bangor City’s goalless stalemate with Port Talbot. The Farrar Road mood improved when results elsewhere meant City moved into fourth place in the table and closer to a European qualifying berth. City boss Nev Powell said: “With Rhyl, Carmarthen and Neath all getting beaten this point was more significant. “The conditions were difficult for a while as the wind and driving rain took some coping with. And then we were disrupted by the injury to our keeper. A draw was probably a fair result because there were chances at both ends and yet we nearly won it in the last few minutes. Ashley Stott had a tremendous shot and I don’t know how their goalkeeper kept the effort out, making a fantastic reflex save. While goals eluded us again, we have not gone off the boil but teams have patches like this and we have seven games left to make the impact we want.” Held in a goalless deadlock at the Remax Stadium in October, Bangor were keen to go one better in the return and Karl Noon, Marc Limbert and Mike Walsh put in worthy efforts in the first half. Port Talbot’s best offerings featured James Burgin’s 35-yard effort that crashed against the goal-frame while Martin Rose and Scott Barrow also went close. City lost keeper Paul Smith to a knee injury, with defender Peter Hoy taking over the gloves.
24th February 2008 - www.welsh-premier.com
Euro rivals fire blanks yet again
European aspirants Bangor and Port Talbot entered the game in fifth and sixth place and there was little change to the status quo after a goal-less affair at Farrar Road. The Citizens actually moved up a place thanks to results elsewhere, but both sides could only fire blanks in a slogging encounter, a repeat of the result when the sides met in South Wales earlier in the season. Goals have dried-up for City - this was their fourth blank in five outings - while the Steelmen's failed bid for Welsh League striker Robbie Walters has left them short of marksmen. Karl Noon went close to finding a goal for the hosts with a 25-yarder that flew wide of the target and Marc Limbert also tested keeper Kristian Rogers from the edge of the box. But Talbot's Lee John saw his effort cleared off the line and also lobbed over with keeper Paul Smith AWOL. Noon again went close in the second half while on-loan Swansea starlet James Burgin hit the woodwork with a 35-yarder for Talbot. City eventually lost Smith to an injury in the second period, with defender Peter Hoy taking over the gloves, but the deputy was rarely troubled.
24th February 2008 - Wales on Sunday
A game of firing blanks
Bangor City and Port Talbot, fifth and sixth-placed in the rankings – just outside the Euro frame – slogged out their second goalless draw of the campaign. Just as on October 20 at the Remax Stadium, the rivals fired blanks for 90 minutes in the Farrar Road return, as both rued wasted chances. For Bangor, until recently free-scoring entertainers, this was their fourth blank in five outings – a bad habit they must shrug off in their Welsh Cup test at Guilsfield this weekend. City’s concerns also involved goalkeeper Paul Smith, who damaged a knee during the first half but battled on only to take another knock later that caused him to withdraw. Defender Peter Hoy switched to between the posts and Dave Swanick moved off the bench to complete the line-up. City were close to finding the target in the opening quarter, when Karl Noon swept a good-looking 25-yarder just wide and captain Marc Limbert tested keeper Kristian Rogers from the edge of the box. Equally, Port Talbot cursed their luck when Lee John had a goal-bound effort cleared off the home line and the same player lobbed over the bar, after spotting Smith out of position. Noon put in a close-range shot that deserved to succeed in the second half, only for Rogers to collect, but it was the away side who finished stronger and James Burgin blasted a 35-yard rocket against the angle of the goal frame.
23rd February 2008 - www.the-citizens-choice.co.uk
Match Report
A bleak wet, windy day produced a goalless draw for the three hundred or so spectators sheltering at Farrar Road. With the elements backing Bangor attacking the St Pauls End, a flurry of three early corners came to little other than looping header from Lee Webber which cleared the crossbar. On ten minutes Karl Noon went closer with a driving run into the heart of the visitor's defence but his twenty yarder flashed wide. Peter Hoy headed wide from another corner but it was Martin Beattie who had to be alert to snuff out a Port Talbot attack as Martin Rose threatened on the Bangor right. On fifteen minutes Matthew Rees was yellow carded for a wild lunge on Ashley Stott moments after the two had exchanged words. Port Talbot won their first corner but it was Bangor who nearly scored. A high clearance set Les Davies clear but Rogers did well to smother his effort. Marc Limbert crashed the loose ball goalwards but the 'keeper pushed his low drive wide for a fifth Bangor corner which saw Ashley Stott and Christian Seargeant go close. On the half hour midfielder Mike Walsh sent Ashley Stott running in on goal but he was denied by a perfectly timed challenge from rightback Carl Evans. Port Talbot countered with a cross punched clear by Paul Smith, gathered by Lee John but lobbed over from 25 yards. Marc Limbert created an opening for Ashley Stott but his shot lacked power, then Karl Noon latched onto a deep cross from Peter Hoy but Rogers held comfortably. Five minutes before the interval Noon was tripped by McCreesh as he headed for goal - yellow card - but the cross was headed wide by Lee Webber. There was still time for Lee John to earn himself a yellow card for dissent and for Michael Johnston to lift the ball over the bar as John threatened with a dangerous low cross from the right. The visitors now had the advantage of the wind and occasional shower as they attacked the St Pauls End. But it was City who very nearly snatched the lead as Karl Noon raced past the lanky Rees but fired too close to Rogers. Christian Seargeant was yellow carded for precious little before Karl Noon crossed but Peter Hoy directed his low header off target. The burly No 9 Rose forced Paul Smith into a good save and minutes later the big striker headed over from a inviting cross form the left. Bangor won a sixth corner but to no avail then on 63 mins Kieran Killackey was introduced in place of Christian Seargeant. Welsh Colleges cap Scott Barrow headed over for the visitors. Lee Webber went close but Ashley Stott could not believe his luck moments later when Rogers kept out his six yard strike with an incredible reflex save. With twenty minutes remaining Sion Edwards came on for Les Davies but it was Port Talbot who nearly took the lead when Martin Rose chased Lee Webber's looping backwards header but was denied by Paul Smith who was injured in the process. On 74 minutes the extent of the injury was apparent as Paul Smith left the field to be replaced by Dave Swanick with the reliable Peter Hoy taking over in goal. This clearly galvanised the wind assisted visitors and goalkeeper Hoy was called into action to save well from Rose whose angled drive threatened. James Burgin sprang to life with a thirty yarder which clipped the crossbar. In the closing minutes Port Talbot pressed with three corners but Bangor held firm, and in the four minutes of added time the home side stood up to the challenge to protect the stand in goalkeeper as far as possible. The last chance of the game fell to Mike Walsh but a crowd of Port Talbot defenders made sure the match ended goalless.
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