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17th March 2008 - Daily Post
Match Report
After Porthmadog were beaten by Port Talbot for the third time, manager Viv Williams blamed the latest defeat on a series of sloppy goals. "At 2-0 down at half time, we changed our system but they scored a third goal before we began to play as we should, closing up to 3-2," he said. "And we would have got the equaliser but for the mud on the goal-line, where Aled Rowlands’ shot had been blocked and got stuck as Gareth Parry was closing in to score. "Then late on, when we were pressing and creating chances galore, Port Talbot broke for the fourth goal that killed us off and that was sloppy as well." Porthmadog, whose returns in 2008 have been meagre – just one win in 11 games – as they struggle to escape from the league’s relegation zone, hit trouble inside a minute. Keeper Richard Harvey was beaten by Liam McCreesh’s glancing header at the far post, following Lee John’s deep cross from the right wing. Confusion between defenders led to the hosts’ second goal on the half hour, when Martin Rose directed a 15-yarder in off a post. Porthmadog hardly functioned during the first period but, switching from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2, looked livelier after the break – only for another defensive blunder to gift a third goal to Rose on the hour. Hopes of a revival came when Marcus Orlik converted a penalty on 62 minutes, following Matt Rees’ handling, and the same player’s second goal on 78 was direct from a free-kick. Frenzied pressure brought only frustration for Orlik, Rowlands and Paul Roberts, before Port Talbot’s Scott Barrow sealed the result.
17th March 2008 - Western Mail
Porthmadog hit by horror show
Porthmadog remain in desperate trouble in the Welsh Premier relegation area following a defensive horror show against Port Talbot. Ironically, their top-flight status could depend upon a club less than a mile away from the Remax Stadium, Afan Lido. The former top-tier club are on a tremendous run in the feeder league which has taken them to within a point of the promotion places and their promotion could signal Porthmadog’s demise. For long periods, the visitors were very much second best, but a 75th-minute penalty by Marcus Orlik, following handball by Matthew Rees, gave them a glimmer of hope. A needlessly-conceded free-kick on the edge of the area let in Orlik for No 2 with five minutes remaining and Paul Roberts and Aled Rowlands both brought outstanding saves from home debutant keeper Josh Payne to deny the North Walians a point. Pushing forward desperately in search of an equaliser, Porth fell to a last-minute sucker punch from lively Scott Barrow which sealed their fate. “We showed a lot of spirit, but we have to learn to play for 90 minutes, not 45,” said visitors’ boss Viv Williams.”Port Talbot had that little extra quality, but we were badly off the pace first half and that was our downfall.” Liam McCreesh benefited from excellent work by Lee John to flick home the opener in the first minute and Martin Rose out muscled the visitors’ defence to slot home the second on the half hour. The Remax Stadium pitch which would grace many grounds at a higher level, eventually had to concede defeat to the torrential downpour, the surface water making control difficult. But Rose’s determination and strength gave the Steelmen a three-goal lead on the hour with no sign of the drama to come in this game. “We made it very difficult for ourselves again today, but the character was there to overcome very difficult conditions,” said the Port Talbot boss, Nick Tucker. “We’re still looking for fourth place, but we have five tough games to play. “To achieve it would be fantastic for the club.”
17th March 2008 - South Wales Evening Post
Rose blooms at the right time for Talbot
Port Talbot's leading goalscorer Martin Rose took his league total to 14 with a goal in each half as the Steelmen bounced back to winning ways following recent defeats against Llanelli and Llangefni Town.In deteriorating weather conditions at the Remax, the Port Talbot starting line-up showed two positional changes with former Swansea City youth team goalkeeper Josh Payne making his debut replacing Kristian Rogers, while Mark McGibbon returned at right-back in place of former Afan Lido defender Paul Evans. It took Port Talbot only a minute to move ahead. Scott Barrow advanced down the left side and supplied a cross which was met with a right-foot shot from Lee John. Liam McCreesh then applied a delicate glancing header to direct the ball just inside the upright and beyond the reach of goalkeeper Richard Harvey. Port Talbot went close to adding a second goal during the 15th minute when defender Leigh De-Vulgt, making his 100th appearance for the Steelmen, drilled a near post low shot inches wide following an opening started by Craig Hanford. Port Talbot continued to persevere in the adverse weather conditions to establish a three-goal lead after 60 minutes. Matthew Rees sent a defensive clearance into Porthmadog territory for Rose to once again chase, he outmuscled Rhys Roberts to then make advance into the penalty area and despite the ball stopping twice in the saturated wet goalmouth he applied the finish. The Gwynedd visitors finally opened their account two minutes later after Port Talbot skipper Matthew Rees's upper arm had blocked a shot from Mark Thomas, it was then left to Marcus Orlik who sent the spot kick into the back of the Steelmen's net. Boosted by that opener, Porthmadog struck once more during the 78th minute with an Orlik free-kick being lifted over the Port Talbot defensive wall from just outside the penalty area and past Payne. Despite Portmadog's attempt to cancel out the hard work of Port Talbot's three-goal lead with a double response, the Victoria Road side added a fourth goal three minutes into added on time, with a Rose pass allowing Barrow to catapult himself forward from halfway, and with the Porthmadog defence out of position, the 19-year-old left-sided player applied a superb left footed finish, to find the net from 15 yards."The weather certainly had a big part to play in the game, and it was tough for both sides to perform, but we knew that Porthmadog would be a battling side, and they were certainly kept at it for the 90minutes, but we're back to winning ways," said Port Talbot manager Nicky Tucker. "I made a decision to give Josh Payne a chance in goal - he's a young talented keeper, I wanted to give him some experience and I felt that this game was the perfect opportunity for him to get in 90 minutes. "It was absolutely great to get an opening goal during the first minute through Liam McCreesh, and it set us up nicely but I certainly didn't expect to make such a swift impact. "Porthmadog certainly didn't look like a bottom two side. They battled well and worked hard to cause problems, but thankfully we managed to get three points."
15th March 2008 - www.welsh-premier.com
Steelmen dash Port’s hopes
Desperately needing points in their battle against the drop, Porthmadog's fate was sealed early in the game as they slipped to a 4-2 defeat against an improved Port Talbot performance. Liam McCreesh got his head to a Lee John strike inside the first minute to put the Steelmen's noses in front and they were rewarded for dominating possession when Martin Rose raced onto the end of a long ball and got the better of Ryan Davies on the half-hour. The striker somewhat controversially added another on 60 minutes, appearing to impede Rhys Roberts from a Matthew Rees ball out of defence, but a penalty converted by Marcus Orlik after Rees had handled gave them a toehold in the game. The midfielder netted again 12 minutes from time, driving home a 20-yard free-kick, to set-up a thrilling finale. But Talbot settled their nerves and ended Port hopes in added time when Scott Barrow scooted clear from the half way line to score the fourth.
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