Season ends with play-off heartbreak

The Port Talbot supporters created an electric atmosphere for the final (Gareth Elms).

A late goal from Bala’s John Irving saw Port Talbot Town’s European aspirations put on hold for another year following an afternoon high in tension and drama at the GenQuip stadium.

The Bala Town full-back made the breakthrough just two-minutes before the end of normal time, clinically driving the ball across the crowded goalmouth low into the bottom corner.

In a game which saw both sides have strong appeals for penalties waved away by the referee Mark Petch and a fine display of goalkeeping by Port Talbot’ s Steven Hall, it was Bala who shaded a narrow victory to win the Corbett Sports Welsh Premier League play-off final.

And although the result leaves Port Talbot empty-handed, chairman Andrew Edwards was upbeat about the progression made this season.

“We have a very good manager in charge in Scott Young and a very good group of players at the club which is very encouraging for the future,” he said during the club’s end of season presentation.

Ashley Evans contests for the ball (Gareth Elms).

16-goal David Brooks took both the club’s Top-Scorer and Player of the Year awards, whilst David Burnett was named Clubman of the Year.

Brooks also went on to receive the Supporter’s Player of the Year award.

For the Under-19’s Jordan Edwards received the Top-Scorer award, Ryan Morgan collected Players’ Player of the Year and Evan Corocan was handed Clubman of the Year.

Plans for the next season are already underway and we will be making announcements on the first of our pre-season fixtures and season tickets very shortly.

We would also like to express our gratitude to our loyal supporters for their incredible support, once again, over the course of the season.

Play-Off Final preview: Town set for mammoth Euro decider

Port Talbot Town head into Saturday’s Corbett Sports Welsh Premier League play-off against Bala Town (3pm) to determine qualification for the UEFA Europa League, as the season comes to a dramatic must-win finale at the GenQuip stadium.

A win for the Steelmen would put them in Europe for the second time in the club’s history, after last qualifying three years ago.

Admission has been slashed once again to encourage supporters new and old to come and back the team at the GenQuip stadium, Victoria Road. Kids are FREE whilst adult entry is £5 at the gate.

Manager Scott Young is once again calling on the support of the town to help his side reach Europe.

“Our fans were different class last week and I shall certainly be looking for more of the same please. Your support this season has been out of this world and we need it one more time this season,” he said. “The atmosphere and noise generated last weekend was brilliant and you can really act as our twelfth man.”

Port Talbot clinched their place in the final after David Brooks’ strike saw off Carmarthen Town, whilst Bala Town defeated Bangor City 4-2.

Bala arrive into the play-off final coming off a run of 12-straight wins but the Blues have shown plenty of steel in recent weeks, having recorded three successive clean-sheets.

“That was how I was brought up and it was my game – work hard every week, show lots of desire and then I believe the quality comes out on to. I see work-rate as a skill and the lads worked their socks off and they were different class,” said Young following Saturday’s win. “Being hard to beat and keeping clean-sheets is how I was brought up.”

“I’ve said to the lads that the first stage was to get into the top-six, the second stage was to go into the play-offs, the third one was to win the semi-final and now we’ve now got one more to go.

“There are two teams left looking to achieve the same thing so we’ve got a fifty-fifty chance and I’m sure it’s going to be a great game next week.

“Bala are a good team, they’ve won twelve on the bounce now and their going to come here full of confidence and maybe as slight favourites.”

Reduced admission for game is available at the gate and no tickets are necessary.

Shortly after the match, the club will be holding its end of season presentation, which is also free entry – all are welcome!

Meanwhile, send us your play-off final messages to us on Twitter @porttalbottown and we’ll re-tweet the best ones ahead of the big game!

Chairman booked for radio phone-in ahead of play-off final

Andrew Edwards will again be in the studio this Friday evening from 6pm-7pm for ‘Swansea Till I Die’ show live on Swansea Sound, ahead of Saturday’s Europa League play-off final.

Tune in to 1170AM as the Port Talbot Town chairman will be appearing with regular guests looking at the week’s news from Swansea City and previewing the weekend’s all-important Euro play-off against Bala Town.

If you want to speak to Andrew about Port Talbot’s play-off campaign or about the Welsh Premier League in general, then call into the show!

The Blues go into Saturday’s game just ninety minutes away from qualifying for next season’s UEFA Europa League – but most overcome an in-form Bala Town side.

The club want to get the support of the town behind them for Saturday’s crucial game and have slashed admission!

Entry for under-16s is FREE, adult admission is just £5. Come along, bring the family or a friend and show your support to the Steelmen!

Steelmen receive support from Argentina ahead of play-off final

Argentine fan Eduardo Talbot!

Whilst the club’s supporters and well-wishers will be at the GenQuip stadium or tuned in to Sgorio for this weekend’s play-off final against Bala Town, the result of Saturday’s game will also be under the close attention of one family in Argentina!

Eduardo Talbot (pictured right) contacted the club earlier in the season to purchase a replica shirt after discovering the club whilst researching his family name online.

Eduardo, nephew Nahuel and father Eduardo Snr (below) learned that their surname originated from members of the Talbot family, who worked on the construction of the Buenos Aires railway.

Eduardo Snr and nephew Nahuel wearing their Port Talbot shirts.

The Talbot family are big football supporters and follow their local club Lanus, who play in the Argentine top division.

“I must admit that I thought it was a hoax when I first received an email from a Mr.Talbot living in Buenos Aires,” said the club’s media officer Matthew Burgess. “Eduardo was delighted to receive his shirts and some other goodies and he follows the club’s results via our social media platforms on Facebook and Twitter.”

The club have been inundated with message of support since going into the play-offs .

“The amount of messages that we have received through Facebook and Twitter since the build-up towards the Carmarthen game has been fantastic. It provides people with a direct contact to the club and allows us to provide instant news and information.”

Follow our Twitter account @porttalbottown or ‘like’ our Facebook page to keep in touch with all the very latest news from the club.

Don’t forget we have reduced admission for Saturday’s final (3pm) at the GenQuip stadium – Kids FREE, Adults £5!

Club shop SALE: All stock must go!

Supporters can get kitted out ahead of Saturday’s play-off final at a discounted price with all club shop stock being reduced for our end of season sale.

All remaining stock is reduced and must go, including first-team replica Macron shirts which are now just £15.

The club shop is open on matchdays but to purchase items mid-week, please contact Gary Dawkins on 07791 877 314.

Admission slashed once again for Euro decider

Saturday’s decisive Europa League play-off final against Bala Town at the GenQuip stadium will again have reduced admission the club can confirm.

Under-16s will once again be FREE, whilst adult admission will be just £5 for the final (k.o 3pm).

Port Talbot overcame Carmarthen on the weekend in front of a bumper crowd at the GenQuip, with the admission reduction proving to be a popular decision amongst spectators.

The club are hoping for a repeat of the fantastic atmosphere for this Saturday’s final as the Steelmen go head to head with Bala Town to determine European qualification.

“The support leading up to, and during the game, was absolutely magnificent last Saturday and it was great to see a good turn-out for such a crucial match. Now that we’re just one result away from qualifying for Europe, I just ask that the town and football fans in the area give us the same backing once again in the final,” said chairman Andrew Edwards.

“European qualification would be a major achievement for the club and one that the whole town can be proud of,” he added.

The club wish to also announce that our annual end of season presentation will be held following the game which will be FREE entry.

Keep checking http://www.porttalbottown.co.uk for all the latest news and build up ahead of Saturday’s play-off final.

Girls festival success for Football in the Community programme

The Port Talbot Town Football in the Community programme is thriving in developing football provision for the local community thanks to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and the Game ON Wales initiative, who have supported the scheme with two full-time apprenticeship’s.

The partnership hosted a girl only, soccer skills festival at the Genquip Stadium, Home of Port Talbot Town for local Primary schools in a fun-filled, action packed day. The opening games were hotly contested as the Primary girls went head to head, followed by the Year 5 & 6 Junior girl’s competition.

The festival was attended by schools from Tywyn Primary, Eastern Primary, St. Therese’s Primary, Sandfields Primary, Croeserw Primary, Pen Afan Primary, Cymer Afan Primary and Glyncorrwg Primary.

Despite some narrowly fought games, in the Primary section it was Tywyn Primary and Eastern Primary who came through the group stages to qualify for the finals. Eastern put in an excellent performance to secure a 2-1 victory.

In the junior section, Tywyn Primary again excelled through the group stages and in a tight fixture eventually overcome Sandfields Primary to win the event 1-0.

Port Talbot Town’s Head of Community Development, Lee John, summed up the day, saying, “A massive amount of praise needs to go to all the schools and players for their effort and attitude in making the day such a success. I would like to thank everybody who took part in the festival including all the teachers, staff and volunteers who helped make the day possible.”

The Port Talbot FITC & Game ON Programme are looking to develop 5-a-side football in Neath and Port Talbot Communities for young people aged 12-16. If your community would like to get involved with some of the activities on offer, get in touch with Lee John, at lee@porttalbottown.co.uk