Blues fightback to clinch draw
November 8, 2011 Leave a comment
Two goals inside seven second-half minutes saw an inspired Port Talbot comeback from a two goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Bala Town at the Gen-Quip stadium on Tuesday night.
Martin Rose netted twice as Bala finished up with ten men following Lee Hunt’s dismissal as Port Talbot remain in seventh spot.
Bala arrived at the Gen-Quip in good form, having comfortably seen off Aberystwyth over the weekend but Port Talbot started strongly plugging for an opener inside the first twenty minutes. Despite Port Talbot’s positive start it was Bala took a 39th minute lead as Lee Hunt found himself through on goal, superbly chipping the ball over Bartek Fogler. Danger beckoned once again two minutes later as Mark Connolly’s curling free-kick fizzed wide over from twenty yards but Port Talbot were denied an equaliser by the woodwork, as Dylan Blain struck the crossbar, leaving the loose ball bounce around inside the six yard box before being gratefully gathered by Bala keeper Terry McCormick at the second attempt on the stroke of half-time.
The Blues found themselves conceding just three minutes after the restart as Mark Jones and Steve Brown neatly combined before Connolly’s diving header found the back of the Port Talbot net. An immediate response was necessary and it came through a Martin Rose header in the 55th minute, following Lee John’s weighted pass across the goalmouth. Two minutes later, the Blues thought they’d added a second but Paul Cochlin’s strike was chalked off. The setback only served to rally Mark Jones’ men who sought the equaliser with David Brooks and Lee John taking control of the game in the final third. McCormack was forced to save at the feet after Rose had found himself through on goal, with the Blues enjoying their best spell of the game and the pressure finally paid off after Rose turned in Brooks’ cross from close range to complete the comeback in the 62nd minute, scoring his sixth of the season in the process. With momentum clearly on Port Talbot’s side, Bala were hit by the dismissal of Hunt on 71 minutes for a straight red card for an elbow on Couchlin, moments after the striker was booked for another offence on the Blues skipper. Despite enjoying a strong twenty-minute spell, Port Talbot were unable to find a third goal. Brooks could only pull a shot from close range wide of the post after finding himself unmarked in the box whilst substitutes Curtis Hutson and Chris Hartland combined late on but were denied by the Bala keeper.
PORT TALBOT TOWN 2-2 BALA TOWN
Lee Hunt 37′, Mark Connolly 48′, Martin Rose 55′, 62′, Hunt sent off 71′
Port Talbot: Bartek Fogler, Leigh De-Vulgt, Paul Keddle, Gareth Phillips, Dylan Blain, Paul Cochlin, Lee John (Curtis Hutson 84′), David Brooks (Chris Hartland 90′), Martin Rose, Sacha Walters, Nicky Holland. Subs not used: Lewis Harlin, Matthew Thompson, Aaron Biddescombe, Oliver Bowen, Luke Martin (gk)
Bala: Terry McCormick, John Irving, Steffan Edwards, Stuart Jones, Mike Byron, Conall Murtagh, Mark Connolly, Mark Jones, Lee Hunt, Stephen Brown (Chris Mason 74′), Peter Doran. Subs not used: Liam Loughlin, Rees Darlington, Steve Fisher, Mark Pullman (gk), Dan Lloyd
Attendance: 202 Referee: Wayne Stephens
All images courtesy of Gareth Elms:
