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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

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

Smiles all round as the Steelmen head into the play-off final (Gareth Elms)

Port Talbot Town’s hopes of European football took another step to fruition on Saturday as the Steelmen reached the Corbett Sports Welsh Premier League play-off final, by overcoming Carmarthen Town.

The bumper crowd at the GenQuip stadium were not left disappointed as David Brooks’ 71st-minute effort finally unlocked a stubborn Carmarthen team, to put Scott Young’s side within 90-minutes of Europa League qualification.

Carmarthen’s intentions of not allowing Port Talbot to settle were clear from the off, as the Old Gold snapped on the heels of the hosts with neither side finding time to settle in possession. But the Blues’ quality eventually shone through.

“It was always going to a difficult game for us today, with our local rivals coming to our own patch but in the end I think we deserved it,” said a delighted Scott Young following the game. “The lads have been fantastic in their attitude and desire to match Carmarthen, and our quality came out at the end.”

James Bloom and David Brooks combined well down the left only for Carl Payne to shoot narrowly wide and Carmarthen full-back Luke Cummings made enough ground to make a crucial interception, after Martin Rose was played through by Ashley Evans’ splitting ball, in a first-half which was limited in chances for the Steelmen. The best opportunity of the goalless opening 45-minutes fell to Carmarthen when Corey Thomas’ delivery from the right was met by Christian Doidge, whose diving header flashed dangerously past Steven Hall’s goal.

And as the second-half continued in similar vein to the first, it was vital that Port Talbot remained organised and disciplined in their attempts to force an opening. And midway through, Port Talbot’s quality finally proved decisive.

Lewis Harling carried the ball forward and set David Brooks free inside the area with a measured pass to leave the in-form winger to manoeuvre his body to find space and pick his spot before striking the ball low past goalkeeper Steven Cann with Paul Fowler, on the goal-line, helpless to deflect the shot away.

Brooks immediately ran straight to the fans gathered behind the goal, who had been constant in their vocal support throughout the afternoon as the Blues took a major step towards reaching the final.

Mark Aizlewood was immediate in his response from the touchline however, sending on Craig Hughes for make-shift centre-forward Carl Evans to bolster the Carmarthen front-line. But as Aizlewood’s side played with less caution, the game became stretched and Port Talbot were finding more space to probe in the middle of the park.

Payne and Brooks both saw chances to seal the game flash by them and in the final stages, substitutes Sacha Walters and Adam Wright did well to set up Harling who shot straight at Cann, shortly before the referee called time, confirming a famous victory for Scott Young’s men.

Port Talbot are now just one game away from a place in next season’s UEFA Europa League and will face Bala Town at the GenQuip stadium in next Saturday’s play-off final (3pm).

PORT TALBOT TOWN 1-0 CARMARTHEN TOWN
Brooks 71′

Port Talbot: 29. Steven Hall, 9. Martin Rose (18. Adam Wright 87′), 24. Ryan Green, 4. Ashley Evans, 5. Lee Surman, 6. James Bloom, 7. Lee John, 8. Lewis Harling, 10. Cortez Belle, 14. Carl Payne, 39. David Brooks (21. Sacha Walters 85′). Subs not used: 12. Leigh De Vulgt, 25. David Burnett (gk)

Carmarthen: 1. Steven Cann, 3. Ian Hillier (36. Casey Thomas 80′), 26. Luke Cummings, 5. Matthew Rees, 24. Craig Hanford, 8.Paul Fowler, 16. Nicky Palmer, 2. Corey Thomas, 25. Liam McCreesh (21. Iestyn Evans 80′), 6. Carl Evans (9.Craig Hughes 73′), 30. Christian Doidge. Subs not used: 15. Neil Smothers, 35. Kerry Nicholas (gk)

Referee: Nick Pratt Attendance: 410
Click to view slideshow.
Images courtesy of Gareth Elms.

Manager Scott Young acknowledges his side are in for a tough battle going into Saturday’s must-win play-off semi-final against Carmarthen Town (2.00).

The club have cut admission to £5 for adults and free for under-16s as they prepare to host Carmarthen Town – a victory would see Port Talbot take a step closer to qualify for European football.

Speaking to the club website, Young shared the mood of the camp ahead of Saturday’s decisive game: “Training has gone very well this week, it’s been high intensity but there’s been lots of banter amongst the lads and everyone’s enjoying it and looking forward to the start of the play-offs.”

“It’s going to be a tough battle for us, we know we’re in for tough game which could easily swing either way but we’ll go into it with just as much confidence as they will do,” he added.

Port Talbot have a near clean-bill of health going into the game with the exception being Chad Bond.

The forward sustained a suspected broken foot in the Blues’ recent win over Airbus UK Broughton.

“Bond is the only injury casualty who is going to miss out and I have my fingers cross that the rest of the squad will be fully-fit,” revealed Young. “Chad’s done very well over the last few weeks for us and losing any player who’s been involved during that time would be missed.”

Manager Scott Young has called for strong local support as his side prepare for Saturday’s crucial play-off semi-final (2.00).

The club are potentially two wins away from qualifying for next seasons UEFA Europa League and have slashed admission prices ahead of Saturday’s must-win game against Carmarthen Town.

Under-16s will be FREE whilst adults admission has been cut to just £5.

Young believes that a good turnout at the GenQuip stadium will help drive the squad on in what is their biggest game of the season.

“I assure you that we’ll be doing our utmost in terms of preparation for Saturday’s game but it would be a massive boost to the entire squad if they have a good crowd encouraging them from the stands. We’re in this together as far as I am concerned.”

Top-scorer David Brooks meanwhile believes the squad’s work ethic will help the club move a step closer to qualification.

Brooks who has claimed his 15th goal of the season in Port Talbot’s outing, a 1-0 win over Airbus UK Broughton two weeks ago, said: “I really believe we can get to into Europe. I think that’s what we need to be targeting going into the play-offs and I’ll be disappointed if we don’t make it.”

“It’s been a real team effort to get to where we are and the squad and the coaching staff have just been amazing.”

All supporters new and old are encouraged to come and support the Blues in Saturday’s crucial game. Reduced admission is available on the gate – no ticket necessary.

Limited parking is available at the ground. Families welcome!

A miserable opening half hour saw Port Talbot trail 3-1 in a game that already looked dead and buried. But Mark Pike’s side were rewarded for their spirited display as they fought back to a 4-3 lead with just 10-minutes remaining.

Port Talbot were forced into making two early changes as Darius Waters and Sam Bell both limped off whilst Alex Vaughan and Joe Holland were amongst the walking wounded on the full-time whistle.

A needless free-kick from wide led to County forcing a late equaliser. And in further drama, Port Talbot saw a late penalty appeal waved away to leave both sides taking a share of the points.

“This has been a brilliant season as we’ve been able to draft in a number of 16-year-olds into the squad,” said Mark Pike. “They are developing very well and will be ready with this year’s development for next season.”

The end of the season does however mean old members of the Under-19 squad will move on.

“I’m saddened to be losing players who have been with me since the age of seven years of age. Hopefully these players will continue their development at the club and I hope to see these players gracing our turf in years to come.

“I wish all those players Jordan Edwards, Ryan Morgan, Josh Pike, Jake Parry, Luke Edwards, Darius Waters , Alex Vaughan, Luke Martin, Alex Williams, Oliver Bowen and Jordan Harris all the very best.”