News Story

PRESTATYN TOWN 0
ABERYSTWYTH TOWN 2 (Evans 14, L Bowen 65)
WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE - JAN 16, 2010

NEIL GIBSON refused to use missing key players are an excuse for his Prestatyn side's poor showing in this home defeat against Aberystwyth.

Player-manager Gibson was himself out suspended for the Welsh Premier League clash at Bastion Road, along with fellow midfielders Gareth Wilson and Michael Parker, plus striker Ian Griffiths.

Two quality strikes - one in each half - booked the points for the visitors at the expense of a Prestatyn side which matched their opponents in most departments except finishing.

"I'm very disappointed with the result and the performance," said Gibson after the match. "Three of our players went off injured and we were already missing four, but that's why we carry a squad. Others were given an opportunity to show what they could do, but unfortunately didn't take their chance."

The visitors took the lead on 14 minutes when Prestatyn were caught flatfooted as a slick three-man move led to veteran striker Graham Evans driving home a beauty from about 22 yards.

The hosts finally began to make an impact just past the half-hour mark when an Andy Moran cross picked out Steve Rogers, but the striker could only head straight at keeper Steve Cann.

Dave Hayes' slide-rule pass into the box found Jon Fisher-Cooke who delayed his shot too long and the chance was gone. Moran then fed Rogers who turned sharply but miskicked from six yards out.

The impressive Steve Harris' firm shot was comfortably dealt with by Cann early in the second period before Aber's Geoff Kellaway broke at some speed from his own half and hit a powerful effort which Jon Hill-Dunt saved well.

Prestatyn should have done better when Andy Davies' free-kick was met by a weak punch from Cann, but Fisher-Cooke's volley flew high and wide.

Then on 65 minutes came a killer blow when Hayes could only head a Bari Morgan cross into the path of Luke Bowen, who brought the ball down skilfully and beat Hill-Dunt at his near post with a left-foot sizzler.

The home team rallied, substitute Dan Evans' great cross being headed disappointingly wide by Rogers, then five minutes from time Moran's free-kick found Fisher-Cooke in space but he could only blast straight at Cann.

"We didn't deserve anything as we didn't play for 90 minutes," was Gibson's honest assessment of the result. "We were too lacklustre in the first half, but we did come back into the game in the second half and had a good 20-minute spell where I felt if we could have got one we could have got a draw."

Prestatyn: Hill-Dunt, Jones (G Davies 86), Lewis (Hoult 43), Hayes, O'Neill, Harris, A Davies (Evans 70), Williams, Moran, Rogers, Fisher-Cooke.

Thanks to Dave Jones for his match report.