| Seasiders on a recovery mission |
| Friday 12 February 2010 |
 ABERYSTWYTH are on a recovery mission after falling out of the top three as they face Port Talbot at Park Avenue. The Seasiders also face Neath away on Tuesday night and manager Alan Morgan has urged his players to show their mettle in two matches which will define their season. "It was another disappointing defeat against Airbus," admitted Morgan. "The players did not roll their sleeves up and work hard enough. At the end of the day, we can beat anybody when we are playing well, but we just cannot afford to have off-days. "The lads’ confidence is down at the moment, but the league table shows that they are a good side, and the players have now got to pick themselves up and go at it again on Friday night." The fourth-placed Steelmen are in confident mood after beating Aberystwyth two weeks ago in the Welsh Cup's last 16, but they go into the game without key defensive duo Lee Surman and Matthew Rees, who are both suspended. Bala Town and Airbus UK both bid to cement their top 10 place when they visit lowly Elements Cefn Druids and Welshpool respectively. The Lakesiders have opened 2010 with four wins in a row but, despite beating Druids three times already this season, manager Colin Caton is wary. "Druids are suffering with financial restraints, but Waynne (Phillips) and Lee (Jones) have done a fantastic job there," he says. "They’re always going to be well organised and they’re a good footballing side." Keeper Leon Bimpson is injured and Matthew Boswell deputises, while striker John Toner has a thigh strain and Owain Roberts is another injury victim. Craig Whitfield, Sean Jones, Ricky Wright and Dan Barnett all face late fitness tests for the Ancients whose joint manager Waynne Phillips expects a tough test: "Bala have had a great first season in the league," he said. "What Colin has done is get experienced lads in and he can't be faulted for way he sets his teams up. They try to play in the right manner and have been winning games. "I've spoken with other managers about them and they all said that they're well organised and very hard to play against. They have that little bit of quality which we already know about as they've beaten us three times already this season!" Wingmakers' manager Craig Harrison says his side need a win at Maesydre: "We’re going there as favourites and it’s a game we should be winning if we want to finish up there, we need to win that game, make no bones about it, and we should win the game. "They turned us over here last time and, same again, we missed a number of chances. But they just wanted it a bit more, and had a bit more desire and fight. We’ve matured as a team since then, and got better as a group." Tom Rowlands misses out but Rhys Roberts should be fit and Danny Desormeaux returns from his one-match suspension. Meanwhile Lilywhites' chief Huw Griffiths was pleased with a 1-1 draw at Carmarthen last weekend. "I was delighted with our display and I must say I have never been in a dressing room with such enthusiastic and committed players," he enthused. "Airbus UK will be another severe challenge as they have a superior budget but we will go out with confidence." Pool are without defenders Geraint Windsor, who has a long-term injury, and John Boardman, while on-loan striker Jordan Kane has returned to Wrexham. Photo: Talbot's Scott Barrow in action during the Welsh Cup win at Park Avenue [Port Talbot Town photo]. |