Silkmen get a helping hand from Nev
Friday 27 January 2012

Cae Y Castell BANGOR City boss Nev Powell has helped out his home town club Flint Town United by providing a factfile on Welsh Cup opponents Neath. The Silkmen are bidding to cause a major upset against the Welsh Premier full-timers and Flint native Powell has offered a helping hand to manager Paul Davies to counter the threat of the high-flying Eagles and their star striker Lee Trundle.
"Nev has provided me with a dossier on Neath, systems they use, breakdowns on their players and this week we will be making some changes to our style to ensure we pose them some problems," says Davies.
"They are full time. We can’t kid ourselves that we are better than them and if we don’t give them respect we are likely to fall short.
"But we will make them get down in the trenches and work hard and who knows, with a decent crowd behind us, what might happen."
Flint have plenty of WPL experience in their ranks with keepers Adam McGhee and Leon Bimpson, central defender John Davies and striker Jon Rush all having played in the top flight.
Neath manager Kris O'Leary acknowledges it will be a tricky afternoon.
"A home tie would have been nice, but we now face a long journey and a potentially difficult afternoon," he said.
"I've had a few reports on them and I know they will be up for this one and we are expecting a physical battle which we need to face up to."
At nearby Globe Way, another Huws Gray Alliance side out to upset top flight opponents are Buckley Town, currently lying second in the league as they host Bala Town.
"One of the Cymru Alliance sides is bound to cause a shock, why not us?” says manager Gareth Thomas.
"We are in great form, we are only missing Dave McIntyre as he is cup-tied but he has missed the last four weeks anyway.
"There is a big gulf between the Alliance and the Welsh Premier but we will keep our preparations the same and do everything we can to get that quarter final spot.
"Hopefully we will get a good crowd to help drive us on."
Photo: Neath will face a hot reception at Flint's Cae Y Castell.