Port made three changes from the side who had performed so well against Caersws with Carl Owen out with a broken toe and Gareth Parry, formidable in mid-field last week, and Mike Foster starting on the bench.The visitors were well aware that the Airbus ground has not always been a happy hunting ground for even in their memorable promotion season the home side were the first of only two teams to inflict defeat on them and for those with longer memories the home side, while still playing under the name British Aerospace and playing in the Wrexham area league, had put Port out of the Welsh Cup.
Having performed well in their last two fixtures with nothing to show for it, it was vital for Port to return home with the three points against as struggling Airbus. They managed to achieve what they set out to do but few if any will be pleased with the performance which gave them the points. One goal separated the two sides but the manner in which the goal came sums up what was a very forgettable game. Port having forced a number of corners without managing to take advantage won another on the left just before the half hour mark. Dafydd Evans lifted a high ball across the face of the goal for Lee Webber to rise to meet it but did not connect fully and the ball appeared to bounce off his back and roll into the corner of the net leaving keeper Paul Whitfield a despairing onlooker.
Apart from that, attempts on goal were few and far between. The visitors had started brightly enough and after only six minutes Whitfield had to be alert for Airbus diving to his right to push an useful 18 yard shot from Owain Roberts past the upright. Just before Webber's goal a good Port move involving Dafydd Evans, Ritchie Owen and Mark Williams fizzled out without a shot on target. After the goal the game deteriorated being played in a narrow corridor along the middle of an uneven pitch with neither side able to exploit wide areas to open up the game. In fact in the opening half Airbus rarely threatened as an attacking force and it was easy to see the reason for their problems as they have only managed five goals in eleven games this season.
In fact it was not until the 56th minute that they managed their first real shot on goal when Steve Hughes broke to the edge of the box and fired a shot into the side netting. Airbus in the second-half showed far more invention than previously shown and if their play in the box had been sharper they could have drawn level. Webber on one occasion had to head a dangerous Jones cross over his own bar. The longer the game went on without a second goal so the home side were encouraged to believe that they would get something from the game. Port were unable to exert any control in midfield as they struggled to get their usual passing game going. Tom Reynolds made a good run on the left but there was no one in the box to meet his cross. The introduction of Steve Jones for his first game of the season did inject some pace up front but still there was no end product. Ritchie Owen sent in a dipping free-kick which Whitfield palmed over the bar but attempts on goal were still rare. The best effort came in injury time when Owain Roberts one of the few Port players to show up well burst down the left from deep in his own half but his shot was parried for a corner by Whitfield.
That virtually marked the end of a dismal game but looking back over the last three games Port will feel that the misfortune they endured during their excellent performances against Rhyl and Caersws more than justified a spot of good fortune on this occasion.
Report by: Gareth Williams
