UNBEATEN RECORD GOES DOWN THE PAN

RHYL 2 (M Williams 87, G Owen 90)
PORT TALBOT TOWN 3 (Fahiya 34, Rose 45 & 63)
WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE - NOV 15, 2008
WHAT a strange afternoon this turned out to be.
Rhyl lost their unbeaten league record against a side which had failed to pick up as much as a point at Belle Vue in eight previous visits.
It was no fluke result, though. Port Talbot were worthy winners even though a dramatic late rally from Rhyl almost earned them a fortunate draw with substitute Josh Johnson hitting the post with the last kick of the game.
The only consolation for the Lilywhites is they remain top of the table despite this shock setback.
Llanelli could only draw 3-3 at Porthmadog, so Rhyl stay at the summit on goal difference.
After the first half hour, it looked likely that the Lilies would go on to complete a routine victory with only the heroics of Port keeper Kristian Rogers keeping his side in the contest.
But then suddenly the miserly Rhyl defence which had conceded just four goals in 11 league starts began to play like strangers.
Neil Roberts saw an early shot blocked before the home side had a scare when Drew Fahiya latched on to a poor header from Greg Strong, nipped in ahead of keeper Lee Kendall, but his chip drifted off target.
On 12 minutes Danny Williams' lofted ball put Matthew Williams in the clear but his well-struck low shot was superbly stopped one-handed by Rogers.
Rhyl were guilty of a glaring miss on 17 minutes when Jamie Reed's byeline cross was only parried by Rogers into the path of Neil Roberts who scooped over a gaping goal.
Only a great interception by Leigh De Vulgt denied Matthew Williams a sure strike at goal from a Craig Jones cross, then Greg Stones volleyed straight at Rogers after a Gareth Owen free-kick was cleared to him.
Port served notice of their capabilities in the 28th minute when James Burgin's cross from the left was met by a powerful downward header from Martin Rose but Kendall saved impressively.
In the 32nd minute an Owen free-kick was blocked by the Talbot wall but the ball came to George Horan who let fly from 15 yards only for Rogers to produce a fantastic tip-over.
Then on 34 minutes, against the run of play, a Rose headed flick found Fahiya in far too much space, and the tricky wide man coolly rounded Kendall before slotting in the opener.
Rhyl looked certain to equalise when Mark Connolly's cross flew invitingly into the six-yard box, but neither Reed nor Strong could get a touch.
On the stroke of half time Belle Vue was stunned into silence when from a Mathew Thompson free-kick Rose jumped in ahead of the flapping Kendall and headed home. Half-time: 0-2.
The start of the second half saw Port grow in stature and they began to look the more quality outfit as Rhyl struggled to retain possession.
Burgin hit a firm drive straight at Kendall before on 63 minutes the third visiting goal arrived.
Man of the match Fahiya made a monkey out of Stones down the right. scooped the ball to the back post and Rose headed in off the bar with the Rhyl defence again a shambles. The same defence which squeezed the life out of Bangor four days earlier were being made to look second rate.
Rhyl launched non-stop attacks in the last 20 minutes, but initially struggled to create clear-cut openings as they tried too hard to force the action with the passing far too inaccurate.
Matthew Williams miskicked from a Paul O'Neill cross, then Strong's off-target shot hit Williams and could have gone anywhere but found Rogers' arms.
Josh Johnson's effort was blocked by Lee Surman and there was a suspicion of handball, then Neil Roberts' flick from a Johnson cross went agonisingly wide.
It was starting to look like Rhyl wouldn't score if they played till next week.
Then on 87 minutes came a lifeline. Danny Williams crossed to the back post, Craig Jones headed across the six-yard box and Matthew Williams volleyed home.
Moments later Rogers produced an heroic block at Williams' feet as all of a sudden a Port team which blew a 3-0 and 4-1 lead against Llanelli the previous weekend began panicking.
They could have made it 4-1, though, when Rose broke clear from halfway but missed out on a hat-trick by steering wide.
Five minutes of injury time were issued and in the fifth minute Matthew Williams' cross was drilled home by Gareth Owen - 3-2 and time for one more attack? Yes.
Port tried to head out for a corner but Johnson stopped the ball from crossing the line, chipped to the back stick, hit the woodwork, and Mathew Walsh produced a desperate clearance. Seconds later the final whistle blew and Port celebrated a landmark victory.
Too little, too late from Rhyl? Ultimately yes, and credit must go to the visitors for breaking the trend of travelling teams coming to BV to defend.
The Steelmen took their chances when they came, boast one of the league's best strikers in Rose, and returned home worthy victors.

RHYL: Kendall, Connolly (O'Neill 68), Stones, Horan, Strong, D Williams, G Owen, Reed (Johnson 56), N Roberts, M Williams, Jones. Unused sub: Wilson.

MATCH FACTS
GOALS - Rhyl 2 Port Talbot 3
ATTEMPTS - Rhyl 16 Port Talbot 9
ON TARGET - Rhyl 9 Port Talbot 5
CORNERS - Rhyl 5 Port Talbot 1
YELLOW CARDS - Rhyl 2 Port Talbot 1
RED CARDS - Rhyl 0 Port Talbot 0
ATTENDANCE - 516
LILYWHITES ONLINE MAN OF THE MATCH
Drew Fahiya (Port Talbot)
One of the best attacking players seen at Belle Vue in some time. Received a good ovation from the home fans when he went off injured.

RHYL FC RESULTS 2008/09
Aug 16, 2008 - Newtown (h-lge) 3-0 (Stones, N Roberts, Reed)
Aug 19, 2008 - Airbus UK Broughton (h-LC) 6-1 (C Owen 2, Jones 2, N Roberts, D Williams)
Aug 23, 2008 - Caernarfon Town (a-lge) 1-0 (Horan)
Aug 30, 2008 - Llanelli (h-lge) 5-1 (Strong, Reed, N Roberts 2, Johnson)
Sep 02, 2008 - Welshpool Town (h-LC) 1-2 (Jones)
Sep 05, 2008 - Porthmadog (a-lge) 3-0 (Reed, N Roberts, Jones)
Sep 13, 2008 - Haverfordwest County (h-lge) 2-0 (Reed 2)
Sep 21, 2008 - Neath Athletic (a-lge) 2-2 (Reed, Stones)
Sep 23, 2008 - Airbus UK Broughton (a-LC) 4-0 (C Owen 2, C Roberts, Johnson)
Sep 27, 2008 - Aberystwyth Town (h-lge) 0-0
Oct 04, 2008 - Castell Alun Colts (h-WC R2) 8-0 (Jones, Strong, Johnson, O'Neill, C Owen 2, M Williams 2)
Oct 07, 2008 - Welshpool Town (a-LC) 2-0 (C Roberts, C Owen)
Oct 10, 2008 - Connah's Quay Nomads (h-lge) 2-0 (Horan, O'Neill)
Oct 18, 2008 - Carmarthen Town (h-lge) 3-0 (G Owen, N Roberts 2)
Oct 28, 2008 - Bangor City (a-LC) 1-3 (aet) (Strong)
Nov 1, 2008 - Haverfordwest County (h-WC) 4-0 (Horan, M Williams, N Roberts 2)
Nov 8, 2008 - Caersws (h-lge) 3-1 (Wilson, Williams og, Johnson)
Nov 11, 2008 - Bangor City (a-lge) 2-0 (Reed, N Roberts)
Nov 15, 2008 - Port Talbot Town (h-lge) 2-3 (M Williams, G Owen)
GOALS (54): 10 - Neil Roberts; 7 - Carl Owen, Jamie Reed; 5 - Craig Jones; 4 - Matthew Williams, Josh Johnson; 3 - Greg Strong, George Horan; 2 - Gareth Owen, Greg Stones, Chris Roberts, Paul O'Neill, 1 - Danny Williams, Gareth Wilson, 1 own goal.