KIRK IS FULL OF ENTERPRISE
RHYL 2 (Williams 32, Hunt 42)
PORT TALBOT TOWN 0
WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE - AUG 29, 2009
RIGHT-WINGER Tyrone Kirk had a sparkling debut for a Rhyl side which gained sweet revenge for last season's 3-2 loss to Port Talbot at Belle Vue.
Kirk, a loan signing from Macclesfield, terrorised the Steelmen's defence, laying on the Lilywhites second goal and creating numerous other scoring chances.
The match also saw an unhappy return to Belle Vue for goalkeeper Lee Kendall, who signed for Port Talbot earlier this month.
Kirk, whose planned midweek debut was postponed due to a registration delay caused by the English FA, came straight into a Rhyl line-up deprived of the services of Neil Roberts through a knee injury.
The Steelmen threatened first when Danny Thomas found Martin Rose in the box, but the striker's shot lost its sting thanks to a timely George Horan challenge.
Soon after Rhyl full-back Greg Stones made a good break from his own half and picked out Luke Holden whose 30-yard screamer flew wide.
Kendall reminded the Lilywhites faithful of what they will be missing this season when he produced a fantastic tip over from a Holden 25-yard rocket on 18 minutes.
Opposite number Paul Pritchard was then called into action as he kept out a fierce right-foot drive from Danny Thomas, pushing the ball up in the air and no-one from Port was able to capitalise.
But the Lilies were steadily turning the screw and they deservedly took the lead on 32 minutes when Matthew Williams scored with a glancing header from a Holden corner.
Three minutes before the break the home side's impressive new signing Kirk taunted full-back Scott Barrow before lofting a sublime ball to the back post where Lee Hunt skilfully headed home number two.
First half injury time brought a turning point when Danny Thomas' long throw found Rose in the box, but the big striker fluffed a great chance by blasting over the bar.
Kirk hounded the Port defence again minutes after the restart but was unable to keep down the final shot.
Rhyl were denied a blatant penalty when Barrow shoved over Hunt in the box, then an instant volley from the Lilywhites striker was comfortably saved by Kendall.
It looked easier to score when on 63 minutes Kirk broke to the byeline and arrowed the ball on to the head of player manager Greg Strong who somehow missed the target.
Port Talbot's attacking threat had been non-existent in the second half until the 74th minute when a 20-yard effort from substitute Mark Jones smacked the top of the crossbar.
Eight minutes from time Mark Connolly let fly with a free-kick for the champions but Kendall was able to palm the ball away from goal.
RHYL: Pritchard, Connolly, Stones, Horan (c), Strong, Leah, Kirk, Owen, Hunt, Williams, Holden (Naylor 84). Subs: Cameron, Dowling.
MATCH FACTS
GOALS - Rhyl 2 Port Talbot 0
ATTEMPTS - Rhyl 13 Port Talbot 7
ON TARGET - Rhyl 7 Port Talbot 4
CORNERS - Rhyl 6 Port Talbot 3
YELLOW CARDS - Rhyl 0 Port Talbot 2
RED CARDS - Rhyl 0 Port Talbot 0
ATTENDANCE - 414
LILYWHITES ONLINE MAN OF THE MATCH
Tyrone Kirk (Rhyl)
Same type of stunning debut Luke Holden had last season.
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As soon as I saw the title of the match review I thought: 'Wow, very imaginative'
Anyway to the match, my thoughts on the positions:
Defence: 100% more solid than at Airbus Friday 21st. Pritchard wasn't half bad, his deliveries were the usual, he won't have a worse display than at Airbus Friday 21st. Both Gregs and George were solid as usual, Conno, well I always think he's great, his free kick was brilliantly saved by Kendall.
Midfield: Gaz and John both had good performances today, both passed the ball well long and short.
Attack: Matty and Lee had good performances today mainly because of their goals. Wingers were immense today, Luke was, as usual, brilliant but Kirk... absolute stunning. The way he just tore the Talbot defence apart with step-overs and other skills was just magical
(I'm finding it hard to think of anymore describing words!!)
It's a real shame he's only at Belle Vue until December.
Officals: Lee didn't like them, simple as that, they were bad but not as bad as the ones against Carmarthen.
Overall: Great display, Great match and Great news that we got a new goalkeeper. He's just what we need to retain the WPL.
Great to hear about the exciting wingers and that our strikers are scoring. This will raise spirits and attract back the crowds.
Re winning the league however, the most important development was that we kept a clean sheet. That's what we need to regularly get back to doing.
IF everyone is fit, we at last have options and can just about fill a bench - with Dowling and Naylor as defensive cover and Neil Roberts to come back.
Hopefully, we won't accommodate Neil by losing a winger. There's something about Rhyl selections over recent years and an unwillingness to stretch defences by fully using the wings. Our managers always seem to want to stick a central striker (be it Sharp,Reed or whoever) out on the wing or tall central defenders (Brewi,Stones,O'Neill etc) as full-backs. Now that we have two excellent wingers, let's just use them consistently. When Neil comes back we will have options. Matty or Hunty could drop to the bench, or Neil could take Gareth Owen's place on occasions in midfield. We can mix it up between games and within games. Good to have the options again, or to know that we can still field a top team even if two or even three are out thro injury or suspension because of the versatility of the players in the squad.
Charlton very keen to take Luke, but balking over Rhyl's ã50k asking price, so I'm told.
Very good display today. Season best performances from Gaz Owen and John Leah. Very solid at the back and big threat out wide from the two wingers.
Should have been a few more than 2.
Bloody hell, never ever drempt of witnessing a performance like that after such a dismal showing ar Airbus. Lovely to see Strong can make decisions although he did'nt need to be clever to work out Connolly is a better option than Naylor at wing back. Great to see the spring back in Owen's step and the wing play of Kirk and Holden was pure class, Port Talbot had no answer to their trickery. At last players and ball kept moving, very few balls frightened the seagulls and to cap it all at last we have got a new keeper. All in all a very satisfying afternoon at Belle Vue.