JOHN HULSE believes his Rhyl side’s cavalier attitude made Saturday’s victory at the Remax Stadium harder work than it should have been.

The Lilywhites led 2-0 at half time, but spent much of the second period pushing for a killer third.

Their approach gave Port Talbot several opportunities before they were eventually rewarded by an injury time penalty, which proved scant consolation for their spirited fightback.

“I was a little frustrated we tried to force the issue by chasing a third goal when we could have held on to the ball a bit more in the second half,” said Hulse.

“But after coming to a place like this and getting a win you won’t hear too many moans and groans from me.”

Having lost on their last three visits to Victoria Road, the Lilies had something to prove.

But they almost fell behind early on when Martin Rose clattered the crossbar.

It was against the run of play when on six minutes Mark Connolly’s left-foot shot slipped from the grasp of Port keeper Kristian Rogers and Craig Jones could not miss at the back post.

In the 14th minute Dave Cameron was fouled outside the area by Talbot’s Leigh de Vulgt, and Connolly curled a rasping free-kick into the net.

Playing into the fierce wind and rain after the break, the visitors came under pressure at times but it was apparent it was not going to be the Steelmen’s day when Lee John was guilty of a glaring miss from six yards.

Two minutes into injury time Gareth Wilson hacked down Sam Baker in the box and Rose put away the penalty, but the Lilywhites held on for the points.