TNS manager Ken McKenna admits his side are still well short of their best, despite maintaining their upturn in fortunes with a third straight win at sun-drenched Park Hall.
First-half in the league, and Mike Wilde put the defending champions in charge only for a string of further opportunities to go begging.
And Port Talbot, who revived their fortunes with Chad Bond’s leveller on the stroke of half time, went close to salvaging the game late on when Bond headed wide.
“We’re still not firing on all cylinders and we’ll need to improve if we’re going to challenge this season,” said McKenna.
“We could have had five or six, but if you don’t put your chances away, you’ve always got a chance of being punished at the other end which could have happened.
“But the main thing is that it’s another three points.”
A defensive error had earlier seen Carter notch his sixth goal in four games for the Saints while Wilde netted the second when ghosting past two defenders to score from Carter’s pass.
But Port Talbot, who played their part in an entertaining game, reduced the arrears on the stroke of half time when Bond latched on to a Martin Rose pass to plant the ball past keeper Paul Harrison.
Lifted by the goal, the visitors had TNS on the back foot early in the second half, but Bond screwed a shot wide while Lee Surman headed straight at Harrison from Lee John’s free-kick.
At the other end Carter and Wilde were guilty of missing good chances to make the game safe, while impressive keeper Kristian Rogers did well to save from Wilde and Luke Holden.
The missed opportunities almost proved costly in the final minute when the Steelmen went close to earning parity as Bond headed wide when well placed.
