THEIR recent revival came to an abrupt end as Technogroup Welshpool were outclassed at Port Talbot.
The home side dominated from the first whistle, with Lee John and Martin Rose testing their luck.
The inevitable breakthrough arrived on 19 minutes after Max Peate had nudged Rose in the area, with the reliable striker dusting himself down to convert the penalty.
Welshpool were firmly on the ropes five minutes later, when Neil Thomas was allowed to roll a shot into a gaping net after a mix-up in the visiting defence.
Port Talbot laid siege to the Welshpool goal and clinched the points on the stroke of the interval.
More defensive hesitancy in the Welshpool defence allowed Liam McCreesh to head the ball back into the danger area, with captain Matthew Rees capitalising.
Port Talbot were equally dominant in the second-half but squandered opportunities.
The introduction of Drew Fahiya provided another attacking option and his pace caused problems.
Welshpool merely made up the numbers and played out the second-half as Port Talbot continued to probe with no success.
In fact Port Talbot shot themselves in the foot with three minutes remaining, when the freshly cautioned McCreesh saw red for abusive comments to referee Huw Jones.
PORT TALBOT: Kendall, De Vulgt, Grist, Phillips, Rees, Surman, John (Fahiya), N Thomas, Rose, McCreesh, D Thomas
WELSHPOOL: Maguire, Williams, Boardman, Peate (Kane), Beattie, Pritchard, Hughes, Ramsey, Griffiths (Jenkins), Edwards. Price. Sub: Cronshaw