Vauxhall Masterfit Welsh Premier  - Saturday, November 26th.

CPD Porthmadog ... 5		Cwmbran Town ...1
Gareth Parry  2' 29'		Simon Heal 34'
Carl Owen  7'  
Mike Foster (p) 17'  
Les Davies  55'

With strikers Carl Owen and Les Davies giving the Cwmbran defence a torrid
time this game was virtually decided before the game was 20 minutes old. By
that time the home side were 3 goals up and the visitors were down to ten
men. To conjure a way back from such a situation would have needed a
superhuman effort and Cwmbran, with their well documented off pitch
troubles, never seemed likely to produce that.

The game was only two minutes old when the visitors defence was opened up by
a Les Davies cross and though Danny Hughes' initial shot was blocked, Gareth
Parry was on hand to score his first goal of the season beating Wesson from
10 yards. There was little time for the visitors to recover before Carl Owen
was bursting on to a ball by Webber over the Cwmbran defence and lobbing the
ball over the advancing Wesson into the net. Port domination continued with
Les Davies striking his shot into the side netting and then after 17 minutes
Carl Owen again outpaced the visitors defence but just as he was pulling the
trigger he was brought down in the box by Nicky Ward. Referee Rob Duncan
pointed to the spot and had no option but to show Ward a red card. Mike
Foster proceeded to convert the penalty and Port were in uncharted waters
with such a comfortable lead so early in the game. Things got even better
after 27 minutes when Gareth Parry, who was at his best in midfield, crowned
a good Port build up scoring his second and Port's fourth with a superbly
struck low shot from 25 yards. 

To their credit the Cwmbran team continued to play their constructive
passing game with Rhys Carpenter and Jamie Edwards prominent. Though they
rarely threatened in the box they did gain their reward when skipper Simon
Heal struck a fine 20 yard shot which went into the net via the upright.

Port threatened immediately after the break but Wesson saved well from Parry
again and then twice in quick succession to deny Carl Owen and Rhys Roberts.
After 56 minutes Les Davies made it five for Port when he beat two defenders
in a fine run on the right before cutting into the box and beating Wesson
with a powerful low shot. Ritchie Owen was unfortunate not to make it six
but his shot on the turn struck the bar. With Richard Harvey a virtual
spectator in the Port goal the home side continued to dominate but failed to
add to their tally. Carl Owen headed Danny Hughes' near post cross wide of
the target and Wesson saved well at Owen's feet after a good move involving
Les Davies and sub Jason Harvey. Carl Owen again outpaced the Cwmbran
defence in the 78th minute but was forced wide and his shot screwed across
the face of the goal. Cwmbran fought to the end building well in midfield
with Kyle Allcock prompting well throughout but on the day they failed to
break a sound home rearguard for a second time.

This was to Port's day from the start with Cwmbran two goals down in only
seven minutes before being reduced to 10 men for over 70 minutes. Like
politics a week in football can be a long time as a second successive win
lifts Port to 10th place and atop eight position is now in their sights.

Port: Harvey: Rhys Roberts, Ryan Davies, Webber, Foster: Danny Hughes (Ywain
Gwynedd), Gareth Parry, Tony Williams (Gareth Caughter), Ritchie Owen (Jason
Harvey): Carl Owen, Les Davies.

Cwmbran: Wesson, Green, Billing, Ward, Rhys Carpenter, Allcock, Heal,
Goodridge, Misbah. Phillips, Jamie Edwards.

Subs: Chris Rodgers, L. Fernquest, D. Tippings.

Attendance: 137

Vauxhall Masterfit Welsh Premier  -Friday, November18th.

Caernarfon Town ... 1		CPD Porthmadog ...2
Mark Evans 65                 Carl Owen 6,34

Carl Owen was the hero of the night as his two first half goals proved
enough to give Port the three points. But the eventual victory was achieved
at a considerable cost to the nerves of Port managers and supporters as
Caernarfon threw everything into a second-half fight back. 

Port were out of the blocks as soon as referee Brian Lawlor gave an opening
blast on the whistle and this seemed to catch the home side by surprise with
their minds perhaps still on the events of a fortnight ago when they cruised
to an easy win at the Traeth. There was to be no repeat performance with the
visitors dominating the opening exchanges and indeed after only six minutes
they struck the first blow. A good exchange of passes between Les Davies and
Danny Hughes enabled the latter to break to the by-line and when he crossed
low to the near post where Carl Owen got in front of his marker and though
keeper Paul Pritchard got a hand to the shot he could not keep it out. Port
could have gone further ahead as they piled on the pressure with Carl Owen
hitting the side netting and dipping Les Davies shot dropped inches over the
crossbar. 

After this frenetic start inevitably the game drifted into a quieter period
and though Caernarfon came more in to the game they rarely threatened the
Port goal. Lee Webber and Ryan Davies were outstanding at this stage and
Richard Harvey in the visitors' goal had very little to do. Gareth Parry
came close for Port as he fastened on to a Carl Owen flick but his shot flew
just over the bar. With Port for once seeming to resist the temptation to
depend on a single goal lead Neil Thomas, in outstanding form in midfield,
put Carl Owen through after 34' with a perfectly weighted pass and the
striker fired low past Pritchard. After Les Davies had further tested
Pritchard with a 15 yard effort the home side, after 40 mins, threatened the
Port goal for the only time in the half but no one was able to get a final
touch to sub Steve Watkins' header to the far post.

The second-half proved to be an entirely different game and six minutes into
the second period Caernarfon right back  Mark Evans found himself unmarked
at the far post but fired his shot into the side netting. The home side
continued to pressure the Port defence with both Peters and Williams firing
shots off target. Port were now struggling to recapture their first-half
form and Carl Owen retaliated briefly as he latched on to a Ritchie Owen
pass and Webber just failed to capitalise on Neil Thomas' well flighted
free-kick. The goal which brought the home side well and truly back into the
game came on 65' when a Mark Evans shot from 30yds thundered past Richard
Harvey. Panic now seemed to grip the Port side as they defended deeply and
lost their shape. Jason Saddler struck his shot into the side netting and
Richard Harvey did well to keep out a Rob Williams close range effort. It
was all hands to the pumps as Ryan Davies cleared near the far post and
former Wrexham striker Steve Watkin saw yellow for his dive on the edge of
the box. Carl Owen could have settled the match and completed his hat-trick
when after 82 minutes he was put clear by Gareth Parry but keeper Pritchard
denied him with a good save. A couple of late corners kept the tension going
to the end and then after four minutes added time visiting supporters gave a
mighty sigh of relief for the first away three points of the season were in
the bag. This is proving to be a season where one win changes things round
quite suddenly. 'Struggling Port' now move above Caernarfon in the table!

Caernarfon: Pritchard, Mark Evans, McNulty, Irons, Eifion Jones, March,
Peters (Orlik), Rob Williams, Sadler, Lee Jones (Watkin), Dylan Owen. 
Sub not used: Wayne Phillips.

Port: Harvey: Rhys Roberts, Ryan Davies, Webber, Foster: Danny Hughes(Ywain
Gwynedd), Gareth Parry, Neil Thomas, Ritchie Owen: Carl Owen, Les
Davies(Tony Williams).
Sub not used. Jason Harvey.

Att. 374

Gareth Williams
  

Vauxhall Masterfit Welsh Premier -Saturday, November12th

CPD Porthmadog ... 2		Connah's Quay Nomads ... 2
Carl Owen 14			Phil Molyneux 66
Rhys Roberts 70			Craig Hutchinson 87

It was another day of high frustration at Y Traeth as the Nomads snatched
only their second point of the season thanks to skipper Craig Hutchinson's
fine 87th minute shot from way out on the right. Port twice saw a goal
advantage slip away as they continued the habit of failing to consolidate
after gaining the early advantage. Having gained a 14th minute lead thanks
to a Carl Owen goal, when he outpaced the visitors defence to run on to Rhys
Roberts' excellent through ball before striking cleanly to beat keeper Paul
Smith, they should have gone on to finish the game before half-time.

Two or possibly three clear cut chances should have been taken to send Port
in comfortably ahead at the interval. A 17th minute interchange of passes
between Les Davies and Ywain Gwynedd saw the latter deliver a fine cross
allowing Carl Owen to rise unchallenged in front of goal but he failed to
beat Smith from close range. Five minutes later Neil Thomas supplied Carl
Owen who rolled his pass into the path of Gareth Parry arriving at speed
from midfield but Smith saved with his trailing foot. Just after the
half-hour mark Les Davies' far post cross evaded the all important final
touch of both Carl Owen and Neil Thomas. The Nomads all the while had played
some neat approach play and enjoyed the lion's share of the possession but
their only real threat in the box came via Ben Heath's long throw-ins.

Port came out in the second period knowing that clinching that second goal
was vital. When Carl Owen broke clear into the box after 54 minutes that
goal seemed inevitable but as he was about to unleash his shot he was
blatantly brought down from behind. Unfortunately the only man at the ground
who did not see it as an obvious penalty was referee Andy Richards. The
official who had blown his whistle unnecessarily throughout the afternoon,
to the frustration of both sides, kept his whistle well away from his lips.

This appeared to give the visitors extra confidence and Port allowed
themselves to be forced back into deep positions which only invited the
Nomads forward. Phil Molyneux punished the home side for this tactical
failure when he was allowed to break to the edge of the box after 64 minutes
before unleashing a powerful 20 yard effort giving keeper Harvey no chance.
This setback proved the catalyst Port needed as they saw the desperately
needed points being taken from them. Within six minutes they were back in
front when defender Rhys Roberts got on to the end of a Mike Foster
free-kick to beat Smith from close range. The home side pushed on for a
third but Smith saved well a shot from Carl Owen and a header from Rhys
Roberts. Home supporters checked their watches nervously as Port protected
their narrow lead. The Nomads had not given up hope of gaining something
from the game and when Port only partially cleared, following a shot by
Kenworthy which struck an upright, skipper Hutchinson unleashed his late
special. 

Whilst the Nomads will see this as a point gained Port will consider it two
points thrown away. They are now being sucked deeper into the relegation
zone with some of their play in the last two games showing a distinct lack
of confidence when compared with their excellent first half showing against
Newtown. Port Talbot who until recently have, like Port, drawn too many
games have suddenly soared up the table because Rhys Griffiths has started
scoring goals. A couple of early goals and things could change for Port too,
for they have not suddenly become a poor team. 

Port: Richard Harvey: Rhys Roberts, Ryan Davies, Lee Webber, Mike Foster:
Ywain Gwynedd (Danny Hughes), Gareth Parry, Neil Thomas, Les Davies, Ritchie
Owen (Tony Williams): Carl Owen. 
Subs not used: Jason Harvey, Arwel Evans, Carwyn Edwards.

Connah's Quay: Smith, Heath, Brownhill, Hutchinson, Pinch, Murtagh, Cook,
Alan Morgan, O'Toole, Molyneux, Crawford.
Subs: Kenworthy, Waller, Phillips, Stanon.

Attendance: 174

Gareth Williams 

Welsh Cup Round 3		-Saturday November 5th

CPD Porthmadog ... 0 	Caernarfon ... 3
				Lee Jones 8, 87
				Jason Sadler 51

Port were dismissed from their third cup competition having been outplayed
by Gwynedd rivals Caernarfon Town. The home team can point to the awful
playing conditions as an excuse for goals conceded as a result of dreadful
errors but on the other hand the visitors adapted well to the conditions
passing accurately and always looking in control. From the start Port looked
under pressure with Lee Webber having to concede a 4th minute corner and
after 8 minutes Caernarfon were ahead. The experienced Kenny Irons
capitalised on one of the many under hit passes in midfield to send the
speedy Lee Jones through on the right of the box and the former Wrexham
striker beat Richard Harvey at the near post. Following this early set back
the home side worked hard to get back into the game and after 11 minutes
Carl Owen headed a Les Davies cross over the bar.

Two incidents in the opening period called into question the policy of
playing Carl Owen as a lone stiker. First a Mike Foster free-kick was
dropped by keeper Paul Pritchard but there was no one on hand to take
advantage. Then a good through ball by Rhys Roberts, after 26 minutes, for
Carl Owen to run onto again showed why Port find scoring so difficult. Owen
was forced wide by two defenders but lacking support he had to delay his
pass and a good opportunity was lost. Just after the half-hour mark
Caernarfon should have gone further ahead again it was thanks to a defensive
blunder, this time a miscue by Ryan Davies, allowing Jason Sadler through on
goal but Richard Harvey saved well with his legs. Port forced a few corners
in the run up to half-time but Paul Pritchard in the visitors' goal did not
have to make a serious save.

Port needed an early goal in the second period but it was Caernarfon who
increased their lead after 51 minutes when Lee Jones took full advantage of
a slip on the wet surface, by Lee Webber, to supply Jason Sadler who had the
simplest of tasks to score from six yards. Port tried to raise the tempo but
on the day their play was riddled with errors and they gave the ball away
far too often. They came close on a couple of occasions a Carl Owen header
went over the bar following an Ywain Gwynedd cross and then on 70 minutes
Paul Pritchard, in the visitors' goal, saved a Rhys Roberts effort at point
blank range. Although Port enjoyed territorial advantage at this stage it
was Caernarfon who looked the most likely to score. When Richard Harvey
pushed out another Lee Jones shot Jason Sadler drove into the side netting
and Harvey again had to make near post save to keep out the menacing Lee
Jones after Ryan Davies and Lee Webber had failed to clear. In the 80th
minute man of the match Jones sent a 25yard special whistling over Harvey's
bar. With 8 minutes left Port introduced three substitutes but by now the
game was well over and inevitably it was Lee Jones who had the last word.
Sub Garside picked up a loose clearance and found Lee Jones in the box and
the ball dropped kindly for the forward who scored his second from close
range.

This was Port's poorest performance for many seasons and their errors were
well and truly punished They now need to get this one out of their system
and look to the two very important home league matches they have during the
coming week against Carmarthen on Tuesday and Connah's Quay on Saturday.

Port: Harvey, Danny Hughes, Ryan Davies, Webber, Foster: Ywain Gwynedd,
Gareth Parry (Ritchie Owen 82'), Rhys Roberts, Neil Thomas, Les Davies
(Jason Harvey 82'): Carl Owen (Tony Williams 82')

Caernarfon: Pritchard, Mark Evans, McNulty, Irons, Eifion Jones, March,
Peters, Rob Williams, Sadler, Lee Jones, Dylan Owen (Garside79').
Subs not used: Orlik, Wayne Phillips.

Gareth Williams
 

Vauxhall Masterfit, Welsh Premier	-Saturday, October 29th

Newtown ... 3		CPD Porthmadog ... 1
Danny Desmoreaux 45	Les Davies 38
Danny Barton 63,70.

This was a day which started well for Port but ended disastrously. The score
line suggests a resounding Newtown victory but in fact the game was decided
in a ten minute period after the hour mark. On the hour Neil Thomas broke
into the box and found Carl Owen who turned well and was unlucky to see his
goal bound shot hit the foot of the upright with home keeper Rowley well
beaten. Had it gone in then Port would have regained the lead and would have
expected to go on to claim all three points. It was, however, a case of salt
in the wound as twice the home side broke away down the right and converted
both of the few chances which they created during the afternoon. A moment of
hesitation in the previously untroubled visitors defence allowed the
dangerous Danny Barton to take advantage of a cross by Desmoreaux and score
at the far post. Then just seven minutes later the same player found himself
totally unmarked at the far post for another right wing cross, this time by
Matthew Lewis, and beat Richard Harvey from close range.

During the early stages of the game things promised to turn out far
differently with Port playing their best football of the season and for the
first 20 minutes were camped in the Robins half. The inclusion of Ywain
Gwynedd had brought much needed width to the Port play and seemed to justify
those who have been calling for the inclusion of a wide man. In the 11th
minute Port came close when Les Davies crossed from the left but Ywain
Gwynedd's header was deflected for a corner. The same player was in the
thick o things as he took advantage of an excellent Neil Thomas pass to find
Carl Owen in the box but the forward's shot screwed narrowly wide. Then in
the 38th minute came the Port goal which had threatened to come from the
start. Inevitably it was Ywain Gwynedd who broke to the by-line on the right
before squaring a low ball to the far post for Les Davies to score his
fourth of the season. Newtown had rarely threatened throughout the half
relying on counterattacks and leaving neutrals unsure as to which was the
home side. Just as Port looked likely to go in ahead at the interval the
home side set up their best, perhaps their only real attacking move of the
half with a bout of excellent one touch football on the edge of the box to
set up Danny Desmoreaux who drove low wide of Harvey's left hand. 

The game was fairly even after the interval until that 10 minute period
which turned the game on its head. Port now struggled to come to terms with
the events of that fateful 10 minutes and then with 12 minutes left three
substitutes were introduced and several positional changes made in an effort
to salvage something. All that happened however was that Port lost their
shape and even five minutes of added time did nothing to change an afternoon
that had gone badly wrong. This was another salutary lesson from Danny
Barton that scoring goals wins matches. Oh for a small piece of luck -next
Saturday please. 

Newtown: Rowley, Craig Williams, Oliver Williams, Alan Hooley, Martin Giles,
Adrian moody, Matthew Lewis, Dan Desmoreaux, Peter Smith, Danny Barton,
Darren Ryan.
Subs: Shane Kirkham, Glen Evans, Sam Pickup, Carl Cealharts.

Port: Harvey, Danny Hughes (Ritchie Owen 78), Ryan Davies, Lee Webber, Mike
Foster: Gareth Parry, Rhys Roberts, Neil Thomas, Les Davies: Ywain Gwynedd
(Tony Williams 78), Carl Owen (Matthew Webber 83).

Subs not used: Carwyn Edwards, Arwel Evans.


Attendance -310.

Gareth Williams.