Vauxhall Masterfit Welsh Premier League, - Saturday, September 4th
Porthmadog …..0 Connah’s Quay …. 0
When these two sides last met the game ended in a draw and from early on
today a draw, once more, seemed the most likely result. Unlike last
Saturday’s game against Bangor City this game will not live in the memory
for long. A combination of two strong defences and an over zealous referee,
who was far too conscious of the assessor looking over his shoulder,
produced a game which lacked spark and only very rarely did the football
flow.
Port had the better of the early play stringing passes together and applying
pressure without creating any goal opportunities. The visitors however
almost capitalised on a free-kick which found Horan whose header was pushed
away at full stretch for a corner by McGuigan. In the main Port continued to
threaten and Quay keeper almost made a hash of coping with Gareth Parry’s low
snap shot, and was fortunate to only concede a corner. From the resulting
Owain Roberts corner the ball flew across the face of the goal and Lee Webber
was only inches away from the touch which would have produced a goal. Carl
Owen’s header was just off target following a good build up involving Gareth
Parry and John Gwynfor. As the half wore on Quay showed more in attack,
forcing two quick corners in succession just after the half-hour mark. Then
McGuigan had to be on the alert to save a Gareth Owen shot from 25 yds. The
only clear cut chance of the half came moments before the half-time whistle
when Gareth Parry put Carl Owen clean through with a well judged pass but in
the one on one situation Lee Williams in the Quay goal spread himself to save
admirably.
Having survived an early scare just after the interval when Gareth Caughter
broke on the left and almost took advantage of a Mark Williams flick, the
visitors threatened when Darren Williams almost took advantage of a defensive
error but McGuigan was again quickly off his line to save. Play was now
swinging from end to end and Mutton and Williams for Quay came more into the
game. It was however Dafydd Evans, for the home side, only minutes after
coming on as substitute who whipped a fine 25 yd pass to put Carl Owen behind
the visitors defence but the forward was forced wide and his shot screwed
narrowly wide of the target. There was little more incident though Darren
Williams came close for the visitors with a near post header following a cross
by Stuart Rain while at the other end a snap shot by Ritchie Owen was well
saved by Lee Williams who also saw a Mike Foster effort fly over his bar
following a free-kick.
A third draw in four games for Port who will take comfort from the fact that
this was the type of game which last season they might have lost 1-0. They also
kept a second successive clean sheet against a side which always provides stern
opposition. It is a pity, however, that they were unable to reproduce last
Saturday’s performance in front of their home supporters.
Port: McGuigan: John G. Jones, Ryan Davies, Lee Webber, Mike Foster: Tony
Williams (Dafydd Evans), Gareth Parry, Owain Roberts, Gareth Caughter (Ritchie
Owen), Mark Williams (Tom Reynolds), Carl Owen.
Connah’s Quay: Lee Williams, Jamie Holmes, Dean Tuft, Hutchinson, Horan,
Jellicoe, Chris Williams, Mutton, Darren Williams, Kenworthy, Gareth Owen.
Subs: Andy Griffiths, Stuart Rain, Danny Spray.
Gareth Williams.
The Vauxhall Masterfit, Welsh Premier. -Saturday, August 21st
Afan Lido ... 1 Porthmadog ... 1
Carl Evans 90 Carl Owen 51
For a second successive Saturday Port were robbed of the full three points
by a late equaliser. Having conceded an 87th minute leveller against
Welshpool they endured even more anguish this time round when Carl Evans,
for Lido, equalised in the 90th minute.
The talking point of the opening half was the numberless appearance of the
visitors with their away shirts turned inside out at the request of referee
N.L. Morgan who decided that the red side panels on their white shirts could
lead to confusion, as the home side played in all red. The uneventful
first-half did not raise many talking points as neither side really got to
grips with the game. Lido applied the early pressure and robust striker
Bartley had a chance after 5 mins when visitors keeper McGuigan
had a clearance charged down into his path but Bartley's 15yd shot was off
target. After surviving the early aerial attacks Port got into the game and
an useful Dafydd Evans pass found Carl Owen on the left for the forward to
make ground before lobbing just over the bar from a wide angle. Again Carl
Owen was prominent after 26 mins when he chased a long through ball into the
box but was uneremoniously bundled to ground by keeper Thomas who had
totally misjudged the ball. Surprisingly the referee awarded the home side a
free-kick.
As the first-half drew to a close Lido were again on the attack and when
defender, Mike Foster blocked a McCreesh shot, Shrimpton was on hand, but
his shot from the edge of the box was wide of the target. A minute before
the interval McGuigan saved well under pressure as Bartley for the visitors
broke on the left and played a dangerous low ball across the face of the
goal.
Port immediately pushed forward after the interval showing the most
constructive play of the game. Six minutes into the second period they went
ahead courtesy of the best move of the game. Having previously threatened on
the left Caughter took advantage of a good ball by Foster to turn the
defence and play the ball in to Carl Owen who found space in the box before
unleashing a powerful shot from 12 yds giving Brian Thomas, in the home
goal, no chance. Soon Owen was threatening again this time with a brilliant
solo run along the bye-line on the right before playing the ball in to
Gareth Parry whose shot flew just over the angle. Lido were not now posing
much of a threat though McGuigan did well to keep out a low shot by Chris
Pridham and was also cool under the high ball controlling his box admirably.
Then seemingly with the game under control Port and time running out Lido
launched one last effort. Kevin Bartley, who had been prominent throughout,
broke on the right sending a well flighted ball to the far post for Walters
to head back across the goal where Carl Evans reacted first to fire in the
equaliser. Towards the end with the the three points seemingly secure the
visitors succumbed to the temptation to defend too deeply and inviting
attack rather than choosing to play the game in the opposition half. On the
bright side Port are still unbeaten! On to Bangor.
Port: McGuigan: John G. Jones, Ryan Davies, Lee Webber, Foster: Tony
Williams(Danny Hughes), Dafydd Evans, Gareth Parry, Gareth Caughter( Ritchie
Owen) : Mark Williams(Tom Reynolds), Carl Owen.
Afan Lido: Brian Thomas, Shrimpton, Reid, Paul Evans, Carl Evans, Rickard,
McCreesh, Pridham, Bartley, O'Leary, Piper.
Subs: Sacha Walters, Craig Martin, Ceri Williams, Daniel Williams.
Gareth Williams.
Vauxhall Masterfit Welsh Premier – Saturday, August 14th
Porthmadog … 1 Welshpool Town … 1
Carl Owen 57 Steve Rogers 86
This was a typical opening day encounter on a hot August afternoon where
neither side were able to establish a clear pattern of play in the opening
period. The game as a spectacle was not helped either by Port’s long ball
game and Welshpool’s offside trap. The opening half in fact produced very
little to excite the crowd with the ball in the air for much of the time.
The home side’s aerial attacks were in the main easily dealt with by the
visitors new central defensive pairing of Norman and Jeffries. Port did
manage a couple of efforts on goal when Gareth Caughter shot wide after
cutting dangerously in from the left and a Tom Reynolds effort was also
wide of the mark from 25yds. It took Welshpool until the 40th min to put
in their first effort on goal when Cunnah combined well with Rogers only
to see his shot fly over the bar.
The second-half started more promisingly and two mins into the second
period Rogers, for Welshpool, came close with a header from a Ricky Evans
corner and soon after McGuigan saved well from Rogers again. There
followed the best sustained period of play during the game as Port forsook
the long ball and started playing the ball around on the ground. An
excellent exchange of passes between Tony Williams and Gareth Caughter
opened up the visitors defence but the latter’s shot went across the face
of the goal. Welshpool were now finding the home side’s slick passing far
more difficult to cope with than the hopeful high ball. A well judged Tony
Williams through ball once again opened up the visitors defence and this
time Carl Owen was away and from 15 yds drove low past Goodwin in the
Welshpool goal. Soon after a Mike Foster free-kick screamed inches over
the bar. The visitors defence was now at full stretch as a Mike Foster
left-wing cross was met by Carl Owen again but the striker’s header went
just over the bar. After 69 mins an excellent Dafydd Evans ball found the
dangerous Caughter who cut into the box and was unlucky to see his shot,
from close range, blocked. Almost immediately another Dafydd Evans ball
this time set up Tom Reynolds whose shot flew past the upright.
Unfortunately the home side failed to add to Carl Owen’s opening goal as
for a period of twenty minutes they completely dominated proceedings. As
so often happens the visitors were encouraged back into the game. A
McGuigan error under pressure had to be scrambled away for a corner and
then the dangerous Rogers was kept out by a well timed Foster tackle.
With time running out a scramble in the home penalty area saw a succession
of deflections and blocks before the ball fell to Steve Rogers who turned
well in the box to fire into the net. Tomi Morgan’s revamped Welshpool were
delighted to scrape a point but Port will most definitely see this as two
points lost.
However they will take heart from their period of excellent passing
football during the 25 minute period after the interval when they would
not have been flattered by another couple of goals. Supporters will look
forward to an even longer period where the ball is passed around and
defences are turned and opened-up.
Port: McGuigan, John G Jones, Ryan Davies, Lee Webber (capt), Mike Foster:
Tony Williams(Danny Hughes), Dafydd Evans, Gareth Parry, Gareth Caughter
(Ritchie Owen): Tom Reynolds, Carl Owen(Mark Williams).
Welshpool: Goodwin, Mark Thomas, Brett Jeffries, Norman, Windsor: Cunnah,
Burgess, Ricky Evans, Courtney: Rogers, Ross Jeffries.
Subs: Lee Davies, Mark Roberts, Craig Wilkinson, Ian Jones, Rob Bloor.
Gareth Williams.
Porthmadog ... 3 Colwyn Bay ... 0
C. Owen
T. Reynolds
M. Williams
Summer holiday traffic and an extremely slow lorry (you know who you are!)
conspired to ensure that I missed the opening 5 minutes of Port's final
pre-season friendly match! This meant that I did not witness Carl Owen's
opener after 5 minutes, which I'm told was a cool finish from close range.
Neither side had a clear-cut chance within the next twenty minutes or so,
with Port having the majority of the possession. On 28 minutes, a looping
Colwyn Bay cross landed on top of the Port cross-bar - the English pyramid
side's best chance of the half. Only two minutes later, Port new-boy Tom
Reynolds, who had been left un-marked by the Bay defence, latched onto a
long pass and slotted the ball past the keeper from outside the penalty box
to make it 2-0. Five minutes before the break, Gareth Caughter's cross from
the left was met on the volley by Tony Williams. However his miss-hit shot
was easily parried by the keeper.
Overall the second half was livelier than the first. Lee Webber missed a
good chance on 48 minutes when he headed past the post from a Mike Foster
free kick. Colwyn Bay responded a minute later, with a chance of their own,
but number-9's header was easily saved by MacGuigan. Their best chance of
the match so far came on 52 minutes. The original shot was only palmed away
by the Port keeper, however he made amends - saving the ensuing over-head
kick.
The result was put beyond doubt on 56 minutes. A Port free kick on the half
way line was struck towards high towards the Colwyn Bay penalty area, where
it was met by Mark Williams who had replaced Carl Owen at half time. His
powerful header flew into the top corner and gave the visitor's keeper no
chance. Bay had more of the ball in the last few minutes of the game, but it
was all far too late. Ten minutes before the final whistle they had two
chances but both shots went wide of the woodwork.
Next week, Port entertain Welshpool in the Welsh Premier's opening game. In
contrast with this game, they will expect a far tougher game. Port didn't
play well today, in fact they hardly broke sweat, it's just that Colwyn Bay
looked a very poor side.
Emyr Gareth
Porthmadog ... 2 St. Helens Town ... 1
This was a victory which flattered Porthmadog. It is true that
results take second place to performance in pre-season friendlies
and on that score the St. Helens management will feel the more
satisfied at the end of this outing. For long periods in the
second-half the visitors dominated with Port finding difficulty
in getting into the game. The game was, however, eventually
decided by a well taken goal by Tom Hughes a minute from the end
when he ran on to a through ball, which opened up the visitors
defence, and coolly fired a low drive from 15 yds.
In the opening period there were few clear cut opportunities on
goal. The best efforts from St Helens brought two excellent saves
from Gerard McGuigan one in particular a diving save to parry away
a point blank header following a cross from the left. The best
early effort for Port came after 12 mins when Owain Roberts shot
narrowly wide from the edge of the box. Then a minute before the
interval the home side went ahead when a Campbell Harrison cross
from the left managed to evade everyone including a surprised
keeper and ended up in the net.
It took only a minute of the second period for the visitors to
draw level and this they did from the penalty spot after Mike
Foster had handled in the area. St Helens introduced numerous
subs in the second period but continued to play the more fluent
football and dominating possession and controlling the game in
midfield. McGuigan again had to be at his best to keep the
visitors out and just after the hour mark was relieved to see a
far post header fly narrowly wide. With time running out Port
made a rare break with teenager Tom Hughes making the most of
his late opportunity. For Port, apart from McGuigan, there was
an assured performance from Danny Hughes at the back while Owain
Roberts worked hard in midfield.
Port: McGuigan, J Peris Jones (C Harrison), Danny Hughes, Mike
Foster, Ritchie Owen, Tony Williams (Marc Riu), Dafydd Evans,
Owain Roberts, Lee Webber (Tom Hughes) Tom Reynolds (Cai
Williams), Mark Williams.
Gareth Williams
Port....................6 Challon Lodge....................0
Carl Owen 56.
Tom Reynolds 70, 81, 86.
Owain Roberts 78.
Mark Riu 90.
Due to preparation work for the new season at y Traeth, the second of this
year's pre-season friendlies against Challon Lodge of St. Helens was
switched to Llanerchymedd. It was the new boy from Newtown, Tom Reynolds,
that stole the headlines with a hat-trick in the closing quarter as the
visitors were hit for six. This was a game of two halves if ever there was
one, and it remained scoreless at the interval. There was little in terms of
clear-cut chances during the first half, apart from a Carl Owen shot that
was denied by the post.
It took nearly an hour for Port to find the net and open the floodgates.
Carl Owen hit the target from close range on 56 minutes following a
left-wing cross from Tom Reynolds. This was followed by further chances for
Cal Owen and Dafydd Evans, before Reynolds started to take the limelight
with three goals on 70, 81 and 86 minutes. Not to be out-done, the summer's
other new faces, Owain Roberts and Mark Riu also added their names to the
score-sheet.
