Pre-season Friendly -Saturday, 6 August.
CPD Porthmadog ... 2 Airbus Broughton ... 2
Marcus Orlik 15’ Ian Sheridan 31’
Darren Thomas 54’ Dan Desmoreaux 53’
Port completed their pre-season matches with another highly encouraging performance
against WPL opposition. They followed up the 5-2 win over Bala with another polished
performance against a strong Airbus team who have further strengthened their squad
over the summer. This was an enjoyable game played on a good surface between two sides
who play an entertaining passing game without a long ball in sight. Both sides will
consider that a draw was the right result.
Port started well dominating the early exchanges both territorially and the possession.
Airbus however showed their quality with slick counter attacks which tested the home
back four. But Port struck first when a header from midfield wrong footed the Airbus
defence and Marcus Orlik stroked a shot past the keeper after an exchange of passes with
Marc Evans. The visitors should have equalised three minutes later when a clear chance was
spurned as the shot flew well over the bar. Airbus did level the scores after 31 minutes
when Ian Sheridan got past Steve Kehoe and cut inside to score from close range. Twice
Richard Harvey had to pull off good saves to keep the opposition out. Just before the
interval Port should have regained the lead when Marc Evans raced into the box one on one
with the keeper, but the goal did not materialise.
Airbus upped the pressure at the start of the second half with excellent movement and
some slick passing. Eight minutes into the second period Airbus took the lead for the first
time when the ball was switched into the path of Desmoreaux who ran strongly into the box
to score with a confident finish. Port showed that they were not about to be blown away by
the higher league opposition and within a minute they were back on level terms. Darren Thomas
scored what was the pick of the game’s four goals. Jamie McDaid’s square ball found Thomas
in space on the edge of the box and the winger picked his spot before drilling the ball into
corner of the net. The game then continued to be end to end with Port matching the opposition
throughout. There were numerous changes but Darren Thomas, now combining well down the right
with Darren Garmey, continued to threaten and came close to winning the game with another low
shot which flashed wide of the post. Next Saturday the serious matches begin and every club
will be looking for a flying start. Today’s game should prove another confidence booster for
Port and it provided the type of test which the club needed at this stage of the season.
Port Squad: Richard Harvey, Steve Kehoe (Darren Garmey), Darren Jones, Rhys Roberts, Graham
Austin (Adam Hall), Darren Thomas, Craig Roberts, Gareth Jones Evans (Jack Jones), Jamie
McDaid, Marcus Orlik, Marc Evans.
Pre-season Friendly -Thursday, 4 August.
Holyhead Hotspurs .... 2 CPD Porthmadog .... 2
5 mins & 80 mins Dion Donohue 30(p)
Craig Roberts 70’
Tonight’s game was overshadowed by the serious injury to key forward Carl Owen.
20 minutes into the game his leg was broken in a heavy tackle. This left Gareth Parry
and the rest of the Port team with little appetite for the game. They would have
preferred to see the game end, but after a delay of 20 minutes, for Carl to receive on
the pitch treatment before being conveyed to hospital, the game continued.
Before the injury to Carl, Holyhead had taken an early lead and Port had missed a chance
to draw level when the home keeper saved a Marc Evans penalty. This was after Dion Donohue
had been brought down. Later in the half Port were awarded a second spot kick and this
time Dion Donohue scored an equaliser. With twenty minutes to go Port went ahead thanks to
a Craig Roberts goal but ten minutes later Holyhead scored an equaliser to make the final
score 2-2.
Pre-season Friendly -Tuesday, 02 August
Llanfairpwll ... 5 CPD Porthmadog ... 8
Rhys Evans 2' Gareth Jones Evans 22'
Jason Harvey 25' Marc Evans 45' (Pen)
Ritchard Owen 26' Marc Evans 51'
Arwyn Owen 45' Jamie McDaid 53'
Kelvin Fraser 81' Jamie McDaid 64' (Pen)
Marc Evans 66'
Marc Evans 70'
Marcus Orlik 85'
After the plain sailing of the past two matches against Caernarfon and Bala, Port were
reminded tonight that things won’t always go their way. They had the worst possible
start with Rhys Williams netting for the hosts after only two minutes, capitalizing on a
misjudged clearance by Richard Harvey after finding himself in space. However, Port should
have equalised almost instantly with Jamie McDaid and Marc Evans both missing when it
seemed easier to score. They had to wait until the twenty second minute for the
breakthrough though, with Gareth Jones Evans scoring after combining well with Paul
Roberts.
However, the equaliser wasn’t to prove the turning point that Port supporters had
hoped for with Llanfairpwll pressing on to have what seemed to be a commanding lead at one
point in the proceedings. Ex-Port player Jason Harvey put Llanfair back in the lead,
scoring with a long range effort from a free kick. One minute later, Richard Owen found
himself in space to make it 3-1 , beating Harvey in a one on one. On the stroke of half
time Arwyn Owen turned well in the box before planting the ball in the corner of the net
to make it four. In stoppage time at the end of the first half, Port managed to halve the
deficit with Marc Evans netting from the spot, after being tripped in the box.
Having struggled to make an impact up the slope in the first half, Port managed to get the
passing game we’ve seen in the other friendlies up and running in the second half.
The majority of the danger being posed down the left as Jamie McDaid and Marc Evans
combined to deadly effect. On 51 minutes Marc Evans turned well on the edge of the box to
score Port’s third. Two minutes later, Port were back on terms with Jamie McDaid
scoring from the edge of the box after a Jack Jones cross from the right. McDaid then gave
Port the lead for the first time in the match, converting from the spot after Marc Evans
was again fouled in the box after being put through by Gareth Jones Evans. Two minutes
later Evans got his hat-trick, clearing up with a tap-in after Jamie McDaid’s shot
was parried by the keeper. His fourth goal soon followed, as he headed home a Gareth Jones
Evans cross at the far post to make it 7-4.
Gareth Parry then decided to ring the changes, brining on 7 substitutes, which momentarily
upset the balance, allowing Llanfairpwll to have a rare second half attack up the slope and
were punished by Kelvin Fraser who netted with another long range free kick. Five minutes
from time, Marcus Orlik added Port’s eighth after Carl Owen had been denied by the
keeper. After a disappointing first half, Port managed to get a grip on the game after the
interval, but the first half errors at the back will have to be worked on.
Porthmadog: Richard Harvey, Darren Jones (Chris Williams), Ryan Davies (Rhys Roberts),
Graham Austin, Jack Jones (Craig Roberts (Jamie McDaid)), Gareth Jones Evans (Steve Kehoe),
Jamie McDaid (Dean Garmey), Adam Hall (Phil Williams), Darren Thomas (Marcus Orlik),
Marc Evans (Carl Owen), Paul Roberts.
Pre-season Friendly -Saturday, 30 July
CPD Porthmadog ... 5 Bala Town ... 2
Paul Roberts 6' Mike Byron 41'
Carl Owen 10' Conal Murtagh 44'
Dion Donahue 24'
Darren Thomas 52'
Marcus Orlik 86'
Porthmadog started the match brightly and opened the scoring after only 6 minutes a cross
from the left by Dion Donahue found Paul Roberts in space and he fired home despite Bala
protests that he was off-side. Four minutes later and remarkably Port doubled their lead.
Carl Owen racing onto a pass from midfield and fired home emphatically from 18 yards. Bala
did put some pressure on the home defence after these early set backs but Richard Harvey
remained largely untroubled. Things got even better on 24 minutes when Donahue fired goalwards
only for the Bala keeper to save, the rebound fell to Paul Roberts and his effort was again
parried but Donahue followed in to poke the ball home from close range. In the space of four
minutes just before the interval much of the good work by the home team was undone as Bala
scored twice with both goals coming from corners. The first on 41 minutes was scored by centre
half Mike Byron who was allowed a free header in the box. Four minutes later and it was Conall
Murtagh who was given time and space to head home. An excellent first half display but the two
late goals conceded took the shine off the performance. The team in the first half was Harvey,
Kehoe, Darren Jones, Paul Roberts, Rhys Roberts Grahame Austin, Dean Garmey, Jack Jones, Carl
Owen, Jamie McDaid and Dion Donahue. Six changes at half-time saw Marcus Orlik, Marc Evans,
Gareth Jones- Evans, Darren Thomas, Craig Roberts and Chris Williams introduced and this gave
fresh impetus to Port. Darren Thomas almost scored when through on goal on 49 minutes but the
keeper again saved well, but three minutes later he produced an excellent finish to score number
four with a low shot from 20 yards hitting the inside of the right post on its way goalwards.
Bala did put pressure on in the second period and they struck the bar after 67 minutes. In a
clear sign of the new enthusiasm amongst the Port players and with 85 minutes on the clock, it
was good pressure on the ball which created the fifth goal. The keeper gifted the ball to Orlik
and he dispatched the ball from 25 yards over the stranded keeper into an unguarded net. A really
fine performance from all the Porthmadog players on show and a result which will be noted with
concern by all the clubs in the Cymru Alliance League.
Gerallt Owen
Pre-season Friendly -Tuesday, 26 July
CPD Porthmadog ... 7 Caernarfon Town ... 0
Craig Roberts 2
Marcus Orlik 19
Jamie McDaid 24, 27
Darren Thomas 39
Marc Evans 54, 83
Port recorded their third pre-season win and third clean sheet against Caernarfon tonight.
They had the best possible start when after only two minutes Marcus Orlik put Craig Roberts
in behind the defence for a simple tap in. In the period that followed the goal Caernarfon
pushed forward and for a time had more of the game and created several shooting chances.
But then Port struck three times in 8 minutes. First Marcus Orlik scored from 12 yards
having been put in by Darren Thomas and two goals by Jamie McDaid followed. His first a neat
lob over the advancing keeper. having been put through by Craig Roberts and three minutes
later he cut in from the left on to a far post cross from Marcus Orlik scoring with an angled
shot. A fifth goal completed the first half scoring in the 39th minute when Darren Thomas cut
inside his marker to strike a low left foot shot into the corner of the net.
There were numerous second half changes but Port continued to dominate using the whole width
of the pitch to set up their moves playing the ball confidently on the ground and linking up
well. Gareth Jones Evans was finding plenty of room in midfield to set up attacks. Port increased
their lead six minutes into the second half when Marc Evans cutting in from the right scored an
excellent individual goal with and angled shot. Caernarfon still pushed forward and late on they
forced Richard Harvey into a good save and also rattled the crossbar. Seven minutes from time Port
added a 7th goal with Jack Jones sending Jamie McDaid away down the left and the winger’s cross
provided Marc Evans with a simple tap in.
This was a quality performance to please the home supporters in a 250+ crowd. But Caernarfon can
take heart from the strength of their loyal supporters. The Canaries included Mike Foster and Cai
Jones who have switched from Port.
Port Squad: Richard Harvey, Jack Jones (Dean Garmey), Darren Jones, Rhys Roberts, Graham Austin
(Phil Williams). Craig Roberts (Gareth Jones Evans), Steve Kehoe, Darren Thomas, Paul Roberts
(Carl Owen), Marcus Orlik (Marc Evans), Jamie McDaid (Dion Donohue).
Pre-season Friendly -Tuesday, 19 July
Nefyn United ... 0 CPD Porthmadog ... 2
Cai Jones 70’
Gareth Jones Evans 71’
Nefyn as in previous seasons gave Port an excellent pre-season work-out with a
determined energetic and competitive performance. The Port management will be
pleased with excellent quality of their team’s build up play though they will
feel that more advantage should have been taken of the innumerable chances created.
But the fact that so many chances were spurned kept the game competitive until
Port eventually broke the ice after 70 minutes and then scored a second within a minute.
Port totally dominated the early stages of the game but a mixture of good fortune and
inspired goalkeeping, by former Port player Meilyr Ellis, kept the score 0-0. Paul
Roberts finding lots of space for himself up front came close on a couple of occasions
and there were good efforts from Adam Hall, Darren Thomas, Marcus Orlik and Dion Donohue.
The closest of all to a goal came when Jack Jones. from 35 yards, thundered a shot against
the bar. But despite all the good creative football the game was still goal less at the
interval. There were however plenty of impressive performances to catch the eye –amongst
them the constructive play of Graham Austin from the back, a strong performance at right
back by Dean Garmey and some excellent runs down the right by Darren Thomas.
The second half saw a number of substitutions and for a time Nefyn pushed forward scenting
the chance of a goal. For Port Jamie McDaid and Marc Evans combined well up front. Eventually
after 70 minutes the goal came when a Gareth Jones Evans cross, following a short corner,
found Cai Jones in the box. He turned well and this time Meilyr Ellis was beaten. In less than
a minute the lead was doubled when an unstoppable super strike by Gareth Jones Evans hit the
top corner of the net from 25 yards.
The Port squad was:
Richard Harvey, Dean Garmey, Darren Jones, Rhys Roberts (Phil Williams), Graham Austin, Darren
Thomas, Adam Hall (Gareth Jones Evans), Jack Jones, Dion Donohue (Cai Jones), Paul Roberts
(Marc Evans), Marcus Orlik (Jamie McDaid).
Pre-season Friendly – Saturday, 16 July
CPD Porthmadog … 2 Pilkingtons FC …0
Marc Evans (p) 9’
Jamie McDaid 15’
The final score line was decided in the first quarter of an hour by two early Port goals
against the Cheshire League visitors. It was a mixture of the old and the new together
with several trialists who lined up for Port in a game which will have helped to blow away
some of the summer break cobwebs before the competitive matches start in mid August. The
victory was probably more emphatic than the result suggests as the visitors threatened only
very rarely and neither of the stand-ins for Richard Harvey had a serious save to make.
Port were soon on the attack, with the pace of Marc Evans and Jamie McDaid stretching the
Pilkingtons defence. Port opened the scoring in the ninth minute when the lively Marc Evans
cut into the box on the right inducing a rash tackle which sent him sprawling in the box and
the referee Dylan Ellis pointed to the spot. Marc Evans, himself, coolly slotted home from the
spot. Port continued to put pressure on the St Helens club’s defence down both flanks, but with
15 minutes gone it was a break through the middle which opened up the defence as Paul Roberts
slipped the ball to Marc Evans whose excellent chip enabled Jamie McDaid to race on to the pass
and fire low into the net from 10 yards. That proved to be the end of the scoring and apart from
an occasional break out the home team remained in control for the remainder of the half.
The second half saw the introduction of a number of substitutes which included Carl Owen, the
returning Steve Kehoe and new boy Dion Donohue. Donohue soon made an impression with some strong
determined runs down the left and another who made his mark was Adam Hall with some quality balls
from midfield. Other features of the second half were some mazy runs by the skilful Gareth Jones
Evans, a good effort on goal from Dion Donohue and a cracking low Marc Evans volley which went
across the keeper and struck the foot of the post.
Gareth Williams
