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| Penrhyncoch (h) |
Guilsfield (h) |
Ruthin (a) |
Panteg(WC) (h) |
Gresford (a) |
Caernarfon (a) |
Huws Gray Alliance Saturday, 26 December Caernarfon Town..........................3 Jamie Breese 41’, 87’ Nathan Craig 51’ CPD Porthmadog..........................1 Cai Jones 75’ The final score in the Gwynedd Derby had a rather familiar ring to it as Caernarfon further strengthened their hold at the top of the HGA with a deserved win. Jamie Breese’s late final goal probably made the margin of victory slightly flattering. Though the game lacked the fireworks of some derbies between the two local rivals, another bumper holiday crowd were treated to a close contest and some good quality football. In the final analysis Port were undone by a goal either side of half-time with just ten minutes separating the two goals . Port to their credit did not sit back and accept the defeat and when Cai Jones cut the deficit with a quater of an hour remaining, Port made a big push which in the end came to nothing. Caernarfon started on the front foot pushing Port back and after just five miutes Richard Harvey was forced to make an excellent save to keep out a powerful strike from Danny Brookwell. In the opening 15 minutes Port were further tested as Chris Williams was only narrowly off target with a header at the back post and soon after Rhys Roberts came equally close when he met Nathan Craig’s deep corner. Port weathered the opening tests and were soon creating problems for the home defence with Sion Bradley, Cai Jones and Iwan Lewis prominent in some dangerous forays into the Caernarfon goalmouth. On 15 minutes Iwan Lewis did well to win the ball 20 uards out before switching the ball left for Julian Williams whose low cross caused panic in the home defence, only for Gareth Edwards to save the situation with a timely tackle on the edge of the 6 yard box. Port continued to threaten and when Sion Bradley’s crossfield ball released Cai Jones, the forward cut into the box forcing keeper Alex Ramsey into an acrobatic save flying to his left. Two minutes later Ramsey was in the action again saving from Sion Bradley with a low dive to his left. Caernarfon responded with Danny Brookwell again prominent, creating an opportunity for Jamie Breese but the shot was blocked for a corner. Then with half-time approaching the home team went ahead. Again the danger came from Danny Brookwell cutting along the byline and his cross was only partially blocked and it squirted to the unmarked Jamie Breese who had a simple tap-in to make it 1-0 at the interval. Caernarfon opened the second half camped in the Port half and after just six minutes they incresed their lead. A slow Caernarfon build up seemed to be going nowhere until it reached Nathan Craig just outside the box. With nothing very much on he showed his quality, firing low through a crowded box with the ball hitting the inside of the far post before entering the net. For a time Port became very subdued with a here we go again kind of atmosphere. But skipper Rob Evans lifted spirits just past the hour mark and a good exchange of passes with Gareth Jones Evans opened up the home defence and Ramsey needed to pull off a fine save at full stretch to keep out Rob’s well struck effort. Caernarfon continued to threaten with Nathan Craig striking the post from a free kick and a dangerous angled shot from Danny Brockwell. Then Cai Jones threw Port a lifeline and completed a set of a goal in each of the three games between the two clubs this season. Gareth Jones Evans' excellent pull back for Cai whose shot from 15 yards this time beat Rmasey. Now in the later stages it was Port asking most of the questions with some good approach play which stretched the home defence. Sion Bradley found Tomos Emlyn with a crossfield pass and Ramsey again saved the day with an excellent save. Tomos Emlyn was soon involved again and Julian Williams at full stretch reached his near post cross, only to see Ramsey again saving the goal bound poke. But three minutes from time the Port revival was halted as the ball was given away in midfield allowing Caernarfon to mount an attack and Jamie Breese, who had been a threat all afternoon, notched his second and sealed the home win. Though Richard Harvey got a hand to it he failed to keep out his 15 yard shot and the Cofi celebrations could begin. Port will feel disappointed that they could not repeat October’s League Cup win over the Cofis. Injuries to key players defender Tom Taylor, Iddon Price in midfield and leading scorer Joe Chaplin all took their toll and things got even worse as Dan Roberts had to leave the field after picking up an injury. A very bad time to pick up a series of injuries though for the record Caernarfon were without dangerman Darren Thomas. On the day Caernarfon took a deserved three points in front of a huge crowd, which underlines the popularity of this fixture between two community based clubs. Good to see Gruff John make his first appearance of the season, coming on as a sub for injured Dan Roberts. PORTHMADOG: Richard Harvey, Tomos Emlyn, Sion Edwards, Dan Roberts (Gruff Williams), Josh banks, Ceri James (Gareth Jones Evans 58’), Rob Evans, Iwan Lewis, Sion Bradley, Cai Jones (Meilir Williams 81’), Julian Williams. Unused subs: Ifan Emlyn, Leon Doran. Yellow:Gareth Jones Evans74’ CAERNARFON: Alex Ramsey, Joe Williams, Chris Williams, Gareth Edwards, Rhys Roberts, Nathan Craig, Gareth Evans, Jay Gibbs, Jamie Breese, Clive Williams, Danny Brookwell. Subs: Kevin Roberts. Ryan Williams, Aaron Davies Thomas. Unused; Telor Williams, Liam Jones. Yellow: Joe Williams 9’, Nathan Craig 14’ Referee: Ashley Jones (Wrexham) Attendance: 1275. Gareth Williams Huws Gray Alliance Saturday, 16 December Gresford Athletic..........................1 Mike Latham 9’ CPD Porthmadog..........................1 Julian Williams 21’ Before the start of today’s game both clubs had identical playing records for the season and, at the end of the 90 minutes that still remained the case, as they shared the points this afternoon. The home team will proably feel more pleased than Port with the final result as, over the 90 minutes, Port enjoyed a huge advantage both territorially and in terms of possession. Gresford, despite a few iffy moments especially in the second half, defended solidly and in numbers, and on the break they always looked dangerous. Gresford took an early lead but well before the half hour mark Port had drawn level and that is how the scores remained to the end. Following a fairly even opening the home side struck after 9 minutes, as hesitation in the Port defence allowed former FC Queen’s Park forward Mark Latham to break across the box past three defenders and finish with a low shot from 12 yards. Gradually Port got themsleves back into the game following the early setback, with Sion Bradley and debutant Sion Edwards combining well down the left and it was a good break and low cross from Bradley which provided Port’s first real threat but home keeper Joey Jones went down well to cut out the cross. Both sides found the soft muddy surface difficult to contend with and it soon became clear that passing football would be very difficult and perhaps risky, as players found keeping a steady foothold and moving the ball around a bit of a lottery. The main threat for Port continued to be down the left flank and from here the opening for the equaliser was created. Sion Bradley combined with Sion Edwards, who was fitting in well in an unaccustomed left back role, and it was Edwards receiving near the byline who lifted a quality cross to the back post where Julian Williams found space to net from 8 yards. Williams was leading the line today as leading scorer Joe Chaplin was not fully fit. Port were now enjoying plenty of possession with keeper Richard Harvey seeing little in the way of action but the home side defended stubbornly and a good Port move down the right was stopped when Rob Evans’attempted cross was well blocked for a corner. Midway through the half Gresford forward Obi Anoruo limped off to be replaced by Jake Eyre, returning to Gresford from Denbigh Town. With half-time approaching there was a chance at either end for the goalscorers as Mike Latham struck a good effort across the face of goal and wide, while Julian Williams cutting in from the right struck his shot into the side netting. At half-time it remained all square. There was almost a dramatic start to the second half, as straight from the kick off Port did find the net only to see Julian Williams’ well placed finish ruled out in a marginal offside decision. Five minutes into the half and there was an equally dramatic turn of events at the other end when Ifan Emlyn’s misdirected pass allowed Tom Freeman in on goal and, in his only serious action of the game, Richard Harvey was quickly off his line to block what looked like a certain goal. Both teams were looking to get their noses in front as Sion Bradley, who had been heavily marked through out, broke inside from the left but his well struck shot was blocked for a corner at the near post. Pressure mounted on the home goal as Julian Wiliams cut in from the right only to see his shot deflected on to the crossbar and over for a corner. Minutes later Iwan Lewis forced home keeper Joey Jones into a fine diving save low at the foot of the post. Twice Sion Bradley came close with, first a good save from keeper Jones and then Josh Griffiths headed off his own line to keep the scores level. There were further efforts from Rob Evans and Julian Williams but the goal which seemed bound to come didn’t materialise. But despite being forced to defend in numbers Gresford were a threat as they hit quickly on the break. When Freeman broke behind the Port defence on the left it needed a good defensive header from Dan Roberts to cut out the cross. There were other efforts on the counter from McIntyre and Jake Eyre but without troubling Richard Harvey. Port battled to the end and there were further efforts from Iddon Price, a header from Julian Williams and a shot from Iwan Lewis which keeper Jones manged to block with his legs. But the all important winner refused to come and both sides had to settle for a draw. Craig Papirnyk commented at the end, “The lads played well today, a point away is never a bad thing in this league . We created chances and played some good stuff on a difficult pitch.” Attention will now turn to the Gwynedd Derby at the Oval and all at Port will hope that leading scorer Joe Chaplin and central defender Tom Taylor will shake off the injuries which ruled them out of today’s game. PORTHMADOG: Richard Harvey, Tomos Emlyn, Sion Edwards, Dan Ronerts, Josh Banks, Rob Evans (Meilir Williams 89’), Iddon Price(Cai Jones 76’) Iwan Lewis, Ifan Emlyn, Sion Bradley, Julian Williams. Unused subs: Ceri James, Leon Doran, Joe Chaplin. Yellow: Rob Evans 12’, Iwan Lewis 38’. GRESFORD: Joey Jones, Jack Edwards , Adam Davies, Max Peate, Jack Jones, Josh Griffiths, Simon Smith (Jack Chaloner71’), Dave McIntyre, Obi Anouro (Jake Eyre 28’), Mike Latham, Tom Freeman (Owen Roberts 76’). Unused subs: Luke Peate. Yellow Jack Chaloner 73’. Referee: Andy Harms. Attendance: 85. Gareth Williams JD Welsh Cup Round 3.-Saturday, 2 December Match Sponsor: MICHAEL STRINGER, Minffordd. CPD Porthmadog.............................7 Joe Chaplin 11’, 20’(p), 26’, 60’. Julian Williams 42’, 77’ Gareth Jones Evans 87’ Panteg FC ..........................................2 Lewis Iles 6’, 59’. Port overcame the potential banana skin to put their names in the hat for the 4th Round of the JD Welsh Cup. But home supporters could have been forgiven for believing that the banana skin was doing its work when Panteg went ahead after just 6 minutes, That was thanks to a top quality goal from their best player Lewis Iles. Port’s recovery, however, was not long in coming, with leading scorer Joe Chaplin helping himself to a first-half hat-trick and going on to a score a 4th in the second period. Julian Williams netted twice and there was another outstanding performance from Sion Bradley, with a big hand in three of the goals. Port started brightly but were knocked sideways when in their very first attack Panteg picked up a loose ball in midfield and with an excellent exchange of passes opened up the Port defence. Lewis Isles receved in space on the left and finished with a fine shot across Richard Harvey into the far corner. This was the wake up call that Port needed, and they soon piled on the pressure. Sion Bradley, after a mazy run, tested keeper Randall at his near post and after a couple of goalmouth scrambles it was no surprise to see Port back on level terms. It was no surprise either that Sion Bradley provided the assist, his low cross to the back post being converted by Joe Chaplin from close range. It took Port a further 9 minutes to put themselves ahead when Julian williams cut into the box on the left and was brought down by defender Rhys Williams. Referee Michael Gray pointed to the spot and Joe Chaplin netted straight down the middle. It was all Port now, as Joe Chaplin completed a 15 minute hat-trick, capitalising on good work down the left by Bradley and Banks; heading in Josh Banks’s back post cross. The first-half scoring was completed just before the interval when Joe Chaplin this time was the creator, with a flicked header to put Julian Williams through to run on past the advancing keeper and score into an empty net. To their credit Panteg were prepared to make a game of it and when Ben Walker put in Lewis Iles, he was only narrowly off target with his angled shot. 4-1 at half-time. At the start of the second-half the visitors showed that they were not interested in damage limitation as they pushed forward with Lewis Iles, from the off, proving that given the opportunity he could still provide a threat and he was only narrowly wide of the target when he broke down the right. Port were forced to concede a corner soon after when Richard Harvey had to push Brad Baker’s cross over the bar. 15 minutes into the second period dangerman Iles notched his second goal of the afternoon. Receving the ball on the left he cut inside and finished with a top quality effort just inside Richard Harvey’s far post. As in the first half, the goal only served as a signal for Port to raise their game once more. Within a minute they had added a fifth with Sion Bradley and Joe Chaplin again combining. Great work by Bradley down the left cutting along the byline and lifting his cross to the back post for Chaplin to head his fourth. Port were now very much back in charge again with wave after wave of attacks. An error by keeper Randall contributed to Port’s sixth goal as he could only partially stop julian Williams from converting Gareth Jones Evans’ near post cross, with the ball trickling over the line into the net. Gareth Jones Evans late on completed the scoring. Ifan Emlyn had opened the Panteg defence with a low ball into the box. The keeper blocked Cai Jones’s powerful effort but Gareth Jones Evans netted the re-bound. Even in the midst of heavy pressure, the visitors looked for opportunities to attack and Richard Harvey was called into action to save from Brett Petersen and later Rhys Williams. For the last 10 minutes, with Tom Taylor having limped off with a leg injury, Port were down to 10 men, as they had already used their 3 subs. Though they were found wanting at the back, Panteg always looked a threat going forward and we wish them the best of luck as they continue their league programme. Craig Papirnyk commented afterwards “In the hat but credit to Panteg, they didn’t stop all game.” Penyffordd, Penley, Panteg .... who is the next P for round 4? PORTHMADOG: Richard Harvey, Tomos Emlyn, Josh Banks, Dan Roberts, Tom Taylor, Ifan Emlyn, Iddon Price, Rob Evans (Cai Jones 70’), Sion Bradley, Joe Chaplin (Gareth Jones Evans 64’), Julian Williams (Meilir Williams 78’) Subs not used: Iwan Lewis, Leon Doran. Yellow: Iddon Price 36’, Tomos Emlyn 78’. PANTEG: Mark Randall, Kirk Hicks, Christian Dunne (Dwayne Hunt 50’), Rhys Williams, Callum Hodges (Brett Peterson 84’), Mike Passmore, Lewis Iles, Ben Walker (Alex Probert 67’), Brad Baker, Jordan Ryan, Luke Dyke. Unused subs: Elliot Jones, Shane Burchill. Yellow: Ben Walker 45’, Jordan Ryan 49’ , Dwyane Hunt 90’. Referee: Michael Gray Attendance: 165. Gareth Williams Huws Gray Alliance Saturday, 25 November Ruthin Town..........................2 Llÿr Morris 38(p), 90’ CPD Porthmadog....................2 Julian Williams 34’ Ceri James 38’ A goal in added time from Llyr Morris gave Ruthin a deserved share of the points in an incident filled game at the Memorial Grounds today. A fighting second half performance with 10 men, after keeper Ryan Goldston saw red when he brought down Joe Chaplin with the striker bursting through on goal. Port have only themselves to blame, failing to turn the dismissal to their own advantage. To make matters worse they had a penalty miss and spurned a host of scoring opportunities in the opening half and early in the second, enough to have sewn the game up. But the last 30 minutes of the game belonged to the 10 men as they took the game to Port, whose goal often led a charmed life and it needed some good saves from Richard Harvey to keep them ahead until added time, when the equaliser came. Ruthin started well and the HGA’a leading scorer Llyr Morris posed an early threat racing on to a through ball but, the shot from the edge of the box was well saved by Richard Harvey. After 10 minutes Port responded and a Ceri James lob into the box was headed narrowly wide by Julian Williams. Williams again threatened the home goal when he glanced a well placed Sion Bradley free kick inches wide of the target. Sion Bradley was proving to be Port’s main threat with some good breaks down the left, putting in some good crosses, corners as well as free kicks. A period of Ruthin pressure midway through the half had the Port defence at full stretch and Josh Banks headed off his own line to deny Morris. Harvey was then again in action saving wel from Gwion Owen. Following this period of chances and near misses there were three goals in as many minutes. On 33 minutes Port went ahead, and no surprise Sion Bradley had as a hand in it. His well placed free kick into the box was converted by Julian Williams from close range. The lead however lasted for just a minute as from the restart Llyr Morris burst inro the box on the left, only to be brought down by Port skipper Rob Evans. Referee Dafydd Rhys Owen pointed to the spot and Morris himself drilled a low shot wide of Richard Harvey’s left hand. All square again, but not for long, as Port won a corner on the left. Joe Chaplin met another excellent Sion Bradley set piece only to see his header rattle the crossbar. The ball was then cleared, but only as far as Ceri James, 25 yards out. He looked up and struck a beauty into the top corner of the net. Then came what looked like a decisive moment in the game. Joe Chaplin raced behind the home defence tapping the ball past keeper Ryan Goldston who had advanced 25 yards out of his goal. But as Chaplin chased on he was brought down by the keeper. The referee had no hesitation in dismissing Goldston who was then replaced by sub keeper Dylan Jones with Garmon Hafal also leaving to allow this switch to take place. The new keeper was soon in action saving a Julian Williams free kick at full stretch. Port 2-1 up at half-time. Jordan McArter came close, for Ruthin. straight after the restart but was denied when he he met a corner at the near post. Then Port had plenty of early second half opportunities to have made the game safe. The sub keeper pulled off a super save to turn Julian Williams’ free kick on to the bar. The same player was in the action yet again meeting a Sion Bradley corner but the crossbar again came to Ruthin’s rescue. An even clearer opportunity came when Matthew Williams brought down Sion Bradley, bursting into the box on the left. Bradley took the penalty himself and sub keeper Dylan Jones was in the action yet again diving low to his right to pull off a vital save. Chances continued to come and go in the first fifteen minutes of the half. Cai Jones raced 30 yards on the counter attack but pulled his shot wide of the far post. Another break by Cai down and right finding Joe Chaplin with a good cross but Chaplin was denied by another good save from Dylan Jones. But after a 15 minutes of Port pressure and chances the Ruthin revival was on and for the last half hour of the match they took the game to Port giving the defence a torrid time. The Port goal had a charmed life as both Llyr Morris, Gwion Owen and Jordan McCarter put in strong runs and shots went close or forced Richard Harvey into good saves. A crossfield pass found Mtthew Williams in plenty of space on the left. He cut inside and it needed a good save from Harvey at his near post. Just when it looked likely that Port had managed to hold out, Ruthin won a free kick close to the byline on the right. Ilan Hughes struck his kick across the face of goal and Llyr Morris popped up at the back post for an added time equaliser. Well done to Ruthin for their fighting performance but this was certainly two points lost. On to the Welsh Cup and the visit of Panteg. PORTHMADOG: Richard Harvey, Rob Evans (Tom Taylor 66’), Leon Doran, Dan Roberts, Josh Banks, Iddon Price, Ceri James (Iwan Lewis 74’), Julian Williams, Joe Chaplin, Cai Jones, Sion Bradley (Meilir Williams 88’). Unused subs: Ifan Emlyn, Gruff Williams. Yellow: Dan Roberts 32’ Tom Taylor 66' RUTHIN: Ryan Goldston, Matthew Williams, Tom Roberts, Will Ashley (Wil Owen 82’), Mike Sharples, Ilan Hughes, Jordan McCarter, Osian Davies, Llyr Morris, Gwion Owen, Garmon Hafal (Dylan Jones 45’). Red: Ryan Goldston 44’. Yellow: Osian Davies 31’, Matthew Williams 44’, Will Ashley 64’. Referee: Dafydd Rhys Owen Attendance: 118 Gareth Williams Huws Gray Alliance -Saturday 18 November Match Sponsor: Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway Shop CPD Porthmadog.....................,1 Josh Banks 77’ Guilsfield FC..............................2 Jake Cook 41’ Louis Irvine 63’ In a key fixture between the 5th and 6th placed clubs Guilsfield took the three points for a deserved victory against a Port side tasting defeat after five straight wins. A penalty and a misplaced pass gave the visitors their opportunities to establish a two goal advantage and, despite reducing the arrears with a 77th minute Josh Banks goal, the well organised Guils defence kept their heads and damped down any thoughts of a home revival. The game started well for Port with several early threats and, when Iddon Price crossed dangerously from the right, Josh Banks at full stretch at the back post couldn’t get enough on his shot and keeper Andrew Wycherley saved. Julian Williams then came close, firing over the bar from 18 yards following a break down the right by Sion Bradley. The Guils also had their early moments with Jake Cook driving low and narrowly wide from the edge of the box and Adam Jenkins testing Richard Harvey when the ball came in from the right. Then the Guils came close to an opener when Andrew Ford volleyed a Callum Bromley cross but Richard Harvey leapt into action tipping a goalbound shot over the bar. From the corner which followed Richard Harvey was in action again saving twice from close range in a goalmouth melee. But Port relieved the pressure and responded with Sion Bradley on the counter attack, cutting inside and forcing a good save from Wycherley. With half-time approaching Port produced their best move of the half when Cai Jones broke on the right and crossed to the near post but Joe Chaplin’s shot took an unfortunate deflection for a corner. Then with the game looking odds on to remain goalless at the interval Jake Cook broke down the right cutting inside across the byline into the box where he was brought down by Tomos Emlyn and referee Ellis Richards pointed to to the spot. Cook picked himself up and took the penalty and though Richard Harvey got a hand to it he couldn’t keep it out and to rub the salt in, the keeper received a yellow card for his protests. The score was 1-0 to the Guils at the interval. From the kick off Chris Cathrall broke down the middle but fired over the bar. The game now set into a pattern with neither side getting the upper hand. Port were having plenty of possession but finding it difficult to create many chances. In fact it was a frustrating afternoon for leading scorer Joe Chaplin as the supply of crosses were kept to a minimum by a well organised Guils rearguard. Then just past the hour mark came the key moment of the game. A misplaced Port pass midway inside their own half and the ball was given away in a dangerous part of the pitch. The opportunity was seized by Louis Irvine who broke goalward and finished with a quality low shot beating a full stretch Richard Harvey to squeeze into the net just inside the post. Craig Papirnyk rang the changes in the hope of changing the game. Gareth Jones Evans and Ceri James were brought on to boost the midfield. To an extent the changes had an influence on the game. Julian Williams forced Wycherley into a good sve to keep out a curling free kick and after 77 minutes the deficit was cut. Sion Bradley’s cormer from the left was the signal for a huge scramble in the Guils penalty area. Shots, blocks and deflections followed until Josh Banks finally put an end to it netting from close range. Port now scented a share of the spoils but the Guils defence marshalled by Sam Litchfield remained cool and held firm. Despite plenty of late possession the opening refused to come and in added time it was left to Iddon Price, breaking from the back, to fire what looked like a goal bound shot from 25 yards, only to be denied by a late Wycherley leap to tip it over the bar. The points on the afternoon belonged to Guilsfield. Though still fairly early in the season this game was a six-pointer and the win lifts the Guils into 4th spot while Port now drop to 8th place. Craig Papirnyk sums up the day like this, “Can't afford off days in this league , we have to be better . On to next week now. “ PORTHMADOG: Richard Harvey, Tomos Emlyn, Josh Banks, Dan Roberts (Rob Evans 34’), Tom Taylor, Iddon Price, Ifan Emlyn (Ceri James 72’) , Sion Bradley, Cai Jones (Gareth Jones Evans 60’), Joe Chaplin, Julian Williams. Unused subs: Leon Doran, Meilir Williams, Yellow: Richard Harvey 41’, Sion Bradley61’. GUILSFIELD FC Andrew Wycherley, Callum Bromley, Jack Richards ( Gareth Jones 88’), Stuart Rogers, Sam Litchfield, Robbie James, Jake Cook, Andrew Ford, Louis Irvine (Curtis Weetman 89’), Chris Cathrall, Adam Jenkins. Unused sub: Nathan Leonard. Yellow: Louis Irvine 59’. Referee: Ellis Hughes Attendance: 222 Gareth Williams Huws Gray Alliance -Saturday 11 November Match Sponsor: TANRONNEN INN, Beddgelert. CPD Porthmadog..............................3 Sion Bradley 21’ Ifan Emlyn 73’ Iwan Lewis 78’ CPD Penrhyncoch ..............................0 Port continued their recent run of form with an excellent performance on a wet surface to pick up three important points against an experienced, competitive Penrhyncoch outfit. This win extends Port’s run of straight league and cup wins to five. Despite the quality of the home performance the game remained in the balance while they led by just a single goal but two goals within the space of five minutes in the final quarter of the game made the scoreline a fairer reflection of the afternoon’s play. Port were off to a good start and forced the visitors back with a wave of attacks and slick passing moves. But it soon became evident that, like last season’s encounter at the Traeth, Penrhyncoch would defend in numbers and hope to hit on the break. A quality Port move after 6 minutes brought them close to an early breakthrough; An excellent diagonal ball from Ifan Emlyn found Josh Banks racing down the left and Joe Chaplin was unlucky to see his header go the wrong side of the post when he met the cross at the near post. Pressure continued on the visitors goal as the midfield trio of Ifan Emlyn, Iddon Price and Rob Evans were on top of their game. Howver Richard Harvey was tested for the first time in the 13th minute when a rare Roosters excursion upfield saw Liam Lewis receive from the right but he dealt comfortably with the shot. Port responded with Sion Bradley cutting in from the right and breaking into the box but keeper Leigh Jenkins, who was late seeing the shot, pulled of an excellent save diving low to his right. The breakthrough eventually came after 21 minutes and it took a great piece of individual skill to umlock a determined defence. Skipper Rob Evans cut along the penalty area past two defenders before breaking into a crowded box to continue his mazy run past a further two defenders. When it seemed he must be dispossessed he slipped a ball forward to Sion Bradley who turned well and netted with a low shot from 8 yards. Sion Bradley came close to extending the lead when he broke on the left but his shot went across goal and wide. Finding themselves a goal down the Roosters showed more in attack and they were almost gifted an equaliser when the ball was given away midway inside the Port half. Jon Evans pounced and broke into the box on the left and one on one with the keeper it looked a certain goal but Richard Harvey went down well to save and protect the narrow lead. Again just before the interval a Corbisiero free kick from wide right was headed over by Jon Foligno and it remained 1-0 at half-time. Port were forced to start the second half without skipper Rob Evans and Julian Williams came on as sub. Julian was unlucky to see a 20 yard blaster go narrowly wide inside the first five minutes. But Penrhyncoch were sensing that there could be something in the game for them and they pushed forward with determination and when they made a quick break down field the Port defence were at full stretch when Liam Lewis fired it needed a clearance off the line from Ifan Emlyn to prevent an equaliser. From the short corner that followed Jon Evans broke into the box and forced Richard Harvey into an excellent save. The game became rather tetchy at this stage with some handbags as well as some beefy tackles. To her credit referee Cheryl Foster kept a lid on everything without showing a rush of yellow cards. Another Julian Williams shot from 18 yards, which was well saved by Leigh Jenkins, was the precursor for a two goal blast which sealed the three points. A good Port move down the right and the cross found Joe Chaplin in the box. He held up for Julian Williams who layed the ball back for Ifan Emlyn who crowned a great afternoon’s work with a fine low shot from 20 yards into the corner of the net. If that goal did not settle the game another, five minutes later, certainly did. A powerful 18 yarder from Julian Williams and this time Leigh Jenkins failed to hold. Iwan Lewis, playing his first game of the season, was on hand to net from close range. Iddon Price and Meilir Williams, late on, came close to adding a 4th and there was some further work for Richard harvey who ruled his box to cut out a couple of dangerous corners. The win lifts Port two places to fifth, ahead of next week’s opponents Guilsfield on goal difference. That will be a key game if Port are to mount a challenge for the top three places. PORTHMADOG: Richard Harvey, Tomos Emlyn, Josh Banks, Dan Roberts, Tom Taylor. Rob Evans (Julian Williams 46’), Ifan Emlyn, Iddon Price, Cai Jones (Iwan Lewis 67’), Joe Chaplin (Meilir Williams 79’), Sion Bradley. Unused subs: Leon Doran, Gareth Jones Evans, Jake Jones. PENRHYNCOCH: Leigh Jenkins, Eilian Evans, Cledan Davies, Sion James, Jon Foligno, Owain James, Carwyn Jones (Nathan Warren 86’), Antonio Corbisiero, Matthew Mousley (Sion Meredith 86’), Jon Evans, Liam Lewis. Unused subs: Gari Lewis, Derfel Reynolds, Kevin Jenkins. Referee: Cheryl Foster Attendance: 252 Gareth Williams |
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