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| Denbigh (a) | Flint (a) |
Holyhead (h) | Penrhyncoch (a)
FC Queens Park (a) | Flint (h)
| Holywell (h)
Huws Gray Alliance -Monday, 07 May Match Sponsor: R J Williams Honda, Talsarnau CPD Porthmadog..............................1 Cai Jones 25' Holywell.............................1 Steven Lewis 53' Emotions were running high as Club stalwart and supporters’ favourite Richard Harvey hung up his gloves and, for the visitors, manager John Haseldin following suit, a lovely warm afternoon and the Traeth pitch looking as it was a pre season match, the Porthmadog Academy’s presentation ceremony before the game and a last match of the season with nothing at stake for either side. A typical end of season game in a carnival atmosphere was certainly on the cards. Nobody had shown the script, however, to the players as both sides played their part in a very entertaining game with plenty of effort and an excellent, professional display by referee Cheryl Foster and her two assistants. This, of course, pleased the impressive 268 people that had paid to watch the game. What transpired was another good advertisement for the Huws Gray Alliance when even ‘mid table sides’ can conjure up a quality game of football. Win, lose or draw it would not have affected either side’s league placing, the hosts resigned to 7th. and the visitors to 5th. However, the efforts from both sides was akin to a match played at the start of the season or at a stage when they were playing for a prize. There was plenty of action and niggly fouls in the opening exchanges but referee Cheryl Foster had the measure of all involved and kept excellent control on proceedings. Within the first 5 minutes Shaun Tuck for Holywell and Cai Jones for the hosts had goal bound shots that went just over the bar. After 20 minutes of end to end attacks Port started to take control, especially in midfield where Sion Edwards, relieved of recent and too often full back duties, was excellent. On 25 minutes it was no surprise when the home side took the lead, Cai Jones clinically planting a good cross from the left from Leon Doran past Holywell custodian Shaun Pearson from 6 yards. In the 30th. minute Holywell’s Shaun Tuck was yellow carded for diving in the penalty area a decision that many a referee would have given the other way but not so the very impressive Foster. Before the break club all time Huws Gray Alliance top scorer Joe Chaplin had three good efforts on goal and Julian Williams had an impressive long range shot saved by Pearson. However, on the 45th. minute Holywell had a good breakaway and found one of the League’s top scorers, Steven Lewis, in the penalty area with an imminent one to one situation with keeper Harvey. Rob Evans executed a brilliant sliding tackle on the dangerous striker as he was just about to pull the trigger and sent the ball away for a throw in. The second half started in very much in the same way as the first had finished with Port controlling possession and in the ascendancy. Joe Chaplin saw his well worked left foot effort fly just wide of the post and then Pearson tipped a 30 yard Sion Edwards piledriver over the bar for a corner. Then came the sucker punch when on 53 minutes a cross from the right was met by Steven Lewis who splendidly glanced his header past Richard Harvey. For the next 10 minutes the visitors started to gain momentum and a good run into the box from Shaun Truck and his subsequent shot was blocked by a defender. The last half hour belonged to Port as they sprayed the ball around, completely dominating midfield with some excellent approach play. On 72 minutes, from a corner substitute Ceri James’ excellent volley hit the underside of the bar but bounced back into play. Five corners were won in a 10 minute period but nothing came from any of them. Sion Edwards, Sion Bradley and the very hard working Julian Williams, on three different occasions, had good attempts on goal without never hitting the target. On 87 minutes Williams cleverly played in full back Tomos Emlyn on the right and his excellent low shot was parried against the post by Pearson. The rebound fell to Cai Jones but his shot went over the bar. The match ended in stalemate and now both clubs look forward to the next HGCA season. From a Port perspective the game reflected most of the team’s performances over the season. Plenty of good and very impressive football, excellent approach play but not enough of a killer instinct in front of goal in matches that matter and a habit of giving away unnecessary goals at the back. It is, however, a very young squad with excellent players and if this can be built upon over the pre season break next season could see us challenging for the title, despite the fact that the HGCA will probably be a stronger and more competitive league than even the Welsh Prem! Porthmadog - Richard Harvey, Tomos Emlyn, Josh Banks, Leon Doran (Ceri James 45’), Iddon Price, Sion Bradley (Gruff John Williams 80’), Sion Edwards, Rob Evans (Ifan Emlyn 45’), Joe Chaplin, Julian Williams, Cai Jones. Subs not used Craig Papyrnik Treffynnon/Holywell- Shaun Pearson, Phil Lloyd, Jon Jones, Gareth Sudlow, Mattey Harvey, Matty Kendrick, Sam Jones, Jack Pennington (Lee Davly 70’), Brady McGilloway, Steven Lewis, Shaun Tuck (Chas Boulton 80’). Subs not used John Haseldin, Danny Desormeaux. Officials: Cheryl Foster (Referee), Iwan Ellis, Nathern Wheatley (Assistants) Official Attendance : 268 Match Sponsor : R.J. Williams, HONDA Talsarnau Match ball sponsors : Dewi Jones, OJ Jones Haulage Contractors, Meirion Evans Terfynnau, David James in Memory of Bernie Smith, Pwllheli, Winnie Jones in memory of Arthur Edwards, Pwll Note – I have prepared two match reports during the last month as our regular scribe, Gareth Williams, had, like many of us, made other arrangements before postponements/ re-scheduling of matches etc. All of us who look forward to match reports -and whether I have been at the game or not I always look forward to them like I know many do on a Saturday night or Sunday morning. And this includes people from all over the world! However until I had to do my bit I never really appreciated the work and commitment involved. As with all other aspects of the day to day running of what is, one of the most professional clubs in Wales, at whatever level, we need more help. Anyone out there who fancies himself or herself as a budding sports journalist please get in touch for next season so that we can give Gareth some assistance. Not forgetting it is a family affair – Iwan and Emyr are also an integral part of our social media/technology communications team. They also need the help! Dafydd Wyn Jones (Cyfarwyddwr/Director, Clwb Peldroed Porthmadog) Huws Gray Alliance -Monday, 07 May Match Sponsor: CARIAD CARE HOMES CPD Porthmadog..............................1 Joe Chaplin 21’ Flint Town United.............................1 Richie Foulkes 90 +1(p) It was a case of two points dropped for Port as they yielded the goal advantage they had held from the 21st minute when Joe Chaplin netted an opportunist goal. This goal takes him to 26 for the season, one more than Carl Owen’s tally in 2002/03. Richie Foulkes levelled the scores with a late, late penalty in added time at the end of the game. In very warm conditions the game had the real feel of an end of the season encounter, with Flint already having bagged theit silverware and both clubs probably looking towards next season. In his penultimate game Richard Harvey, as ever, kept his standards high and pulled off several excellent stops to remind everyone how difficult it will be to replace such wonderful clubman. Port pushed forward from the start and, after just three minutes, Sion Bradley cutting in from the left to test keeper Quinlan with a low shot. Port continued to dominate possession with the game being largely played in the Flint half of the pitch. Julian Williams had a low shot deflected wide and when the ball came to Josh Banks, following a Sion Edwards corner, the defender was only inches above the angle of the bar and far post. Still in the opening quarter of an hour, Joe Chaplin sent an angled shot narrowly past the far post. Eventually the goal came, not from a well worked move, but from a piece of opportunism from leading scorer Joe Chaplin. When keeper Quinlan failed to hold Tomos Emlyn’s right wing cross into the goalmouth, Chaplin pounced to net from close range. Flint might well have equalised just two minutes later but for the alertness of Richard Harvey back pedalling quickly to gather Foulkes’s header following a cross from Pete Martin. Flint came more into the game towards the end of the half with Rob Jones corner being cleared off the line and a dangerous break from Mark Cadwallader, but his cross was cut out by Ifan Emlyn. In the closing stages, when Sion Bradley crossed from the left, Carl Rodgers was fortunate to see his sliced attempted clearance drop into the hands of his keeper. 1-0 at the interval but before the end of the game Port would rue their failure to turn possession into goals in the opening 45’. Flint came out strongly in the second half and within two minutes Richard Harvey had to be out quickly to block a Kyle Smith effort down at his feet. Iddon Price was also forced to make a good block as Flint pushed forward. Port responded and a Sion Edwards free kick was pushed away for a corner by keeper Quinlan. There were periods when neither side was able to muster a threat home and supporters were getting increasingly nervy as their team failed to get an all important 2nd goal. The closest they came to a goal was Cai Jones’s back post header meeting a well placed Julian Williams cross. But Port were now being pushed back increasingly and out-muscled by a physically strong Flint side. Richard Harvey was in the action again, going down to halt a threat from Shaun Beck. In the 90th minute Port survived another attack when Kyle Smith was only inches away from the equaliser, fastening on to Foulkes’s header. Then in the first minute of added time referee Tom Owen spotted a handball offence in the box and awarded a penalty which Richie Foulkes drove into the corner of the net and the game ended all square. Port could have won the game in the opening half but overall a draw was a result difficult to quibble with. Before today’s game a minute’s silence was held as an expression of the sympathies of the Porthmadog club with the family and friends of Martin Ford and with the Queen’s Park club at the sudden death of their manager. PORTHMADOG: Richard Harvey, Tomos Emlyn, Sion Edwards, Iddon Price, Josh Banks, Rob Evans, Ifan Emlyn, Sion Bradley, Cai Jones (Ceri James 82’), Joe Chaplin, Julian Williams. Unused subs: Leon Doran, Craig Papirnyk, Gareth Jones Evans. FLINT: Elliot Quinlan, Kieran Price, Andy Brown, Rob Jones, Jack Lewis, Carl Rodgers, Kyle Smith, Richie Foulkes, Mark Cadwallader, Shaun Beck, Pete Martin (Jay Norbury 72’). Unused subs: Stefan Halewood, Jack Stewart. Referee: Tom Owen Attendance: 208 Gareth Williams Huws Gray Alliance -Saturday, 28 April FC Queens Park.............................0 CPD Porthmadog...........................6 Joe Chaplin 16’, 38’, 43’. Sion Edwards 33’ Cai Jones 41’ Sion Bradley 70’ Following 376 minutes without a goal, Port at last found the net and, having ended the goal famine, went on to score five by half-time. Joe Chaplin helped himself to a hat-trick bringing his tally for the season up to 25 goals. Already doomed, FC Queens Park to their credit, stemmed the flow of goals in the second period and that despite being down to 10 players, when Kyle Hazelden was sent off after 55 minutes. Port dominated the game from the start and Julian Williams was denied a goal in only the 2nd minute by an excellent reaction save by home keeper Richard Cowderoy. The keeper, despite being beaten 6 times, went on to give an excellent account of himself and his work between the sticks prevented an even bigger rout. Neither was he caught out by a smartly taken free kick by Sion Edwards, going down to save well. But after 16 minutes the keeper came out for a Sion Edwards corner, failed to gather, and Joe Chaplin was in at the back post to score. Chaplin tested the keeper again bursting in from the right but Cowderoy saved well at his near post. Soon after the same player met a Sion Edwards corner but his header flew wide. The home goal was leading a charmed life but the second goal went in, when provider Sion Edwards took a free kick on the edge pf the box on the right. Despite the narrow angle, the trusty left foot beat everyone including Richard Cowderoy and nestled in the corner of the net! With half-time approaching, Port upped the tempo and found the net three times in the space of five minutes. First Tomos Emlyn broke doen the right and Joe Cahplin met his excellent cross, directing his header wide of the keeper. Cai Jones was next on the scoresheet, capitalising when the ball broke loose to him on the edge of the box and he made it 4-0 witha well-struck low shot. There was time for one more before the interval and it was a chance for Joe Chaplin to complete a first-half hat-trick. He robbed James Etherington 25 yards out and broke into the box to fire home from 16 yards. It had been a struggle for the Wrexham based club and they only managed one shot on goal during the first 45 minutes, from Richard Jones which Richard Harvey saved comfortably. 5-0 at the interval. The home team had their best period of the game at the start of the second half with Liam Mansell cutting across from the right and firing his angled shot across the face of goal. They won a couple of corners and from one of these Trystan Wagner found Dave Evans whose header went over the bar. Then after 55 minutes things got distinctly worse for the home team when Kyle Hazelden received a straight red from referee Ashley Jones for a wild tackle on Julian Williams. Soon after Julian was in the action again, following a Sion Edwards corner, he fired across goal and wide. Port continued to create chances though the edge was off their play by now. Ifan Emlyn crossed well from the left but Cowderoy kept out Joe Chaplin’s header. There were couple of headers from Cai Jones but failed to hit the target. The sixth goal came after 70 minutes. A good ball from Iddon Price sent Jake Jones racing down the right and he found Cai Jones in the box but the shot was blocked but only as far as Sion Bradley, whose angled shot from 15 yards completed the scoring. Port continued to push forward and there were further chances, but the 10 men of Queens Park restricted them to one second half goal. The travelling support, who were the majority of today’s gate at Stansty Park, went home pleased that the run of defeats and zero goals was over . We can now look forward to the last two fixtures against Flintshire opposition. First up at the Traeth will be Flint Town United on the May Bank holiday Monday. Hollywell Town will follow on Saturday 12th May. PORTHMADOG: Richard Harvey, Tomos Emlyn, Sion Edwards (Jake Jones 58’), Ceri James (Ifan Emlyn 45’), Iddon Price, Josh Banks, Rob Evans, Cai Jones, Sion Bradley, Joe Chaplin, Julian Williams. Unused subs: Tom Taylor, Craig Papirnyk. FC QUEENS PARK: Richard Cowderoy, James Etherington, Liam Mansell (Craig Edwards 64’), Charlie Rowley, Matthew Williams (Dave Evans 40’), Adam Roberts, Andrew Hughes, Kyle Hazelden, Richard Jones, Trystan Wagner, James Gregory. Unused subs: Dvae Watson. Red: Kyle Hazelden. Referee: Ashley Jones. Attendance: 64 Gareth Williams Huws Gray Alliance Wednesday, 25 April Penrhyncoch.............................1 Sion James 60’ CPD Porthmadog...................... 0 Port, despite enjoying a huge amount of possession, failed to end their poor run of recent results while Penrhyncoch extended their unbeaten run to 7 games. A first half of very few clear opportunities ended scoreless while the second half was dominated by Port who, though creating better chances, failed to open up a resolute home defence ably marshalled by Jon Foligno and Sion James. It was James who broke the deadlock on the hour mark, when a rare period of Rooster pressure forced the error, with Sion James taking full advantage to score from close range. The home side then held on to the lead, relying on hitting on the break and frustrating all Port efforts to get back on level terms. Despite the best efforts of the whole team and the goal attempts of Julian Williams, Ceri James and Joe Chaplin there was no way past Leigh Jenkins in the home goal. The game was played in a blustery wind on a surprisingly hard surface given the previous day’s rainfall. Port were soon on the attack but found a tight home defence hard to penetrate. Breaks along both flanks by Sion Edwrads and Julian Williams were an early feature. After 6 minutes the ball was worked across from the left and a Cai Jones header flew over the bar. The Roosters responded with a break down the right after 10 minutes and there was a hairy moment for the Port defence when Rob Murfet’s angled shot took a deflection and landed on the crossbar before going behind for a corner. Generally play was concentrated in the home half but without seriously threatening keeper Leigh jenkins’ goal. Penrhyncoch’s main threats came from free kicks and one of these from Harry Horwood required an alert response from Richard Harvey at his near post and on another occasion needed to tip an effort from the same player over his crossbar. One of the best Port chances came after half an hour when Tom Taylor broke from the back and his ball into space behind the home defence had Julian Williams racing forward but his shot went over the bar,. Before the interval a cross from Tomos Emlyn gave Sion Edwards a chance on goal but agian the shot went over the bar and Julian williams was only narrowly off target with a free kick from the edge of the box.Goalless at the interval. The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Port enjoying plenty of possession and the home side looking to hit on the break down the Cae Baker slope. There was an early header from Iddon Price and an angled shot from Sion Erdwards went across the face of goal and narrowly wide. But the Roosters enjoyed a good spell with Josh Banks having to head over his own bar to relieve pressure. Richard Harvey did well to tip a dangerous header from Owain james over the bar. Then on the hour mark the home side got in front when Rcihard Harvey was forced to punch away a cross which fell for Sion James to break the deadlock with a shot through a crowded box. The home side were ahead and now relied on some sterling defensive work to maintain their advantage. Port fought hard but despite their strenuous efforts the goal touch continued to elude them. An angled shot from Joe Chaplin went narrowly wide while a cross from the same player was turned on to the post by Sion Bradley before falling for keeper Leigh jenkins. Port had a good shout for a penalty turned down with Ceri James seeing yellow for voicing his complaints. The same player came close to an equaliser with a shot from the edge of the box. Julian Williams put in a great stint down the right but it was a night when the breakthrough refused to come and the home defence held out. Near the end Tomos emlyn averted a second Roosters goal with a last ditch clearance Four games without a goal, Port now turn to Saturday’s visit FC Queen’s Park knowing that one of the league’s strugglers gained a second win of the season over Caersws last night. PORTHMADOG: Richard Harvey, Tomos Emlyn, Iddon Price Tom Taylor (Sion Bradley 63’), Josh Banks, Ceri James, Ifan Emlyn (Rob Evans 59’), Julian Williams, Joe Chaplin, Cai Jones, Sion Edwards. Unused subs: Leon Doran, Craig Papirnyk. Yellow Ceri James 75’. PENRHYNCOCH: Leigh Jenkins, Matthew Mousley, Eilian Evans, Sion James, Jon Foligno, Owain James, Rob Murfet, Carwyn Jones, Harry Horwood, Liam Doherty, Liam Lewis. Subs: Cledan Davies, Nashwan Blake, Sion meredith, Steffan Davies, Antonio Corbisiero. Referee: Rob Jenkins (Guilsfield) Attendance: 140 Gareth Williams Huws Gray Cup Quarter Final -Wednesday, 18 April Match Sponsor: TOYOTA HARLECH CPD Porthmadog..............................o Holyhead Hotspurs ..........................2 Mike Kelly 50’ John Littlemore 64’ Holyhead Hotspurs shook off their sub-standard league form to book a semi-final place for themselves, against Flint. Two second half goals from Mike Kelly and John Littlemore settled the game in Hotspurs , against a Port side that which failed to stop the rot of successive defeats against Denbigh and Flint and now make it three straight defeats. The scoring touch that has brought them 62 goals this season has also deserted them, making it three consecutive scoreless games. In a game which hardly rose above the mediocre Hotspurs took their chances and deserved the victory. There were chances at both ends early in the first half. In the very first minute of the game Julian Williams put Cai Jones in for a shot on goal. The shot was on target but lacking power and keeper Pritchard saved. At the other end Mel McGinness, for Hotspurs, surprised the home defence after three minutes with a low free-kick to the near post which Richard Harvey scrambled away for a corner. Gradually Port appeared to be gaining the upper hand with Sion Bradley threatening down the left and Julian Williams looking lively. But despite this it was Holyhead who came closest to scoring at this stage. A ball was allowed to run across from the right and into the Port box. Alex Boss took full advantage and it needed an excellent save from Richard Harvey to keep out Boss’s goal bound shot. This appeared to sting Port into some action and a good exchange of passes between Joe Chaplin and Cai Jones gave Cai a clear shot on goal, but again Pritchard, for the visitors, saved comfortably. A minute later Sion Bradley fired a shot from the edge of the box across the keeper but narrowly wide of the post. Late in the opening half Bradley received an excellent crossfield pass, cut inside but again his shot went narrowly wide. In the final minute of the first half the reliable Joe Chaplin rose well at the back post to meet Cai Jones’s right wing cross but this time his header went across goal and wide. Though not at their best in the first half, Port had created chances and at the end of the 90 minutes they would rue their lack of clinical finishing. Goalless at the interval. The visitors came out strongly after the interval and they forced a corner on the left taken by Mel MCGinness. A huge scramble followed in the home penalty area with several shots and blocks until the ball broke for Mike Kelly whose low shot was adjudged to have cross the line. Hotspurs persistence had paid off and they had their noses in front. Port responded immediately and Cai Jones cut dangerously across the byline on the right and pulled his cross back for Joe Chaplin. But the leading scorer’s shot failed to trouble Paul Pritchard. Hotspurs concentrated now on keeping things tight while looking to hit Port on the break. On the hour mark the plan should have produced a second goal as the pacy John Littlemore got in behind the Port defence and with only Richard Harvey to beat, the forward somehow pulled his shot wide of the post. Relief for Port was however shortlived as Littlemore got in behind the Port defence on the left running on to a through ball and this time he made no mistake beating Richard Harvey from 15 yards. Two goals up all the visitors needed to do was to keep the ship steady and a semi-final place was theirs. Port’s response to going two down was very disappointing and the nearest we came to a further goal came when Alex Boss, looking for Hotspurs third, fired across goal and narrowly wide. But the two goals were more than enough and at the end a delighted Hotspurs squad celebrated their semi-final place. Having put out the holders Caernarfon in the first round, which now seems an age ago , Port spurned a great opportuinty to give the remainder of the season some meaning and a chance to win some silverware. Even the fact that some key players were carrying injuries or being cup-tied does not explain this performance. Now for disappointed supporters the thought of the season dragging on to May 12th hardly fills anyone with enthusiasm. Let’s hope for an upward surge to tke us through the closing games. Congratulations to Holyhead on the victory and best of luck in the semi-final against Flint. PORTHMADOG: Richard Harvey, Rob Evans ( Jake Jones 72’), Tomos Emlyn, Iddon Price, Tom Taylor, Ceri James, Ifan Emlyn, Julian Williams, Cai Jones, Joe Chaplin (Math Roberts80’), Sion Bradley. Unused subs: Morgan Jones (gk), Iwan Lewis, Craig Papirnyk. Yellow:Cai jones 57’. HOLYHEAD: Paul Pritchard, Dan McGinness, Rees Brown, Corey Jones, Alex Jones, Tomos Clarke, Harry lewis, Mike Kelly, John Littlemore (Rob Ll, Jones 86’), Mel McGinness ( Kenlrigh Owen 89’), Alex Boss. Unused subs: Kyle Murphy, Dan Williams. Campbell Harrison. Yellow: Dan McGinness 59’) Referee: Rhys Ryder Attendance: 172 Gareth Williams Huws Gray Alliance -Saturday, April 14 Flint Town United ......................2 Mark Cadwallader 50'. Richie Foulkes 65' CPD Porthmadog.........................0 Port went down for the second time this week without scoring a goal. Whilst Port failed to score against Denbigh in the 1-0 defeat on Wednesday night the fact that they hit the post or crossbar on six different occasions was testament to their effort. Today, however, was a game best forgotten and one of the league’s top scorers never really created sufficient clear cut chances to have won the game. It was the first Saturday match since the home game against Ruthun on the 24th. of March and, although it was a change from wet and soggy pitches, the Cae Castell surface was not suited for free fast flowing football. As a consequence most of the first half was played in the air, with both sides just as guilty of punting balls up to front men who found them hard to control properly. Flint had the first chance on 4 minutes, a 20 yard shot from Jack Stewart that went wide of the Port goal. On 8 minutes Tomos Emlyn released Sion Bradley with a good ball down the right. Bradley’s dangerous centre was cleared by the Flint defenders for a corner. Neither team made any realistic impact for the rest of the half but towards the end Port forced 4 consecutive corners, but all came to nothing. Sion Edwards had a good shot saved by Hart, the Flint custodian, the latter dropped a Josh Banks centre that Chaplin just could not connect with and on the half time whistle Chaplin forced Hart to a fine save at his near post. Port had the first chance of the second half when a mix up in the Flint defence gave Sion Edwards the opportunity to run at their defence but when he pulled the trigger his shot was blocked by a defender. On 49 minutes Flint’s Mark Cadwallader found himself unchallenged 8 yards out and planted the ball past Harvey, although the Port keeper did manage to get a hand to it but failed in the attempt to stop it going into the net. This was a poor goal to concede. Flint were now far more positive than they had been in a lacklustre first half. On 67 minutes the home side increased its lead when Tomos Emlyn was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. Whether it was intentional or came as a result of the bounce on an uneven pitch is now history as referee Alex Livsley pointed to the spot. The penalty was clinically executed by Richie Foulkes. Sub Ali Sheriff should have put the game to bed for Flint on 75 minutes but missed a golden opportunity with the ball at his feet 4 yards out, a Port defender managing to smother his effort. Port vainly attempted to get back into the game but their free flowing, on the ground football had deserted them, as it had all game. At the death they managed to create three very good chances, all within the space of a 5 minute period. First a Sion Bradley free kick from the left was cleared off the line by a Flint defender, Hart made a magnificent finger tip save from a Josh Banks centre-come-shot at the far post and then Ceri James sent in a 25 yard volley that whistled just past the right hand post. A disappointing performance and result with, of course, the possibility that Port could well face Flint twice again before the end of the season, once at home in the League on the 7th. May and, if we can beat Holyhead next Wednesday evening at the Traeth in the League Cup Quarter Final, next Saturday would be the semi final of that competition at the Traeth. Porthmadog : Richard Harvey, Josh Banks, Ceri James, Iddon Price, Joe Chaplin (Cai Jones 57’), Julian Williams, Rob Evans, Sion Edwards (Leon Doran 75’), Tomos Emyn, Sion Bradley, Tom Taylor Subs not used : Jake Jones, Craig Papirnyk, Ifan Emlyn Yellow cards : Sion Bradley, Tom Taylor Flint : Josh Hart, Ieuan Hewitt, Jack Lewis, Joe Palmer (Kyle Smyth 45’), Richie Foulkes, Mark Cadwallader, Andy Brown (Rob Jones 45’), Jack Welsh, Carl Rodgers, Jack Stewart, Shaun Beck (Ali Sheriff 75’) Yellow cards : Jack Lewis, Mark Cadwallader, Ieuan Hewitt, Jack Stewart Referee: Alex Livesey Attendance: 146 Dafydd Wyn Jones Huws Gray Alliance -Wednesday, April 11 Denbigh Town ..........................1 Craig Pritchard 74’ CPD Porthmadog.........................0 A single goal by Craig Pritchard, Denbigh’s top performer on the night, gave the home side all three points in a game which could easily have gone either way. It was an entertaining game between two teams set up to play a passing game.The biggest surprise of the evening was that the back of the net was hit just once in a game where goalposts and crossbars were rattled on eight or nine occasions with keepers well beaten.Port will wonder how the points escaped and, how Rob Evans’ thunderbolt especially, failed to find the net. The Central Park goalpost must be still shaking from the impact hours later!! There were chances at either end from the start and there could have been two or three goals in the first ten minutes, Just 3 minutes into the game Denbigh broke quickly down the right and an angled shot from Craig Pritchard struck Richard Harvey’s back post. Port responded with a series of attacks of their own and Cai Jones came close at the near post with both efforts going narrowly over the bar. This was followed by a Ceri James header thumping against the post when he met a Sion Edwards corner. It was then Denbigh’s turn to burst forward and in attack down the right they were awarded a 11th minute penalty for a foul just inside the area. In keeping with what had gone before that was also missed as Richard Harvey went down to his left to keep out Matt Worrall’s spot kick. The chances continued to flow a good exchange of passes between Tom Taylor and Tomos Emlyn created an opening for the latter, only to see his shot fly narrowly wide of the far post. Denbigh were a threat on the break and a cross from the right was met by Worrall but, his header also rattled the woodwork. A Joe Culshaw free kick was then saved by Richard Harvey. The woodwork continued to have a hard time, Rob Evans received from Cai Jones and from 18 yards struck the post, with the travelling support waiting to see the net bulge. A 20 yard effort from Sion Edwards met the same fate with keeper Keighan Jones pushing the shot on to the post and for a corner. With half-time approaching both sides looked to take a lead into the interval but Ben Nash was off target with a header for Denbigh and theere was a similar result when Julian Williams met a Rob Evans cross. Hard to believe but it remained 0-0 at half-time. Port started the second-half strongly but when Julian Williams hit a super free kick from wide out on the right the result was the same yet again the ball struck the crossbar. The Denbigh goalposts must surely be fitted with football attracting magnets!! The Denbigh goal continued to be under threat as Sion Bradley fired from 20 yards but narrowly wide and a cross from the same player had to be scrambled off his line by the keeper. Gradually howver Denbigh steadied the ship and posed some threats of their own sub Kristian Pierce flashed a shot across the face of goal and Culshaw pulled back a corner for Gareth Partridge to fire over the bar from 18 yards. Then in the 74th minute the near misses were over and a speedy Denbigh break produced a match winning goal. Good work by Kristian Pierce, whose break and angled pass put in Craig Pritchard on the left of the box, and Pritchard's low shot went into the net -via the upright of course! Having got their noses in front, the home side controlled the game well in the closing stages and could have gone further ahead but Culshaw saw his shot strike the crossbar. There were chances for Port late on, the home keeper did well to push a Sion Bradley shot round the post and Tomos Emlyn meeting Sionn Bradley's corner saw his added time effort go wide. Manager Craig Papirnyk summed the events of the evening like this: “Great travelling support tonight from the Porthmadog faithful once again. How we haven’t scored I do not know but a very exciting game all the same !! Disappointing result for us. On to Saturday now.” PORTHMADOG: Richard Harvey, Tomos Emlyn, Sion Edwards, Tom Taylor, Iddon Price ( Josh Banks 50’), Ceri James, Rob Evans, Iwan lewis (Leon Doran 68’), Julian Williams, Cai Jones ( Joe Chaplin 58’), Sion Bradley. Unused subs: Ifan Emlyn . Craig Papirnyk. DENBIGH: Keighan Jones, Liam Smith, Joe Culshaw, Danny Sullivan, Ben Nash,Matt Cook, Rakim Newton, Gareth Prtridge, Matt Worrall, Andrew Swarbrick, Craig Pritchard, Subs: Joel Hewitt, Corey Smart,Kristian Pierce, Warren Duckett, J Hill-Dunt (gk). Yellow: Andrew Swarbrick 44’, Liam Smith 56’, Craig Pritchard 89’. Referee: Andy Harms Attendance: 110 Gareth Williams |
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