CORWEN..........1 PORTHMADOG.........7

Corwen went into this game not having scored in the league since September
the 4th. Allthough they managed to put an end to this record this afternoon,
they finished on the wrong end of a 7-1 thrashing. Port's record over the
past few games has also been very dissapointing, with three defeats in as
many games. It looked as if we were heading for more of the same this
afternoon as Corwen had the best of the play in the opening minutes. During
this period Kevin Edwards came close to braking Cormen's seven week
goal-drought, but Kenny dixon pulled a good save.
    There were further good chances for the home side during the first half
with Dafydd Morris' shot going into the side netting, and Ian Bride's header
going just wide after a cross from Richard Pierce. Mark Jones also
impressed, making a good penetrating run into the Porthmadog box. But, as
the half went on Port managed to gain more control of proceedings and their
opener was a brilliant long-range effort by Dafydd Evans who took advantage
of the space he was given to plant the ball home. Viv Williams had a chance
to add to their lead, but his shot went just over following a cross by Nigel
Barry. but on the stroke of half time Port were two goals up thanks to Mike
Davies who chipped the ball into the goal leaving Spencer Samuels with no
chance. This, as they say, was a very good time to score sichologicaly.
    Port were in full control in the second half against a Corwen team which
seemed out of their depth in the Cymru Allience. And, after 4 minutes of the
second half Port's lead had been extended further following a well worked
goal. Dafydd Evans crossed the ball to Mike Davies who flicked the ball
forward to Viv Williams who turned to place the ball in the bottom corner of
the net. Mike Davies came close to scoring again but a few minutes later he
was limping off the feild after a terrible challenge from Mark Jones who was
very lucky not to have been sent off.
     In the last half hour the flood-gates really opened with Viv Williams
adding two more goals to his total for his first hat-trick of the season.
His second came from a header on the far post after a Nigel Barry cross from
the right. For his final goal he capitalised on some very poor defending by
the home side. But, there was more to come with Emyr Jones, who came on as
replacement for the injured Mike Davies, scoring his first goal for the
club. His pace and determination up front definately shows a lot of promice.
There did follow a concelation goal for the home team with Dafydd Morris
capitalising on some lax defending by Port. But it wasn't over yet as Port
added salt to the wounds with Adrian Owen unselfishly passing the ball to
Nigel Barry who turned well to hit the ball home on the side volley.

PORTHMADOG:
K. Dixon, C. Harrison, S. Flower, P. Dixon, S. Williams, G. Caughter (S.
Williams), C. Banks, N. Barry, D. Evans, M. Davies (E. Jones), V. Williams
(A. Owen)

Iwan.

Porthmadog 1 Welshpool 2

Port slipped to their second succesive home defeat and their third
consecutive defeat against top six opposition. The game opened quietly with
Port enjoying a slight early advantage but they did not force their first
corner until the 24 min. Then in the 27 min a good Welshpool move led to a
a backheel by Ben Kinsey to Ian Evans whose shot needed a good save from
Dixon -back after injury.Port replied almost immediately when a cross by
Stuart Williams was flicked on by Mike Davies to Adrian Owen who showed the
natural striker's turn to bring a good save from Goodwin.
Then after 34 mins  Welshpool went ahead.An  attack on the left produced a
cross which was flicked on by Kinsey to Parkes who scored from close range
at the far post. This was the signal for Port to produce their best football
of the match and they went close from a Davies header and two powerful
drives from Owen. Port were now combining well with good passing movements
keeping possession and building the momentum. A measured cross from Owen saw
Viv williams get in front of his marker to head in a well taken goal. At
half-time the score remained at 1-1.
Port continued to dominate after the interval with good passing movements
with Banks, Barry, Owen and Stuart Williams prominent. At the other end Ben
Kinsey, with good close control was proving a handful for the Port
defence.Then in their eagerness to gain a winner Port resorted more and more
to long balls out of defence and midfield which cost them possession and
were easily dealt with by the Welshpool defence. As Port forsook the more
patient build-up so Welshpool came more and more into the game.
Then in the 88 min Welshpool counter attacked, as a Port attack petered out,
and the ball was threaded through the area to Chris Roberts who slid it
home.Although Port strove to retrieve the situation, it was too late and
Welshpool ran out winners in a game which Port had dominated for long
periods. Failure to turn pressure into goals is proving costly.
Port looked at their best when the ball was being passed on the floor and
not when it was given away with long aimless kicks from the back. Next week
they are away to Corwen.

Port: Dixon, Harrison, Flower, Webber, Stuart Williams, Barry, Evans, Banks,
Owen, (Caughter) Davies, Viv Williams, Subs not used: Allan Jones, Steve
Williams.

Porthmadog 1  Glantraeth 2

Port slumped to a disappointing home defeat at Y Traeth tonight 7/10/99.
This was their second consecutive defeat and leaves them well behind the
leaders in the Alliance.
    All the early pressure came from the visitors but no chances were
created until David N. Williams in the 11 min. brought a good save from
Richard Harvey, once again deputising from the injured Kenny Dixon in the
Port goal. Almost immediately Port struck back but Mike Davies failed to
control when wll placed in the Glantraeth area.
    After 30 mins of fairly drab football Port set up the best move of the
game when Adrian Owen -twice- and Viv Williams combined to create a chance
for Mike Davies but his shot was off target.Just before half-time Glantraeth
took a deserved lead, when Gerallt Jones lobbed a fre-kick over the wall and
in at the far post.
    The second half continued much as the first had until, after an hour,
Banks struck a free-kick into the Glantraeth box - it was deflected to the
edge of the area where Lee Webber unmarked hammered it into the net to bring
the scores level. There followed Port's best period of the match but they
failed to add to their goal. Then after 72 mins Glantraeth scored a goal
from a free-kick which was a replica of the Port goal with defender Ross
netting from the right after a deflection across goal.
    Emyr Jones replaced Adrian Owen, who had looked the most likely Port
front man to score, and Allan Jones and David Evans were also
introduced.Port continued to threaten and Emyr Jones in particular looked
dangerous -his full Alliance debut cannot be far away. Port are finding
scoring very difficult and although they applied pressure the equaliser
wouldn't come. All in all the performance was a far cry from the storming
victory at Glantraeth in early season.
    This latest display showed a lack of cohesion and understandig at times.
We must now look to a vast improvement inthe next game against Welshpool if
they are to get their season back on track.

Porthmadog:

Harvey,Dixon, Harrison, Webber, Stuart Williams, Barry, Banks, Viv 
Williams(Evans) Steve Williams(Allan Jones) Adrian Owen (Emyr Jones), Mike
Davies. 

Oswestry Town 2    Porthmadog 1

Saturday Oct 1st saw Porthmadog visit Park Hall Stadium, surely one of the
best grounds in the Cymru Alliance. The programme was also one of the better
ones providing an interesting pre-match read - giving a history of the
border town-not the club- and also recalling matches between the two clubs
during the 50's which attracted between 3000 and 4500 crowds. Today's crowd,
whilst respectable, was hardly in that category!
This was a vital game for both clubs, with only one point separating them at
the start. The result proved a disappointment for the numerous Port
followers as they saw their team slump to defeat as a result of an 81 min
goal by Dave Jones. It was doubly disappointing that the goal appeared to be
scored with Jones being put through in an off-side position -one of a number
of questionable offside decisions during the afternoon.
After their excellent performance in defeating Flint a week ago, Port
started with high hopes, but unfortunately showed little of the agression
shown in that game.The opening stages were quiet, and with Mike Davies
ploughing a lone furrow up front, it was left to a burst from midfield, by
Nigel Barry after 14 mins, to produce the first real chance of the game. He
chipped Blower, in the Oswestry goal, only to see the ball roll agonisingly
past the post.
A minute later, however, saw Oswestry in the lead with Kevin Scott, who was
to prove a thorn in Port's flesh, breaking clear  on the right and his cool
finish gave Richard Harvey , making his first appearance of the season, no
chance.This was Oswestry's first real attack of the game but, encouraged by
the goal, they pressed forward.The later stages of the first half saw Port
back in control and, after 35 mins, a good break by Adrian Owen put Stuart
Williams through but his shot was wide when it seemed that he must score.
A 37 min corner for Oswestry brought an excellent save by Harvey from
Hinchcliffe's downward header.
The 39th minute saw Port draw deservedly level when Steve Williams, who had
not been receiving the best of service on the right, cut into the area and
his low cross was touched in by Mike Davies.More pressure by Port towards
the end of the half saw Banks dispossess Burgess,only for his shot to miss
the angle by a coat of paint.A minute later, Davies could have scored
another but his first touch let him down from Phil Dixon's excellent through
ball. Half-time came with the scores level.
    The second-half started with a slight reshuffle of the Port team, Dixon
moving to midfield with Harrison and Stuart Williams at full back. Mike
Davies was mainly alone up front again with Adrian Owen playing a far deeper
roll than that against Flint. Mike Davies is not at his best when asked to
chase through balls but requires a service from the bye-line when he can use
his heading ability. He can also provide flicks for a fellow striker who
plays close to him. This was not the case today with Nigel Barry, who
created , closed down and chased throughout the afternoon, also had to
anticipate Mike Davies' flicked headers. This provided several chances,but,
for all his many skills, Nigel is not a deadly finisher!
    Adrian Owen had to leave the field after 51 mins, after receiving a
nasty leg injury, to be replaced by Viv Williams who was surprisingly used
in a deep roll on the left-side.
Both goalies were called into action and chances were missed at both ends.
Port reserve keeper, Harvey confirmed his promise with a confident
performance.The goal which was to decide the match came after 81 mins.
    Late on, Port brought on extra attackers in Emyr Jones and Allan Jones
and they played some of their best attacking football but time was running
out and the whistle went giving Oswestry 3 valuable points.
A Llandudno victory leaves Port off the pace in the Alliance. It will take
outstanding performances to make inroads into their lead.

PORTHMADOG:
Harvey, Dixon, Flower, Webber (E.Jones), Harrison, Steve Williams (A.
Jones), Banks, Barry,Owen (Viv Williams) Stuart Williams, Davies.

PORTHMADOG..........2 FLINT TOWN UNITED..........0

Another good performance by Porthmadog, but thing's didn't look quite as
good before the game started with Viv Williams having to play in goal due to
the injury to Kenny Dixon and the reserve keeper, Richard Harvey was also
unavailable. But Viv Was hardly troubled throughout the match and pulled a
brilliant on one of the only occasions on which he was put under pressure.
    One of the best things about Port's performance was the fact that far
more emphasis was put on playing a passing game and far less on the
ineffective long ball approach that has been seen too often this season. It
was also nice to see Steve Williams again in the starting line up and also
Mathew Hughes, Alan Jones and Emyr Jones being given their chances from the
bench. Keeping Adrian Owen as striker was also a very good move by manager
Colin Hawkins.
    Port were in control of the game from the off, and created enough many
chances from the opening minutes. The first opening was created by Steve
Williams who placed a through ball to Adrian Owen, but the ball was cut out
well before it reached him. After only 12 minutes they were ahead. Mike
Davies was the scorer with a tap in following a corner by Adrian Owen and a
header off the goalie by Chris Banks. There were further chances for Lee
Webber and Mike Davies on two occasions to extend their lead in the opening
half-hour. But the other notable incident in this period was when Mike
Davies was punched off the ball by Steve Appleton, but right in front the
referee's assistant. Although he had a word with the referee, only a yellow
card was given. But on 27 minutes Flint were down to ten men - Ex-Wrecsam
player Neil Salathiel was sent off for a second yellow card after a bad foul
on Simon Flower.
    Port had a period of good pressure during the last ten minutes of the
first half, with Nigel Barry making a good run into the box, but stumbled
before he had the chance to cross the ball in after passing three Flint
defenders. But they didn't have to wait long before their lead was extended
after a superb through pass by Campbell Harrison put Adrian Owen on his way,
and he kept his head to finish well on the stroke of half time. Port were
ahead by two goals on half time and Viv Williams hadn't been troubled at
all. But only minutes into the second half and he had to pull off a
brilliant finger-tip save to pull the ball onto the cross-bar. Flint's only
other chance in the half was five minutes from time when Tony Lee's effort
wasn't far off.
    The home team should have added much more to their score in the second
half with Chris Banks and Nigel Barry, who looked far more comfortable in
central mid-feild placing many through balls to beat the Flint off-side
trap. Steve Williams  and Mike Davies made some good run's into the Flint
half but were stopped by some brilliant saves from Paul Smith in the Flint
goal. Nigel Barry should have scored after a good run but hesitated for too
long. Stuart Williams should also have scored after some good work by Alan
Jones, who also created a chance for Emyr Jones who was very unlucky when
his shot was well saved. Matthew Hughes also created a few good chances for
Mike Davies who had by far his best game of the season today.
    So a far better performance by Porthmadog who needed this win to make
sure that the gap between themselves and leaders Llandudno would not become
to big.

PORTHMADOG:
V. Williams, P. Dixon, C. Harrison, L. Webber, S. Flower, S. Williams (M.
Hughes), Steve Williams (A. Jones),C. Banks, N. Barry, A. Owen (E. Jones),
M. Davies.

Iwan Sion Gareth

PORTHMADOG..........2 LLANGEFNI..........0

An improved performance by Port after the disappointment of the last two
games although they didn't get off to the best of starts with Llangefni
looking the sharpest team in the opening ten minutes. But, apart from those
opening minutes, Llanagefni were far from impressive. Adrian Owen was moved
forward to striker and added pace to the Porthmadog attack. On 25 minutes he
crossed well to Mike Davies but he was beaten to the ball. A minute later he
came close to score himself with his shot being tapped over the bar by
Gerard McGuigan. This was a good period of pressure by Port and on 27
minutes they were ahead. Chris Banks scoring with a header following a
corner by Nigel Barry, but the failure of McGuigan to save must be
criticised.
    Mike Davies gave an improved performance in the first half of the match.
He flicked the ball downwards towards Adrian Owen whose shot wasn't far off.
He also came close to scoring twice after crosses from Stewart Williams,
pulling out a good save by McGuigan from one opportunity. Steve Williams who
had impressed in his first game on Saturday had another good performance and
added a lot to the Porthmadog attack creating many chances for the strikers
and came close to scoring himself in the very first minutes of the second
half. Adrian Owen had a couple of good chances in the second half  and was
unlucky not to score after combining with Nigel Barry. But Port were having
trouble to convert and add to their lead as they should have. There were
even chances for Llangefni to come back into the game with Daren Baker
making a good run, only to be stopped by a superb tackle by Stewart
Williams. Sub Pierre Prosser also came close, turning well before shooting
on the volley.
    It was good to see Alan Jones and Emyr Jones being given their chance in
the first team. However, it was a surprise to see Adrian Owen once again
being substituted. Steve Williams was also taken off after giving an
outstanding performance. Porthmadog did make the game safe when Mike Davies
picked up a loose clearance on 81 minutes to drive low into the net from 20
yards. Further chances were squandered, but over-all this was a much
improved performance.

PORTHMADOG:
M. Williams, P. Dixon, L. Webber, S. Flower, S. Williams, Steve Williams, N.
Barry, C. Banks, V. Williams, A. Owen, M. Davies.

Subs: A. Jones, E. Jones, C. Harrison

BRITISH AEROSPACE..........2 PORTHMADOG..........1

After the disaster at Cemaes Bay on Wednesday, this Welsh Cup encounter with
British Aerospace from the Welsh League (Wrexham Area) was a chance for Port
to recover, but that was not how it turned out, after another very
disappointing performance. Despite having the majority of the possession,
Port never created enough chances and never looked dangerous enough. Indeed,
the first good chance of the day fell to the home side as Andy Carroll's
shot came off the bar.
    Porthmadog did create some chances in the first half, but nowhere near
enough. Adrian Owen netted after 15 minutes but the goal was disallowed.
Nigel Barry also came close to scoring on two occasions with Viv Williams
also coming close with a long range effort. Williams was pulled down on the
inside of the box, creating some hope of giving his side the lead on half
time after a performance that lacked any determination. But the free kick,
taken by Lee Webber went well wide.
    The performance of Port at the start of the second half was even worse
as they persisted with the long ball approach that was never going to work
as Port played against the driving wind during the second half. This meant
that Port were struggling to keep possession for any period of time. This
lead to far more breaks for the home side, and ultimately, the embarrassing
goal to put Aerospace ahead on the hour. The scorer was Karl Atkinson who
took of advantage of the wind to launch a header that gave Kenny Dixon no
chance. Port did take the game to Aerospace in the last quarter hour of with
the ball being kept on the deck. It was this that created the chance to Mike
Davies with Stuart Williams crossing it in but the finishing was poor. One
plus form the game was the performance of Steve Williams who created a
couple of chances with his crosses, before crossing to Chris Barlow who
netted for Port in Injury Time. But, this was only after Rory Blythin had
scored after some good work by Vernon Keep.

PORTHMADOG:
K. Dixon, P. Dixon, L. Webber, S. Williams, S. Flower, C. Harrison, N.
Barry, D. Evans, A. Owen, M. Davies, V. Williams.

Subs Used: C. Barlow, S. Williams.
Sub not used: C. Banks.

CEMAES BAY..........3 PORTHMADOG..........1

A very poor performance by Port as Cemaes comfortably gained the three
points with some ease. They were always in control after Port had taken the
initiative in the opening minutes. Ex Porthmadog and Bangor City favourite,
Paul Whelan, now manager at the Anglesey village club, came close to giving
his side the lead after ten minutes with his shot going just wide following
a goal mouth scramble. Wheelo, of course, isn't the only ex-Porthmadog
player at Cemaes. Lining up with the team from the first time was Colin
Saynor, once a favourite with the Traeth faithful. Some lax defending by him
nearly lead to Port's first goal with Mike Davies siding past his former
team-mate, but the shot was poor. Phill Dixon then had a chance a minute
later, but was off-side after a good run by Adrian Owen. Owen was involved
in the visitor's next chance on 26 minutes,- his cross following a good pass
by Nigel Barry reaching Phill Dixon, whose shot pulled a save out of Dave
Stuhlfelder. This was Port's best move in the game. But from the corner that
followed, Cemaes made a brake immediately and their superior pace showed.
The ball was headed across the box, beating Kenny Dixon, and all Kevin
Roberts had to do was to place the ball in the net.
    From that point onwards Cemaes Bay had nearly all of the possession and
had a couple of good chances to add to their lead. Mark Turner's shot from
30 yards was only stopped by a good save from Kenny Dixon. Port's passing
was very poor as Cemaes seemed to get first to every ball. There was also a
lack of pace in the team especially amongst the attackers. Cemaes' second
goal came after a defencive error by Lee Webber who miss-kicked the ball,
giving it away to Mark Owen who had only Kenny Dixon to beat.
    Cemaes therefore had the two goal lead they wanted and only had to sit
back on their lead in the second half as Port played down the slope. This
was something that they seemed very happy to do so. Port therefore had far
more possession in the second half but didn't seem to know exactly what to
do with it. On 65 minutes, Cemaes were even further ahead after a good
counter-attack resulting in a goal to ex-Bangor player Danny Sheaperd.
    Hawkins reacted to this with the decision by bringing on two strikers -
Viv Williams and Chris Barlow which did add something to the team. But
questions must be asked about the decision to bring Adrian Owen off the
pitch - one of the few Port players with real pace. Port did then have a
couple of chances to close the gap with Campbell Harrison, Viv Williams and
Mike Davies coming close to scoring but they didn't look dangerous enough.
This meant that Chris Banks' superb strike after 70 minutes was only a
consolation goal. He turned well putting the ball in the top corner from 25
yards leaving the goalie with no chance. After this, Port hardly came close
to scoring. Maybe their best chance was when Colin Saynor held Davies back
in front of goal, but the ref didn't award anything for this infringement.
    There will have to be a change of personnel in the Port team now and
also a change of tactics from the long ball approach now employed. Maybe the
inclusion of Alan Jones in the attack would add a bit of pace to the front
line.

PORTHMAODG:
K. Dixon, C. Harrison, L. Webber, L. Carrol, S. Flower, C. Banks, N. Barry,
A. Owen, D. Evans M. Davies, P. Dixon.

Subs Used: C. Barlow, V. Williams, S. Williams.

DENBIGH TOWN..........2 PORTHMADOG..........3

This was far from a convincing performance by Port, and they failed to turn
their superior possession, against a very mediocre Denbigh side, into the
lead they deserved. However the midfeild did look far better after the
decision to revert to the 4-4-2 formation and the inclusion for the first
time, of Chris Banks. But the first real chance of the game came to the
hosts with Owain Roberts blasting the ball over the bar after a cross by
Phil Evans.
    Adrian Owen had a good first half but tailed off towards the second
half. He had a chance after 14 minutes and on 30 minutes he broke through
before being pulled down and was very unlucky not to be awarded the free
kick. But Adrian Owen's best chance came after 38 minutes when he attempted
a long-ranger that went just wide from 25 yards. Port thought that the
breakthrough had came on  29 minutes when Mike Davies bundled the ball over
the line  after a flick-on by Nigel Barry, but Davies was adjudged to have
being off-side and the goal was disallowed. Davies had another good chance
to put Port ahead but he got underneath the cross and the ball looped over
the bar. But Mike did well to create Port's first goal. He headed the ball
downwards to the path of Lee Webber who netted the ball into the empty goal
and he won't score an easier goal - ever. Port's second goal, on the stroke
of half time, was very scrappy with Viv Williams netting for his second this
season after the ball had come off the back of a Denbigh defender from a
Chris Banks header.
    So, Port were two up after the first half but they had made very heavy
weather of breaking down the Denbigh defence. And the lead was more down to
the poor standard of the home team than the superiority of Port. But in the
second half with Port losing much of their control of the game. Denbigh had
more of the ball and managed to put more pressure on Kenny Dixon in the Port
goal. Owain Roberts attempted a long ranger that wasn't far off and on the
hour Port's lead was halved, with Phil Evans bundling the ball over the line
for a very lucky goal. A minute later they were down to ten men with Jason
Jones being sent off after a second bookable offence, and he could feel a
bit hard done by. But Port failed to take advantage of this. They were still
failing to turn their possession into good chances and goals. Chris Banks
tried a long range shot on 62 minutes and was very unlucky not to extend
Port's lead with Daren Edwards pulling off a brilliant save.
    The two goal advantage was restored on 36 minutes with a long range
effort by Chris Banks finally pulling off. It was a fine low drive that gave
Daren Edwards no chance. But they failed to maintain this lead for more than
sixty seconds with Phil Evans netting for the second time. This was a costly
goal for Kenny Dixon who had told a Denbigh supporter that he would give him
his gloves if Phil Evans scored twice. It was therefore a nail biting end to
the game as Port clung on in a game which they should have won comfortably.
Remarked Colin Hawkins at the end "We should ban half times" in future Port
games!

PORTHMADOG:
K. Dixon, L. Carroll, C. Harrison, S. Flower, L. Webber, C. Banks, D. Evans,
N. Barry, A. Owen, V. Williams (P. Dixon), M. Davies.

Subs not used: C. Barlow, S. Williams