Porthmadog.....2 Rhuthun.....1

    Port were without Carl Owen as they got back to the nitty-gritty after
the emphatic 10 goal thrashing of Holywell at the weekend. They faced a
stern challenge today against Rhuthun, a team that have proved to be their
bogey side since returning to the Cymru Alliance. From the off it was clear
that Rhuthun would pose Tony Roberts in the Port goal far more problems than
he had encountered against Holywell on Saturday. Neil Davies' header came
off the post in the fifth minute, but was somehow prevented from crossing
the line by the Port back line. A few minutes later, Port had another lucky
escape when Calvin Davies' shot was stopped on the line.

    At the other end, Steven Pugh surged into the Rhuthun box, but was
stopped by a good tackle from Richard Cooke, minutes later Emyr Jones was
adjudged to be off-side after being set free by Dafydd Evans, who had
another good hard-working performance in central mid-field. Evans wasn't far
off the mark himself on 17 mines when his long range attempt went only
inches over the bar. Kevin Roberts was also influential, creating chances
with his breaks down the left. Meanwhile, Tony Roberts was called to action
again on the opposite end, forced to make a brilliant save to deny Neil
Davies.

    Things looked  black for the hosts on the half hour when Mike Foster was
harshly sent off after a mis-timed challenge on Richard Cooke. The fouled
led to an extreme reaction from the Rhuthun players, with a Rhuthun player
warning Foster that he was going to "see you later!" Emyr Jones came close
more than once, being stopped by some over-zealous defending by Rhuthun.
Neil Roberts made another long-range effort on 37 minutes, as Port started
to mount more pressure on the opposition's defence. Emyr Jones was stopped
by a last-gasp Rob Jones tackle, but second's later he had given Port the
lead - he controlled the high ball, coolly beating Rhuthun stand-in goalie
Colin Caton, a Colwyn Bay outfield player, and tapping into the empty net.

    In the second half, Port opted for a more cautious approach, as the ten
men tried to maintain their slender one goal cushion, with Emyr Jones
playing the lone striker. Rhuthun took advantage of this more defence minded
play by Port with Huw Price coming close early on and Tony Roberts had to
make a good save to keep out Richard Cooke's long range attempt and danger
was somehow averted after a goal mouth scramble. Rhuthun received a set-back
when Llion Roberts had to be stretchered off after tackling Emyr Jones on a
run on goal, but following treatment Roberts was able to return to the field
of play.

    Port's best chance came when Steven Pugh made a good run beating his
man, but delayed his shot and was disposessed at the side of the box. Two
minutes from time it seemed that Rhuthun had salvaged a point when Trystan
Prosser powerfully drove home from a corner that was flicked on in his
direction. His shot left Tony Roberts with no chance to keep the sheet
clean. This spurred Port back into action, with Steven Pugh putting Rhuthun
under pressure, and Kevin Roberts coming very close with his shot. But with
four minutes of injury time played, and Port settling for another point
against their bogey side, the saviour came in the shape of sub Richard
Hughes who headed home at the far post from a, last minute Dafydd Evans,
corner.
    A hard working performance by 10 man Porthmadog just about deserved the
narrow victory.

Port:
T. Roberts, M. Jones, W. Gibbs, M, Foster, N. Roberts, S. Pugh, D. Evans, D.
Hughes, G. Caughter (R. Hughes), K. Roberts, E. Jones (C. Williams)

Sub not used: O. Jones

Rhuthun:
C. Caton, E. Jones, G. Lloyd, R. Rones, L. Roberts, R. Cooke, H. Price, C.
Davies, N. Davies, T. Prosser, M. Entwistle.

Subs: R. Beech, S. Hulse, G. Harris.

Iwan Gareth.

Huws Gray Fitlock Cymru Alliance League  Sat. April 14th.

Porthmadog 10 .... Holywell Town ...0

For once this season Port scored the goals which their excellent approach
work deserved. It represented a dismal return for Holywell player-manager
Paul Aigbogun to the club where he spent two seasons as coach. The Holywell
team, showing six changes of personnel since the two teams last met in
February,  started promisingly enough with Carl Lomax and Steve Lester
posing problems for the home defence with some speedy movements.
    The pattern of the game was completely changed by three right wing
corners by Mike Foster. The first came after 9 mins when Emyr Jones opened
the scoring with a header beyond Andy Hughes in the visitors goal. After 22
mins defender Warren Gibbs converted another Foster corner with a looping
header into the top corner. The third after 25 mins was, initially, punched
out by keeper Hughes but only as far as Danny Hughes who controlled the ball
and then drove powerfully into the corner of the net from 18 yds. It was 3-0
and Holywell's confidence was at a very low ebb.
    Four minutes later and Emyr Jones scored his second from close range as
the visitors' defence stood and watched Martin Jones' long ball into the box
from the right. Emyr Jones could have completed a first-half hat-trick when
his header from a Pugh cross struck the cross-bar before being scrambled to
safety. Holywell's first-half woes were not over for the fifth goal came
from the best move of the match after 43 mins. Three men combined -first a
defence splitting pass from Danny Hughes freed Steve Pugh on the right and
his  cross was driven low into the net by Carl Owen.
    Porthmadog came out in the second-half determined not to ease-up. Five
minutes after the re-start Carl Owen fastened on to a long ball from the
back and lobbed over the keeper to make it 6-0. Then Pugh, who continued his
outstanding run of form, came close to adding to the score on two occasions.
Carl Owen completed his hat-trick after 66 mins when he scored after being
put through by Gareth Caughter's excellent pass. Three minutes later and
Emyr Jones also completed his hat-trick when he converted Carl Owen's header
following another fine Pugh cross.
    Carl Owen and Emyr Jones helped themselves again before the end to make
it four goals apiece for the destructive strike pair. Owen shot in off the
post after 70 mins and then five mins later supplied Emyr Jones with a pass
in the box for the tenth and final goal. The Holywell team were totally
disillusioned and were relieved that Port did not add to their tally in the
final quarter of an hour.
    This was not only a story of strikers helping themselves it was a case
of moves being set up from the back with Mike Foster and Neil Roberts in
outstanding form.

Porthmadog: Tony Roberts, Martin Jones(Owain Tudur Jones 14), Warren Gibbs,
Mike Foster,Neil Roberts, Steve Pugh, Dafydd Evans( Kevin Roberts 12), Danny
Hughes, Gareth Caughter( Lewis Coady 15), Emyr Jones, Carl Owen.

Holywell Town: Andy Hughes, Lee Sinclair, Lee O'Brien, Paul Aigbogun, Sean
Giblin, Phil Johnson, Carl Pinkney, Jason Bass, Carl Lomax, Steve Lester,
Shane Francis.
Sub: James Hampson.

Iwan Gareth.

North Wales Coast Challenge Cup.

Holyhead Hotspur.....1 Porthmadog.....1 (4-1 pens.)

Port were faced with a problem going into this North Wales Coast Challeng
Cup after Kenny Dixon had not re-gained full fitness from his shoulder
injury. Port's second choice keepers were all cup tied so Steven Pugh had to
give up his outfeild duties to fill the gap between the posts. This seemed
to spur Port onwards in the early minutes, and it took the visitors only 30
seconds to go racing into the lead. A move that started with a Lewis Coady
run down the left before crossing in for Carl Owen to head home to give Port
a lead that seemed initially the beginning of a torrent. But after Port had
dominated the first ten minutes, they found themselves with exactly the same
margin, having failed to capitalize on their further opportunities. Danny
Hughes' spirited run into the box ending in a shot that didn't do his run
any justice.

But after ten minutes of pressure by the visitors, Holyhead started to claw
their way into the match, and it was no suprise when they levelled
proceedings after 15 minutes. Ex-Port striker, Adrian Owen netted after a
good cross by Casey Jones that left Pugh wrong-footed following a move that
was started by Port giving possesion away cheaply in mid-field. Gareth
Caughter had a great opportunity to restore Port's lead on 25 minutes, when
his attemped shot from the side of the box was tapped just over by Dylan
Pritchard. Port's other chances in the first half fell to Gareth Caughter
and Campbell Harrison, with Kevin Roberts firing wide twice after finding
himself in good positions. There were two scares on the other side of the
pitch when Adrian Owen shot well over twice when it seemed that a goal  for
the hosts was inevitable.

Port took greater control of proceedings in the second 45, with Lewis Coady
putting in one of his best performances since his return to the Traeth as
Port had the lion share of the early second half possesion. Dafydd Evans
made a good run into the Holyhead danger-zone on five minutes but his pass
to Carl Owen was prevented by a suspected hand-ball in the box, but all the
appeals fell on deaf years. Minutes later a second penalty appeal was given
the same response as Coady fell victim to Holyhead's tough tackling in the
hosts box. Hotspur's best chance came from an Adrian Owen free kick, that
was somehow headed clear by the Port defence. Owen came close againon 75
minutes, but was kept at bay by a good save from Steven Pugh. Port's best
chances came to Gareth Caughter whose shot went only inches wide, and Lewis
Coady who forced Dylan Pritchard to make a fine save.

Despite plenty of chances on both sides of the pitch, the scoreline remained
at one-all on 90 minutes, and because of the lack of light it was decided to
do without extra time and go straight for the penalty shoot-out. It was
always going to be an up-hill strugle for Port with an outfield player in
goal. Adrian Owen, Colin Tatlock, Dave Williams and Jason Joyce all netted
with few problems for the visitors. But, after Carl Owen netted Port's first
penalty, things didn't quite go Port's way with Dafydd Evans and Danny
Hughes both missing their spot-kicks to give Holyhead the win and the key to
the next round. Port's last chance to pick up any silverware for the cabinet
this season had disappeared.

Holyhead H:
1. D. Pritchard, 2. N. Jatt, 3. A. Doutch, 4. M. Bohana, 5. J. Parry, 6. J.
Mceachen, 7. C. Jones, 8. D. Williams, 9. A. Owen, 10. J. Joyce, 11. T.
Williams.

Subs: 12. K. Hazelaar, 14 C. Tatlock,15. A. Cooke.

Port:
1. S. Pugh, 2. M. Jones, 3. C. Harrison (14. N. Roberts), 4. R. Hughes, 5.
M. Foster, 6. D. Evans, 7. D. Hughes, 8. L. Coady, 9. K. Roberts, 10. C.
Owen, 11. L. Coady.

Subs not used: 12. W. Gibbs, 15. K. Dixon.

Iwan Gareth.

Huws Gray Fitlock Cymru Alliance League.

Porthmadog ... 2  Flint Town United ... 1

Flint with their new squad of players opened brightly showing pace and
skill. They forced two consecutive corners after 6 mins and it needed a good
Neil Roberts tackle to keep the visitors out. Port soon settled down and set
about breaking the Flint offside trap. In the 10th min Kevin Roberts broke
clear behind the Flint defence but squared the ball when he had a good
opportunity to go for goal.Then Carl Owen also broke the trap and it needed
a last ditch tackle by Darren Williams to prevent a shot on goal.
    After 16 mins Steve Pugh, who was a constant thorn in the visitors'
side, broke down the right and cut inside beating three defenders in the
process, before unleashing a powerful shot past Forgie and into the net, to
open the scoring.  A succession of chances for the home team were then
spurned. First Kevin Roberts was put clean through from Carl Owen's flicked
header only to see his shot blocked by the advancing keeper Forgie. Then
Pugh fed Danny Hughes with a low cross into the box only for the shot to go
straight at the keeper and after 32 mins Carl Owen headed over the bar from
Kevin Roberts' excellent cross. Just before half-time Hussaney almost
punished the home team for these wasted opportunities when headed just over
the bar following a left wing free-kick.
    Flint started the second-half in determined mood and within a minute
they were on level terms when  Simon Donahuge  created space for himself in
the Port box and and finished off the move himself in style. For a period
then Flint threatened to go on and win the game but gradually Port worked
themselves back into the game with Pugh again prominent. He shot just over
following an Emyr Jones cross from the right and Pugh and Emyr Jones again
combined to create an opening for Kevin Roberts.
    The winning goal came in the 80th minute, and inevitably it was Pugh who
proved himself the match-winner. He broke along the right and then cut into
the box before squaring a perfect ball for Carl Owen to tap into the net.
The second-half was a far more even affair than the first, but this is
turning into a might have been season for Port, with their failure to score
with a consistency that their approach play merits. On this occasion they
freed themselves from gaol thanks to Steven Pugh.

Port: Tony Roberts, Martin Jones, Gibbs, Foster, Harrison, Pugh,Danny
Hughes, Neil Roberts, Coady(Emyr Jones), Kevin Roberts, Carl Owen.
Subs not used: Stuart Williams, Owain Tudur Jones.

Flint: Forgie, Darren Williams, Hannam, Stuart Hughes, Wheeler, Peter
Hughes, Barton, Bennett, Donahuge, Hussaney, Vickers.
Subs: Taylor, Horne.

Iwan Gareth.

Huws Gray Fitlock Cymru Alliance League

Welshpool ..3  Porthmadog ..1

Porthmadog went to Welshpool on the back of a run of 9 games without defeat
and six without conceding a goal but both these records came to an end when
the second placed team met fourth in the league. Welshpool started the
better and Tony Roberts -deputising for the injured Dixon-  had to make an
early save from Joel Kinsey. They were fortunate to survive the first 5 mins
without conceding. Then however they settled down and soon Steve Pugh was
threatening on the right and was unlucky not to open the scoring when his
powerful shot bounced to safety after hitting the foot of the post. Then at
the other end Roberts had to tip over from the dangerous Rob Cookson. At the
other end there was  a fine sweeping move by Carl Owen and Kevin Roberts
only for Roberts to shoot over.
    Then after 36 mins the deadlock was broken when a fine run and low cross
by Rob Cookson, who had been a constant threat on the left, found Craig
Davies who shot low into the net.The visitors' proud record of 643 mins of
play without conceding a goal came to an end. On 40 mins the home team
should have doubled their lead when Cookson this time supplied Ian Evans but
he shot into the side netting when well placed.
    The second-half started with Port enjoying the lion's share of the
possession and territorial advantage but despite good efforts by Pugh and
Harrison they failed to break down a Welshpool defence well marshalled by
captain Joel Kinsey. Welshpool on the other hand made better use of their
more limited possession and took the chances that presented themselves.
After 63 mins the Port defence stood off and Gary Evans took full advantage
with a fine lofted left foot shot into the net from 18 yds.
    Port struggled to get back into the game, though they still enjoyed more
of the play, and Dafydd Evans put in a good 35 yd effort which brought a
good save from Goodwin in the home goal. Then after 79 mins came the
breakthrough, when sub Neil Roberts saw his 25 yd shot take a slight
deflection to beat Goodwin. The revival was, however, short lived for
Welshpool replied immediately when Chris Roberts cut in from they right and
from 18 yds drove left footed high and beyond Roberts outstretched arms to
restore the home team's 2 goal advantage.
    The game was now beyond the visitors and they will have to hope that on
another day their  scoring matches the  consistency of their approach play.
Welshpool on the other hand will be more than pleased with their double over
Porthmadog for it enables them to keep the pressure on league leaders
Caernarfon.

Welshpool: Goodwin, Lee Davies, Rob Cookson, Ingram, M. Evans, J Kinsey, Ian
Evans, Gary Evans, Craig Davies, Chris Roberts, Geraint Windsor.
Subs: McGill, Pryce, Bishop.

Port: Tony Roberts, Martin Jones, Gibbs, D. Hughes, Harrison, Evans, Pugh,
Coady (Foster), R Hughes (Stuart Williams), Carl Owen, Kevin Roberts (Neil
Roberts) .

Gareth Williams.

Huws Gray Fitlock Cymru Alliance League

Porthmadog .... 2  Denbigh Town ...... 0

The home side made heavy weather of gaining the 3 points in a game which
they totally dominated for long periods. From the start their passing game
put the visitors under pressure. After 5 mins Pope, in the Denbigh goal  had
to rush out to cut out a good Carl Owen run and soon after Kevin Roberts was
threatening after a neat chipped pass by Evans.Denbigh, however came closest
to scoring in the early exchanges when Derry Morris' near post header went
inches past following an accurate Matty Williams corner.
    Port then forced a series of corners around the half-hour mark and
although the ball bobbed dangerously around the Denbigh area the home side
failed to take advantage. By now Pugh on the right side for Port was
creating huge problems for the visitors' defence with his clever runs and
accurate crosses. After 35 mins he made a fine solo run into the heart of
the defence only to see his finish slip agonisingly on the wrong side of the
upright. Then on the stroke of half-time he sent another accurate cross but
no forward managed to get the finishing touch.The Denbigh goal had led a
charmed life but at half-time there were no goals.
    The second -half  started as the first had finished with the home side
on the offensive and still unable to convert their chances. Then Pugh, after
54 mins, cut in from the right and surged into the area at speed and just as
he prepared to shoot he was brought down by Craig Harker. The referee Elwyn
Jones pointed to the spot and Dafydd Evans converted confidently. Pugh was
soon at it again breaking on the right and squaring it only for Carl Owen's
shot to be blocked. Then after 62 mins, following a short corner on the
right, Pugh cut along the bye-line and his low cross was shot into the roof
of the net by Warren Gibbs from 12 yds.
    Denbigh were not about to surrender and towards the end they had their
best period of the game. First a good cross by Stuart Roberts had to be
scrambled away for a corner and then after 78 mins Mervyn Williams,
deputising for the injured Kenny Dixon, was called upon to make a fine
save -his first of the match- following good work on the left by Neil
Walker. The Port defence however held to complete their 6th successive clean
sheet. They have now played 587 mins of football since they last conceded a
goal!! They have collected 23 pts out of 27 in the last 9 games.The closing
minutes of the game were marred by a nasty injury to Denbigh's full-back
Will Kirby who was taken to hospital with a suspected fractured leg.

Port: Mervyn Williams, Martin Jones, Warren Gibbs, Danny Hughes, Cambell
Harrison, Dafydd Evans, Richard Hughes( Neil Roberts), Pugh, Caughter
 Stuart Williams), Carl Owen( Emyr Jones)

Denbigh Pope, Andrews, Kirby, Murray, Harker, Mason, Matty Williams, John
Jones, Derry Morris, Stuart Roberts, Walker.
Subs: Slater, Simon Jones, Speakman.
Gareth Williams

PORTHMADOG.....0 CEMAES BAY.....0

Port did not want this match to take place due to the foot and mouth crisis,
but were put under great pressure by the League to play the game.
Football-wise it was a good thing that the league did take this action, with
a thoroughly entertaining match taking place, with Port making good use of
the excellent surface that suited passing football. This was a match
that saw plenty of action at both ends, the hosts perhaps just shading it,
but failing, in the absence of Carl Owen, to take advantage of good approach
work. Ex-Port pair Robert Williams and Paul Whelan created for the Bay, but
the home defence, that lacked the presence of Mike Foster and Warren Gibbs,
managed to keep them at bay.

    It was Port that took the early initiative, putting pressure on the
Anglesey visitors from the off, but had little to show for this by way of
attempts on goal. Gareth Caughter just missing the target following a long
range effort. On ten minutes, they could have been punished for this failure
in the last third when Robert Williams broke down the left, but this was
well foiled by Martin Jones who controlled the ball well. Port's grip on the
game however continued, with pressure increasing on the Cemaes goal with
Dafydd Evans, Gareth Caughter and Kevin Roberts all coming close. But as the
half went on, Cemaes started to gain more possesion and increase the
pressure
on the home defence. Kenny Dixon did well to prevent Robert Williams, but
unfortunately injured himself in the process, in a move that was initiated
by ex-Traeth favourite, Cemaes Bay player manager Paul Whelan. On 29
minutes,
the visitors should have taken the lead, but Darren Jones failed to control
the ball, after finding himself clear in the box.

    This close escape spurred Port back into the driving seat for the
remainder of the half, and indeed, Emyr Jones was unlucky not to have headed
the hosts ahead. He failed to get enough contact on the ball after a good
cross into the box by Steven Pugh, who has shown clear signs of returning to
his best in the last few games. Pugh came close to being the scorer a few
minutes later, after doing well to keep the ball in play, beating his man,
only to see his effort on goal hit the side netting. There followed
chances on both ends, but somehow the game on the half remained scoreless.

    Things continued much the same for the most part of the second half with
Port enjoying the lion share of the possesion although it was the visitors
that had the first chance of the half, with Neil Hughes' shot coming off the
woodwork. Emyr Jones came close more than once for Port, first with a header
from an excellent Campbell Harrison cross, and then after finding himself
clear on the
side of the box. He was in the right place, but unfortunately failed to hit
the mark.

    This period for Port saw a lot of good work down the left by Harrison
and
Caughter, both in a good spell of form. But it was far from being one-way
traffic, with Cemaes creating a few problems, most notably when they gained
three consecutive corners, but this was not enough to beat that member of
the walking
wounded -Kenny Dixon who gained his fifth consecutive clean-sheet. Port's
pressure however continued, Dafydd Evans coming close, before Steven Pugh
should have done better, after he had been sent through by Emyr Jones.  Less
than a minute later it seemed that the breakthrough had come for the hosts,
when Kevin Roberts found himself clear in the box after brilliant work by
Gareth Caughter, but his shot went just
inches wide when he should really have scored. Port's unbeaten run therefore
extended to eight games, but it should have been six straight wins.

Port: Dixon, Martin Jones, Richard Hughes, Danny Hughes, Harrison, Evans,
Pugh, Coady (S Williams), Caughter, Kevin Roberts, Emyr Jones (Neil
Roberts).

Subs not used: Osian Roberts.

Cemaes: David Stufhelder, Cemlyn Williams, Richard Owen, Terry Saynor, Ryan
Davies, Darren Jones, Marc Owens, Paul Whelan, Robert Williams, Mark Turner,
Neil Hughes.

Subs: P. Tilbury, Emyr Rowlands, Colin Hughes.

Iwan Gareth.