Brymbo Broughton ..0 Porthmadog ..2
Porthmadog gained their third successive league win tonight after playing
the opening 13 mins with only eight players. This was caused by the late
arrival of Cambell Harrison, Simon Flower, Stuart Williams and sub Matthew
Hughes. Poor fixture organisation meant a 6.30 pm kick off and this meant
rushing after work for several visiting players-a situation which could
easily have been avoided.What a way to run a league -one down from the
League of Wales!
Brymbo failed to take advantage of their three player advantage in the
opening quarter. Indeed the first half was eminently forgetable. Brymbo
managed only one real strike on goal and that called for a fine diving save
from Kenny Dixon. Brymbo enjoyed the territorial advantage and Port managed
no worthwhile efforts to threaten the Brymbo goal.
The second-half proved entirely different with Port threatening from the
start. Good pressure brought three corners in quick succession, without
finding the target, and a good 30 yd shot by Dafydd Evans which was well
saved by Andrews in the Brymbo goal.The best effort came on the hour when
Viv Williams headed just over from a good Harrison cross. Then 8 mins later
and Port were in the lead with a genuine route one goal, of which Wimbledon
would be justifiably proud. Flowers' long clearance bounced over the Brymbo
defence where Viv Williams was quickest to react and lobbed over Andrews and
into the net.A well deserved lead considering the non-stop pressure which
they applied.
Brymbo's main contribution of the half were two nasty fouls which
probably deserved more than yellow cards. Play was held up for several
minutes on both occasions with Kenny Dixon being fortunate to escape without
a serious head injury. After 81 mins came a fine individual goal which
settled the match. Port defender, Lee Webber, burst through from his own
half and, as the home defence opened before him, he kept his composure and
finished his run with a fine drive placed beyond the keeper into the corner
of the net. As darkness descended Port ran out worthy winners.
Brymbo: K Andrews, Manuel, C Andrews, Williams, Edwards, Plant, Hillbert,
Robinson, Goodwin, Jones, Phelan, Subs: Huckner, Bloor, Ainge.
Port: Dixon, Harrison, Flowers, Webber, Banks, Stuart Williams, Barry,
Richard Hughes, Evans, V Williams(Matthew Hughes) Alan Jones(Steve P
Williams) Sub not used Caughter.
Porthmadog....2 Holywell Town........1
A game played between two sides who will feel that they have under-performed
this season. However there was little to suggest, in the first half, that
either side deserves any better than their mid table positions.Little of
note happened in the half and the game bore all the hallmarks of a
meaningless end of season encounter. Then as often happens the team which
enjoys territorial advantage are made to pay for their lack of penetration.
After 43 mins Holywell launched the ball over the static home defence for
Ryan Hill to race on unopposed and coolly place the ball past Dixon in the
Port goal. In the first half Holywell had been well served by their solid
defence in which Murray, Sheil and, former Port player, Paul Osohan were
prominent.
Port came out in the second-half showing more determination and purpose
and after 2mins Alan Jones, who had replaced Gareth Caughter, came close
with a near post header. Another header this time by Viv Williams,after
57mins, was diverted for a corner. Then came Port's best period of the game
with Dafydd Evans and Nigel Barry now dominant and controlling the midfield.
After 67 mins Evans went on a good run from midfield and fed the ball inside
to Adrian Owen, who broke his barren goal scoring spell, with a fine 20yd
drive into the roof of the net.
With the scores level Holywell continued to threaten but mainly by means
of counter-attacks. From one of these it took a fine Banks tackle, after 72
mins, to prevent a goal.Then after 72mins the persistent Nigel Barry worked
the ball out to Viv Williams on the right and he sent a low cross which was
met by Barry again. This time Barry, not a noted goal scorer, looked up and
lobbed the ball over Whitehead, in the Holywell goal, from 18yds. This goal
secured, what had seemed at one time, an unlikely victory for the home side.
A game, which had been for long periods dull and unimaginative, produced
three goals worthy of a better occasion.
Port:Dixon, Harrison, Stuart Williams, Banks, Flower, Webber, Evans, Barry,
Caughter (A Jones)(E Jones), Viv Williams, Owen.Sub not used Steve P
Williams.
Holywell: Whitehead, P.Langley, Murray, Osahan, Sheil, Savage, Parry,
Taylor, Hill, Scully, Sheenan. Subs: Bushell, Poole, K Langley.
by Gareth Williams
Cymru Alliance League Cup Semi-Final
Oswestry Town ...2 Porthmadog ...0 (played at Holywell.)
Oswestry went into the final with a deserved win. They had by far the better
of the first half but all they had to show for it was a disallowed goal by
Neil Pryce.Steve Nunnerly came close after 36 mins but Williams saved well
for Port.
It was goalless at the interval but after 52mins Justin Bridges met a
far post cross to put Oswestry ahead. This was, ironically, followed by
Port's best period of the match and it needed two good saves by Oswestry
keeper Blower to keep out, first Adrian Owen and then Richard Hughes.
After 83 mins came the goal which settled the match when, a mistake by
Webber in the Port defence, allowed Pryce to break on the leftand score.
Late on Port came close when a 20 yd shot by Dafydd Evans hit the foot of
the post.
Oswestry ran out winners, gaining revenge for last season's defeat at
the same stage.
Yes the match clashed with the Wales -Finland game thanks to an FA
Councillor who thought people in North Wales would not be interested in
events at Cardiff. We have a long way to go before football in Wales is
properly organised.
Porthmadog: M Williams, Harrison, Stuart Williams, Banks,R Hughes, Webber, Evans,
Barry, Caughter, Owen, Viv Williams. Subs: Alan Jones, Emyr Jones, Steve P.
Williams.
Oswestry: Blower, Burgess, D Jones, O'Shaunessy, Lee Jones, Hinchcliffe,
Burton, Bridges, Nunnerly, Rogers, Pryce. Subs: R Jones, J Evans, Hunter.
Porthmadog ..3 Corwen ...0
In his programme notes manager Viv Williams said " I feel that the players
have sometimes resorted to playing the ball over the top wheras I want the
ball retained and played more through midfield and played to the feet of
the
forwards". That must be music to the ears of the Traeth faithful.
The game opened with early Port pressure and with the players eager to
prove that they knew exactly what the manager wanted.After 7 mins a corner
on the right for the home team and a flicked header from Viv Williams cross
the goalmouth -only for no one to appear on the back post. Then a few
minutes later a sweeping Port move involving Banks, Caughter, Harrison and
then a final ball in by Viv Williams which Barry just failed to reach.
It was now non -stop Port pressure although after 15 mins Corwen
managed their first attempt on goal when Roberts headed wide following a
free-kick. This was only a brief respite before the inevitable opening
goal.
After 19mins a fine pass by Nigel Barry released Harrison on the right and
his excellent low cross was met by Stuart Williams who scored his first of
the season.
It took 28 mins for Corwen to mount their first serious attack and
Harrison was forced to concede a corner. Three mins later Port went
further
ahead when following a scramble in front of the visitors goal the ball
dropped to Viv Williams who coolly drove it home.
Pressure continued unabated on the visitors goal with sweeping moves on
both flanks and fine crosses, first by Adrian Owen on the right and then
Stuart Williams on the left, deserved to produce goals. After 40 mins it
must have been a relief to the Corwen defence to see a stray dog appear on
the pitch to hold up proceedings. It also gave Ken Dixon in the home goal
his first save of the game.He collected the stray impeccably and handed it
on to chairman Bob Havelock.
This must have stung Corwen into action for Dixon was immediately
called
upon to make a real save to touch over Morris' fierce drive. But a minute
before the end of the half came Port's third goal. Another right wing move
released Adrian Owen whose fine cross was side footed in by Viv Williams
-to
score his 10th goal of the season.
The second-half started with home supporters confident of seeing the 7
goal haul at Corwen being surpassed. This, however, was not to be with
Corwen successfully applying the off-side tactic to frustrate the home
attack. Port continued to dominate the match and there were good runs by
Adrian Owen, sub Allan Jones and Nigel Barry -who had an outstanding game.
As frustration mounted Port resorted more and more to the big boot game
which has proved so unsuccessful during the season. The manager, who had
seen his ideas serve the team so well during the first half, had to comfort
himself with his own programme notes -'....but the new system may take a
bit
more time to get used to..'
Half a loaf is better than no bread and this was the case today for
Port's first-half performance was more than enough to secure the three
points.
Port: Dixon, Harrison, Flower, Webber(SP Williams), Stuart Williams, Banks,
Barry, Evans, Caughter, Owen, V Williams(Alan Jones) sub not used Emyr
Jones.
Corwen: G Pierce A Owen, Morris, Wilson, Davies, R Pierce, Hughes, Roberts,
Drake, Lowe,
Subs: H Jones, A Jones.
