Huws Gray Fitlock Cymru Alliance League

Llangefni Town ...1    Porthmadog ... 1 (played at Valley)

A vital game for Llangefni in their late quest for promotion to the League
of Wales. It was a keenly contested match with the large Anglesey contingent
in the Port line-up adding spice to the occasion. Port were missing 8
regular first-teamers with Gareth Caughter being added to the unavailable
list. It meant also coach Osian Roberts starting his first game of the
season in the Port mid-field.It was never going to be a classic and players
were allowed little time on the ball as flying tackles went in.
    Port started better with Cai Williams and Emyr Jones threatening but
defences on both sides were generally on top and neither keeper was troubled
in the early stages.After 14 mins Richard Hughes went close with a far post
header from a Danny Hughes free-kick. On the half-hour Llangefni threatened
from a free-kick on the edge of the box following a foul by Neil Roberts.
    Then after 40 mins Port created the first real scoring opportunity of
the game which fell to Emyr Jones, after Cai Williams' excellent cross.He
was put clear in front of the goal with only  keeper McGuigan to beat but he
shot tamely wide from 5 yds. Just 2 mins later Port did take the lead when
Alan Jones, who was in fine form on the left side, moved into the centre and
lobbed the ball over McGuigan and into the net. They could have gone further
ahead when, following another good Cai Williams cross, both Emyr Jones and
Richard Hughes failed to make a good enough contact on the ball to beat the
keeper.
    The second-half saw Llangefni in determined mood and all the early play
was concentrated in the Port half. Heavy and sometimes dangerous tackles
flew in and within the space of 2 mins Neil Roberts and Dafydd Evans for the
visitors received yellow cards. Llangefni piled on the pressure and pumped
high balls into the box and from one of these Graham Austin headed wide when
well placed.
    Port, however, continued to threaten on the counter-attack with the pace
and skill of Alan Jones and the strength of Emyr Jones keeping the home
defence at full stretch. Emyr Jones shot wide following a fine through ball
by Dafydd Evans. For all their huffing and puffing Llangefni failed to
create a clear chance during the 90 mins. The Port defence was resolute
under the high ball with the defensive headers of Gibbs, Danny and Richard
Hughes keeping the home team at bay. In front of them Neil Roberts,Osian
Roberts, Martin Jones and Dafydd Evans all put in sterling tackles.
    Then when it seemed that Port had won the 'Battle of the Valley'
controversy raised its ugly head. With the ball cleared into the Llangefni
half following a corner, the linesman stood with his flag raised high. After
discussion the referee awarded Llangefni a hotly disputed penalty. In injury
time up stepped Andrew Wagstaffe and, under intense pressure, coolly placed
the ball past Tony Roberts into the net.
    A controversial ending to Port's 'might have been' season but the
Llangefni dream still lives on.

Llangefni T. McGuigan, Arwyn Hughes, Jason Thomas, Wagstaffe, John Roberts,
Corrigan, Gerallt Jones, Richard Evans, Emrys Jones, Rheon Rowlands, Graham
Austin.
Subs : Sinnett, Osian Roberts, Bryant.

Port: Tony Roberts, Neil Roberts, Gibbs, Danny Hughes, Richard Hughes, Cai
Williams, Dafydd Evans, Osian Roberts, Martin Jones, Emyr Jones (Owain Tudur
Jones), Alan Jones.
Sub not used: Steve Smith.

Iwan Gareth.

Huws Gray Fitlock Cymru Alliance League

Porthmadog .... 1  Lex XI ..... 5

Prior to the match the home manager, Viv Williams, received the league's
Manager of the Month Award for the second time in three months, a deserved
reward for the club's outstanding form since the turn of the year. His team
however proceeded to give it's worst performance of the season in falling to
their heaviest defeat of the season.
    It was, however a much depleted Port side which turned out today,
missing seven regular first team players and lacking the fluent passing that
they have displayed all season.. But it would be unfare to detract from the
Lex victory, for they were clearly more up for it from the opening minutes
of this end of season encounter. They set the early pace and forced two
corners in the first 2 mins. Then after 9 mins referee C Allen of Wrexham
gave the first of three amazing penalty decisions with the offence known
only to the man in the middle. This was a decision which brought chuckles
from the Lex dugout. Unfortunately for the visitors Gary Penlington struck
the ball wide of Tony Roberts' right post.
    Lex continued to apply pressure with both Penlington and Buxton a source
of threat to the home defence. Towards the middle of the half the home team
came more into the game with some good breaks along the right and their best
efforts came from Emyr Jones who shot just wide and a powerful 30 yarder
from Neil Roberts which went over the bar.Buxton should have opened the
scoring for Lex after 41 mins when he headed tamely when well placed from a
fine Mark Williams right wing cross.
    After 41 mins, however the visitors did open the scoring when Scott
Roberts cut in from the right and from 18 yds his shot took a wicked
deflection  giving Tony Roberts no chance in the Port goal.

    In the second period Lex again opened well but the first chance fell to
Port, when Emyr Jones withstood a buffeting to cross well for Cai Williams,
whose shot was well saved by Durkin. Just after the hour the visitors
increased their lead when Dave Cunnah scored the first of his three goals
with a hard low drive from the edge of the box with Tony Roberts unsighted
by his own defenders.
    Lex continued to threaten and Penlington's low cross only needed a
slight touch but it eluded everybody. Cunnah's second came after 74 mins
when he burst through unopposed to score a good individual goal. Port strove
to get themselves back into the game but poor first touch in the box or a
poor final pass ruined their efforts to get on the score sheet. Their goal
came, finally, courtesy of Mr. Allen's second mystery penalty which was
confidently converted by Dafydd Evans after 83 mins.
    Any hope Port had of making a last minute recovery disappeared when
Warren Gibbs was adjudged to have fouled in the box despite winning the ball
with a well judged tackle. For his pains he also received a yellow card from
Mr. Allen. Cunnah duly completed his hat-trick from the spot after 88 mins.
Port's last fling came when Emyr Jones was put through by player coach Osian
Roberts, only for Durkin to make a good save with his legs.The final goal
came in injury time when the home keeper failed to hold a fierce drive from
the inevitable Cunnah, with Penlington on hand to score from the rebound.
    A day which Port will want to forget and none more so than skipper
Martin Jones for the day he was voted Supporters Player of the Year was
tarnished by his team's  lack lustre performance.

Port: Tony Roberts, Martin Jones, Gibbs, Richard Hughes, Steve Smith,( Alan
Jones) Neil Roberts, Dafydd Evans, Danny Hughes, Gareth Caughter, Emyr
Jones, Cai Williams( Osian Roberts).

Sub not used: Owain Tudur Jones.

Lex XI: Durkin, Churchill, Barnes, Kevin Jones, Beaumont, Holmans, Scott
Roberts, Dave Cunnah, Penlington, Buxton, Mark Williams.

Subs: Colin Old, Sean Jones.

Iwan Gareth.

Huws-Gray Fitlock Cymru Alliance League.

PORTHMADOG.....2 BRYMBO BROUGHTON.....0

     Port had only managed a narrow victory against the same opposition last
week, having been reduced to ten men for most of the match. They
knew,though, that the team placed one position from bottom would be no push
overs. Such a view was justified, with Brymbo controlling long periods of
the game, especially in the second half when Port seemed content to sit on
their one goal interval lead.

    Port had  a  host of chances in the first half, but in the absence of
goal-getter, Carl Owen these were squandered. Port however, should have
taken the lead on 9 minutes with Dafydd Evans chipping a great ball into the
box, but Gareth Caughter missed the target after turning well in the box.
Port clearly missed the creative influence of Steven Pugh, injured in
Wednesday's clash at Buckley. Much of the action for Port in the last third
of the pitch was initiated by Danny Hughes and Dafydd Evans. A cross by
Hughes on the 24 minute nearly created a good chance for Emyr Jones, but was
beaten to the ball by Brymbo goalie Simon Clemence. Then on the half hour,
Evans was the provider but Emyr Jones was pulled back on the side of the box
by Paul Jones.

    Then in the 37th minute, Port finally took the lead after Gareth
Caughter had been fouled on the right of the box. Caughter himself netted
after being the first to reach Mike Foster's quickly taken free kick. Port
had a few more chances to add to this score, with Gareth Caughter, Richard
Hughes and Emyr Jones all coming close. However, matters could have been
level two minutes from the interval when Martin Plant beat his man and with
home keeper Tony Roberts failing to get a grip on his shot, the ball went
straight to Andy Wynne whose shot Roberts could not control. The ball was
finally cleared to safety following a goal mouth scramble.

    Port seemed content to sit back in the second half and made little
impact in the opening 20 minutes. The visitors had a good chance to level
things on five minutes when Mike Foster did well to disposess Kevin Breeze
after Dave Bloor's through ball. Foster was Port's saviour again, a few
minutes later, when he made a last gasp tackle to stop Andy Wynne. Dion
Jones had the best chance to net for the visitors when he hit the ball just
over the crossbar when he only had Tony Roberts to beat.

    Port suffered another blow to add to their growing number of players
unavailable due to a mixture of injuries and suspensions, when Richard
Hughes limped off in the 65th minute. It wasn't until the last 15 minutes
that Port started to apply any real pressure on the Brymbo defence, to try
and add to their first half lead. One of their first decent passing moves in
Brymbo's half during the second period resulted in a goal. Port coach Osian
Roberts, making a rare appearance, made a telling  pass inside toward Danny
Hughes on the side of the box. Hughes left his marker standing before
unleashing a shot that left Simon Clemence with no chance.

    Then on 38 minutes came another fine opportunity for the hosts following
a foul on Osian Roberts by Shaun Edwards who was awarded a yellow card for
his troubles. Kevin Roberts' header from the free kick could only be cleared
for a corner, and Emyr Jones was unlucky when his header was stopped on the
line. But the danger wasn't over for Brymbo until Kevin Roberts' attempted
lob, went only inches over the crossbar. Port were now in the driving seat,
with a string of chances falling to Gareth Caughter, Danny Hughes, Emyr
Jones and Warren Gibbs who saw his goal disallowed in injury time.

    It was not Port's best performance of the season, with Brymbo creating
plenty of chances in the second half. On today's performance it was clear
that Brymbo's lowly league position is less than they deserve. Viv's
selection headaches will worsen considerably for next Saturday's home clash
against Lex, with Mike Foster and Kevin Roberts - both suspended - as well
as Richard Hughes (injured), joining the ranks of the end of season
unavailable.

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

Subs not used: O. Jones, S. Smith.

Brymbo Broughton:
S. Clemence, P. Jones, K. Wynne, G. Wynne, G. Williams, S. Edwards, M.
Plant, A. Wynne, K. Breeze, D. Bloor, Dion Jones.

Subs: Darren Jones, A. Billington, K. Smith.

Iwan Gareth.

Huws Gray Fitlock Cymru Alliance League

Buckley Town .. 1  Porthmadog ... 1

A hard fought encounter with defences by and large dominating. Buckley put
on the early pressure and forced a corner after 3 mins. Mike Lewis came
close for the home team when his shot went just over the bar. After
weathering these attacks the visitors took increasing control of matters and
after 10 mins Coady came close following good work by Pugh.
    Port were unlucky to lose the services of danger man Pugh after only 17
mins when he pulled up with hamstring trouble. Port however continued to
apply the pressure with Buckley only threatening with occasional counter
attacks. From one of these former Port star Dave Taylor should have done
better with only the keeper to beat. The visitors, however, should have
opened the scoring after 29 mins when chances fell to Emyr Jones and Richard
Hughes, but the Buckley defence scrambled the ball away for a corner.After
34 mins Port appeals for a penalty, when a defender appeared to handle on
the line,  were turned down. In the closing stages of the first half Pearce
and then Collins came close for Buckley but half -time was reached without a
goal.
    The second-half opened as the first with the home team on the attack and
Port defender Warren Gibbs was called upon to make two good defensive
headers to keep Buckley at bay.After 50 mins Coady came close for Port when
his dipping shot from 18 yds went a whisker over the bar. Port again
threatened after 67 mins when keeper Turner dropped a cross under pressure
from Emyr Jones but the ball was cleared. Jones again looked certain to
score when he drove powerfully from Richard Hughes' fine cross. He was
foiled by a diving save by Turner in the Buckley goal.
    The stalemate was broken, however, after 74 mins. Buckley's Terry Cook
sent in a blistering 25 yd drive which was brilliantly pushed away by Tony
Roberts in the visitors goal, but only into the path of sub Dean Hardstaff
who drove into the net from close range. Then with 5 mins left it seemed
likely that Buckley would complete the double over the visitors but Foster
sent over a long corner from the right which was well taken by Emyr Jones
and driven into the net..
    In the end a draw appeared to be a fair return for the evening's efforts
by both sides. Port will, however, be concerned to have picked up two more
bad injuries -Steve Pugh and Lewis Coady- to add to their growing list.

Buckley :Turner,Harrison, Cook, Lee Collins, Lee Jones, Phil Hinchcliffe,
Geoff Hinchcliffe, Mike Lewis, Pearce, Taylor, Danny Collins.
Subs: Scott, Hardstaff, Lee Davies.

Port: Tony Roberts, Martin Jones, Warren Gibbs, Mike Foster, Neil Roberts,
Dafydd Evans, Richard Hughes, Lewis Coady (Osian Roberts), Kevin Roberts,
Steve Pugh ( Cai Williams, Gareth Caughter) Emyr Jones.

Iwan Gareth

Huws-Gray Fitlock Cymru Alliance League

Brymbo Broughton.....1 Porthmadog.....2

Port started poorly in the first half, giving Brymbo too much respect and
tending to sit back too leaving Emyr Jones to play the lone strikers role. C
Broadhurst had a chance to put the hosts in front in the second minute, but
his shot, when free in the box, went just wide. A Wynne also came close for
the hosts early on, and after 22 minutes it seemed Port would  face
an uphill strugle when Kevin Roberts was given his marching orders following
the use of bad language. An over reaction by ref Mathew Bridges who it must
be said didn't have the best of games. This decision, if something, spurred
Port to push forward with Lewis Coady coming close with a long range
attempt. But things shortly looked pretty black with Plant giving Brymbo the
lead following a through ball from A Wynne, leaving him with only Tony
Roberts to beat. A Wynne himself had a chance to add to the scoring, but
pressure applied upon him by Neil Roberts meant that his hurried shot went
wide. Port pushed forward in the closing minutes, with Steven Pugh
attempting a long ranger after beating two opponents. Then a clumsy high
footed challenge by K Wynne lead to Danny Hughes being cut just above his
left eye. Wynne was awarded a yellow card for his troubles, but it seemed
rough justice that foul language should be more heavily punished than high
feet. The ten men were trailing at half time and it seemed a tall order to
overturn the deficit.

Port went at their opponents with greater urgency in the second half, and
after only 2 minutes had levelled proceedings, with usual provider Steven
Pugh becoming the scorer, heading home well from a great left footed cross
by Dafydd
Evans. The same combination gave Port the lead six minutes later, Evans this
time with a through ball to Pugh who held off the defender too coolly net
his second.The opening 8 mins of the second-half were to prove decisive and
the game was decided during this period. Emyr Jones came close for Port on
the hour after Lewis Coady had
set him up. The best chances on the other side fell to A. Wynne and Plant
who forced Tony Roberts to make a fine save. Port also had a narrow escape
on
70 minutes, after Warren Gibbs'  attempted header to keeper Roberts only got
as far as
Kevin Breeze, but C Broadhurst's shot went across the face of the goal.
Dafydd Evans nearly made it a hat-trick of assists to cap another good
performance, but Emyr Jones couldn't quite control the ball. The game was
spoiled to an extent by a poor performance by the ref whose only defence was
that he was consistent in his treatment of both sides with a hatful of
cards issued in a game that hardly saw a bad tackle. Port coach Osian
Roberts, taking to the field for the first time, was awarded a yellow card
for a tame challenge.

Port's good run of form continues, with their record since the turn of the
year speaking for itself. Out of the 42 points on offer, they have managed
to snap up 35.

Port:
T. Roberts, W. Gibbs, M. Foster, N. Roberts, M. Jones, L. Coady (G.
Caughter), D. Hughes, D. Evans, S. Pugh, K. Roberts, E. Jones (O. Roberts)

Sub not used: O. Jones.

Brymbo Broughton:
K. Anders, P. Jones, S. Wynne, K. Wynne, T. Mannuel, S. Edwards, M. Plant,
P.Jones, C. Broadhurst, K. Breeze, A. Wynne.

Subs: D. Jones, K. Smith, P. Hollinshead.

Iwan.