Huws Gray Fitlock Cymru Alliance League Cup Final     Saturday, May 17th
2003, at Llangefni.

Porthmadog .... 4        Buckley Town .... 2    (a.e.t)
Dafydd Evans 14            Andy Neal 33
Dave Lovatt 90(og)        Ryan Harden 78
Dylan Jones 92
Gareth Parry 105.

Port's remarkable season has just gone on and on. Two hours of football on
the final day of the season gave them the League Cup and meant that Viv
Williams' team had completed the treble. That however does not begin to tell
even half the story in what was an amazing come back. With the clock having
reached 90 mins and the referee's watch ticking away the injury time Port
supporters were consolling each other with words like 'you can't expect to
win everything' and 'its been a long season and this is one step too far',
'after all it's the league that counts'. The players were not about to
concede, however, for winning is a habit that they were not about to break.
Defender Campbell Harrison found himself in possession on the right of the
box and broke to the bye-line before delivering a perfect chip to the near
post and defender Dave Lovatt knew he would have to play it, and in the wet
conditions was devastated to see the ball glance off his forehead and into
the net. The referee's whistle blew and we were in for a session of
extra-time.

Over the 90 mins Buckley must have felt that they deserved to win this game
between the Cymru Alliance's two best sides. They adapted better to the very
wet and slippery conditions and managed to play some good football as well.
Port were, however the first to threaten when Dafydd Evans slipped the ball
to Carl Owen to make ground on the right before delivering a fine cross for
Ritchie Owen to test Paul Turner with an early header. At the other end Mike
Lewis tested McGuigan with a well struck free-kick from 25yds. After 14 mins
it was first blood to Port when experienced defender Jeff Hinchcliffe
handled in the box and Dafydd Evans stepped up to make no mistake from the
spot.

Buckley then enjoyed a period of pressure with John Gwynfor saving Port with
a timely tackle at the expense of a corner. The dangerous Ryan Harden gave
the Port defence a scare when he whipped a ball through a crowd of defenders
and past the post. Then after 33 mins full-back Jimmy Harrison received on
the right before delivering a fine ball across the face of the goal for Andy
Neal to rise first and with a neat flicked header beat McGuigan at the far
post.Port worked hard to try to regain the advantage and Gareth Parry with a
good interception in midfield broke forward and struck a good low shot but
straight at Paul Turner in the Buckley goal. They reached half-time on level
terms which was a fair reflection of the play.

In the second half, however, McGuigan in the Port goal was by far the busier
of the two keepers. First he produced a fine low diving save from a Mike
Williams effort. Minutes later he had to touch over an excellent Harden
free-kick and again at full stretch he saved from Darren Williams. The Port
defence was now under serious pressure and Lee Webber gave a heroic
performance in the centre of the defence. In the 78th minute Buckley took a
deserved lead when Ryan Harden, who had troubled Port with his free-kicks
throughout, lobbed an excellent  ball over the wall and McGuigan seemed to
see it only very late and was beaten at the far post. With Carl Owen, who
had not been fit from the start, limping off things looked black for the
champions.

That was how things stood until injury-time. Buckley heads went down
momentarily after the late equaliser and that was just the invitation which
Port needed. With only two minutes of the first period of extra-time gone
Viv's substitutions struck gold. Mike Foster played a high ball into the box
and sub Iwan Roberts got a touch which was enough for sub Dylan Jones to get
a sight of goal. The 17 year old, cool as you please, drove low past Turner
from 10 yds. The game had changed and Port now enjoyed their best period of
the match. They finished off the game with a goal produced by the best move
of the match.

Young Dylan Jones was again prominent making ground on the right but
resisted the temptation to carry it too far and played it inside to Tony
Williams who squared a fine ball for Gareth Parry in space. The midfielder
cut into the box and completed the Port come back with a low shot under the
diving Turner.
There was now no way back for, the visibly tiring, Buckley with the fit Port
outfit as ever finishing strongly. On the other hand referee Andrew Richards
of Holywell found the going a bit too much and had to be replaced by the 4th
official during the second period of extra-time.

Mike Foster lifted his third trophy of a wonderful season and this time his
team celebrated not with champagne but by taking a mass dive onto the
muddy, watery Talwrn Road pitch.

Port: Gerard McGuigan, John G. Jones, Campbell Harrison, Lee Webber, Mike
Foster, Dafydd Evans, Gareth Parry, Ritchie Owen(Iwan Roberts), Carl
Owen(Tony Williams), Dave Farr(Dylan Jones).

Buckley: Paul Turner, Jimmy Harrison, Chris Roberts, Andy Neal, Dale Lovatt,
Mike Lewis, Jeff Hinchliffe, Ryan Harden, Darren Williams, Julian Pepper,
Mike Lewis.
Subs: John Bryce, Dave Taylor, Chris Hughes.

Gareth Williams

North Wales Coast Challenge Cup Final. Caernarfon - 13/5/03.

Porthmadog...............3 Llandudno..............1
Carl Owen 33.              Benn Hughes 90.
Stephen Roberts (O.G.) 46.
Dafydd Evans (Pen) 68.

The final at the Oval, Caernarfon provided a game full of incident and at
times controversy rather than flowing football. With both sides intent on
doing everything at pace, closing down their opponents quickly and putting
in some hard tackles, this was alwyas going to be the case.

After only two mins. a Pinard back header threatened to open up the Port
defence but a good tackle by Lee Webber deprived Dean Hughes of an early
shot at goal. At the other end Gareth Caughter tested Phil Owen with a
header following a good Tony Williams cross. Caughter was in the thick of
the action and twice Phil Owen rushed out to thwart headers following
dangerous Carl Owen crosses from the right. Port were now dominating and
just before the half-hour mark Ritchie Owen saw his 25 yard effort fly
narrowly over the bar. The best move of the match, up to that point, saw
Gareth Caughter send a dangerous low cross towards the far post and Carl
Owen at full stretch just failed to apply the final touch.

Phil Owen was by far the busier of the two keepers and in the 33rd min his
goal was breached. Mike Foster swung another of his dangerous corners and
Phil Owen failed to gather cleanly under pressure from Lee Webber. On hand
to pick up the pieces was Carl Owen who fired into the net from eight yards.
This lead was no more than Port deserved at this stage.

Llandudno had their moments in the opening half and at one stage forced two
consecutive corners and as half-time approached they worked hard to get back
on level terms. Ben Hughes played a good ball in to Dean Hughes but the
striker's shot went across the face of the goal without troubling McGuigan
in the Port goal. On the stroke of half-time a long ball found Dean Hughes
who tested McGuigan with good effort but the keeper saved at the expense of
a corner.

Perhaps the turning point in the game came in the first minute of the
second-half when there was a truly bizarre goal. Stephen Roberts sent a
gentle apparently controlled header back to his keeper without noticing that
Phil Owen had left his goal -perhaps expecting the defender to allow the
ball to come directly through to him. The header instead took the ball past
Owen and he could only watch as the ball rolled slowly ending up in the
corner of the net.

Following this goal the Llandudno performance took on an air of desperation
and some over vigorous tackles flew in. As a result of one of these wild
tackles Darren Jones received a yellow card. Ben Dews tried a long shot
which flew over the bar and then Rene Pinard made a good run on the right
taking the ball to the bye-line but his cross was confidently cut out by
McGuigan. For Port Carl Owen kept battling away and just after the hour won
the ball in centre field before testing Phil Owen again with a low 25yd
shot. Carl Owen once again broke on the left and cut into the box where he
was challenged and, adjudged by referee Elwyn Jones of Bodffordd to have
been brought down by central defender Greg Harris. Up stepped Dafydd Evans
who drove confidently past the keeper.

The game was now out of  reach for Llandudno but the potential controversies
were not for after 80 mins Iwan Roberts played a good ball into the box for
Dave Farr. As Farr struggled to gain control under pressure from keeper Owen
he was pulled down. Once again the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped
Dafydd Evans and this time Phil Owen guessed correctly thet the ball would
be sent to the same side as the first and made a fine save pushing the ball
on to the post. Dafydd Evans reacted quickly but his second effort struck
the bar before the ball was cleared.

With time running out Llandudno managed a consolation when a good diving
save by McGuigan fell into the path of Ben Hughes who fired into the net
from close range. A disappointment for Llandudno being thwarted for a second
time in four days but on refelection they will surely agree that Port
desrved to lift the trophy.

Mike Foster raised the North Wales Challenge Cup aloft and the second stage
of the treble was complete. It is now on to Llangefni for Saturday's League
Cup Final.

Port: Gerard McGuigan, John G.Jones, Campbell Harrison, Lee Webber, Mike
Foster, Dafydd Evans, Gareth Parry, Ritchie Owen, Gareth Caughter(Iwan
Roberts), Tony Williams(Steve Pugh), Carl Owen(Dave Farr).
Subs not used: Richard Hughes, Dylan Jones.

Llandudno: Phil Owen, James Kincaid, Ben Dews, Stephen Roberts, Greg Harris,
Bleddyn Jones, Mally Tidswell, Ben Hughes, Rene Pinnard, Dean Hughes, Darren
Jones.
Subs: James Cornish, Joe Carey, Darren Robinson, Dave Alexander, Adi Hoyle.

Gareth Williams

Huws Gary Fitlock Cymru Alliance League Cup Semi Final. Mold - 10/5/03.

Porthmadog...............1 Llandudno..............1    (4-2 on Pens to Port)
Carl Owen 116              Rene Pinnard 115


It wasn't an easy ride for Port today at Alyn Park Mold, as it went all the
way to a penalty shoot out with the game's only two goals coming in the last
five minutes of extra time. Mike Foster's penalty signalled that Port's
hopes of a treble were still alive, if only just, after one of the season's
poorest performances in this League Cup semi final.

The game had got off to a slow first half with very few chances at either
end. There were however one or two good attacks for both teams, with Darren
Jones breaking down the right early on for Llandudno, and on 4 minutes, Mike
Foster beat two opponents before passing to Carl Owen who broke in towards
goal but didn't really test Phil Owen with his shot. David Farr felt hard
done by with Steven Roberts constantly putting pressure on him from behind.
The chances for Llandudno fell to Ben Dews and Darren Jones, but McGuigan
was hardly tested in the first 45 minutes. Port's best chance fell to Lee
Webber, who couldn't quite make sufficient contact with the ball after
Dafydd Evans' cleverly chipped free kick into the box following Mally
Tidswell's foul on Mike Foster after 30 minutes. Port didn't really get the
usual grip on proceedings, and this was partly due to the consistent
long-balls that by-passed the mid-field.

The second half got off to a somewhat livelier start, with Port getting the
best of the opening part of it. Carl Owen headed just wide after a Gareth
Caughter cross two minutes in and John Gwynfor put in a few good crosses
from the right. David Farr then had a good chance after Gareth Parry had fed
a good ball into the box on 58 minutes and a couple of minutes later Gareth
Parry himself shot just wide. But, as the half wore on, Llandudno started to
get on top with a Mally Tidswell free kick creating problems on 65 minutes.
Tidswell then tested Gerard McGuigan a few minutes later as Llandudno
capitalized on a misunderstanding in the Port mid-field. Dean Hughes, Rene
Pinnard and Ben Hughes all had chances for Llandudno during this period.
Port's best chance during the last quarter of the match came as Mike Foster
nearly scored directly from a corner, as Phil Owen was nearly caught out of
position. This was only the third time this season that Port failed to score
during 90 minutes of football.

Llandudno continued to edge things in extra time as a few mistakes started
to enter Port's game. The persistance of the long ball didn't seem to do
them any favours, and they didn't have any real chances in the first 15
extra minutes. Llandudno, however, should have taken the lead with Rene
Pinnard twice squandering clear-cut opportunities. He headed wide after a
Ben Hughes cross, and later shot wide after James Cornish had put him
through. He squandered another opportunity in the last 15 after Dean Hughes
had put him clear. Then, in the 114th minute came a very debatable decision
as Rene Pinnard went down like a sack of potatoes in the box for the second
time in the space of a few minutes. The referee rejected the first as a
'dive' but awarded a highly questionable penalty for the second. So, after
failing to convert his chances in open play, Pinnard was given a chance to
convert from the spot and duly obliged. But the much celebrated lead was
very short-lived thanks to a superb goal by Carl Owen who turned well to get
past Phil Owen, before finally converting from a seemingly impossible angle.
This crowned an excellent performance by Carl Owen who must have run a quite
a few miles this afternoon chasing long balls.

A penalty shoot-out beckoned, and Carl Owen was first up, but was denied by
Phil Owen who went the right way. Pinnard then took Llandudno's first
spot-kick, and was  denied by McGuigan who dived low to his left. Port's
ever reliable penalty taker Dafydd Evans was the first to find the net, and
this was followed by four further conversions by Mally Tidswell and Bleddyn
Jones for Llandudno, and then John Gwynfor and Gareth Parry for Port. But,
after Joseph Carey's kick was off target, Mike Foster new that he could win
it for Port. He didn't let the pressure get to him, as he coolly converted
to keep the treble dream alive.

Llandudno: P Owen, J Kinkaid, B Dews, S Roberts, G Harris, B Jones, M
Tidswell, B Hughes, R Pinnard, D Hughes, D Jones.
Subs: J Cornish, J Carey, D Robinson.

Port: McGuigan, J G Jones, C Harrison, L Webber, M Foster, D Evans, G Parry,
R Owen (J Jones), G Caughter (T Williams), D Farr (S Pugh), C Owen.

Iwan Gareth.

Huws Gray Fitlock Cymru Alliance 7/5/03

Llandudno ...... 0        Port ......... 2
                          John G Jones 58
                          Dylan Jones 75


In their final league fixture of the season a much changed Port side
completed the double over their closest rivals at Maesdu. With only four of
the side which defeated Mold Alex on Saturday appearing, it was left for a
sprinkling of senior players, together with squad players and youngsters to
take on second placed Llandudno. Following a scoreless first-half the
visitors always seemed the most likely to score, though territorially the
home side had the edge.

The strong wind, that is so often a feature at this ground,  once again had
an effect on the game. There was a lively start with both sides finding it
difficult to control the ball in the strong wind. With the ball being
transferred quickly from end to end youngster Barry Evans shot over from
18yds for Port while Rene Pinard threatened at the other end but was well
shepherded by Mike Foster. Dean Hughes also came close for the visitors with
a header, following a good cross from the right.

Port threatened when a good ball by John Gwynfor put Rob Williams through in
the box but he was crowded out by three defenders and unable to get a shot
at goal. A similar opportunity fell to Dave Farr but he failed to hit the
target. The closest the visitors came to a goal in the first-half was from a
Mike Foster 30yd free-kick which flew just over the bar.

Llandudno applied the early pressure in the second period with Lloyd Roberts
shooting over from the edge of the penalty area and this was followed by two
corners in quick succession. Port were however a threat on the
counter-attack and in a five minute period spurned three good chances to go
ahead. First , an excellent break by 16 year-old Barry Evans going past
three defenders before putting Farr through on goal was followed by a Farr
break and supply for Rob Williams to shoot off target. The third opportunity
fell to Farr again following a long McGuigan clearance.

Then with frustration mounting the Port goal came from an unlikely source
when defender John Gwynfor headed past Phil Owen following another excellent
Mike Foster corner. This was his first goal of the season and was very
pleased with it too!  Llandudno threatened briefly through Lloyd Roberts but
the skilful Rene Pinard found there was no way past the excellent central
defensive partnership of Richard Hughes and Mike Foster. With John Gwynfor
and Jason Jones completing a strong back four the home side, despite their
territorial advantage, made few threats on McGuigan's goal. The excellent
back-four were always well supported by the 'Blaenau boys' in midfield
frustrating the Llandudno attacks developing.

The second goal, which clinched the game for the visitors, came courtesy of
substitutes Tony Williams and Dylan Jones. Tony Williams controlled and
turned well in midfield before sending a superb through ball into the path
of teenager Dylan Jones who broke forward and shot low past Phil Owen from
18yds. This was his first senior goal -surely the first of many- not bad for
a young player who started the season in the club's third team.

With the league programme now complete these two teams meet again in the
League Cup Semi-Final at  Alyn Park Mold on Saturday.

Llandudno: Phil Owen, James Kincaid, Ben Dews, James Cornish, Greg Harris,
Bleddyn Jones, Mally Tidswall, Darren Jones, Dean Hughes, Rene Pinard, Lloyd
Roberts.
Subs: Ben Hughes, Steven Roberts, Adrian Hoyle.

Port: Gerard McGuigan, John G. Jones, Richard Hughes, Mike Foster, Jason
Jones, Ywain Gwynedd, Gareth Roberts(Iwan Price), Cai Williams, Rob
Williams, Dave Farr(Tony Williams), Barry Evans(Dylan Jones).

Gareth Williams.

Huws Gray Fitlock Cymru Alliance - 26/4/03

Airbus UK.........................1 Porthmadog.......................0
Mike Costello 20.

All good things have to come to an end they say. This was the case today as
Port's unbeaten record for the season was cancelled away at Airbus UK of
Broughton. It was a very tame goal by Mike Costello that gave Airbus their
lead in the first half, but for the first time this season there wasn't a
return goal, and no Port name on the score sheet. Costello's first effort
after a John Farrell cross, was saved by McGuigan, but he wasn't able to
keep hold of the ball and after a goal mouth scramble, Costello netted with
a deflection off a Port defender to give the hosts' the lead after 20
minutes.

Port had most of the play up to then, and for the remainder of the match,
but never really stamped their authority on the game, and credit must be
given to Airbus who defended well, and manage to hold on to a slender lead.
In the period leading to the goal Port did have plenty of chances to score
with Robert Williams coming close, and then on 16 minutes Carl Owen's header
had to be headed off the line by Paul Armor after a Dafydd Evans cross. The
goal seemed to spur Port forward and good pressure was created down the left
with Mike Foster, Richard Owen and Robert Williams who combined well. The
equaliser should have come on 29 minutes as Gareth Caughter's cross come
shot came off the post, falling to Carl Owen whose header was denied by the
upright, and then Richie Owen saw his shot stopped once again by the post.
Port continued to enjoy most of the possession, but lacked the usual fluency
in their passing, and were frustrated by off-side decisions on more than one
occasion. There were some attacks on the other side of the pitch, with John
Farrell making one or two good crosses, but apart form a header by Tinashe
Muthana that went well off target the hosts rarely threatened to extend
their lead.

Port continued to have most of the possession in the second half, but didn't
really threaten early on to net an equaliser. Indeed, Airbus came close on
more occasions than them in the first ten minutes after the interval with
John Dowridge, Steve Hughes and Muthana having attempts that went just off
target. Port did come very close on the hour when Dafydd Evans nearly
converted with a corner kick, that had to be cleared off the line by John
Farrell. Richie Owen saw his shot from outside the box diverted away from
the target, for Airbus to scramble it away. Mike Foster also came close to
scoring from a free kick that was well stopped by Richard Swift in the
Airbus goal. Other opportunities for Port late on fell to substitutes
Richard Hughes and Dave Farr, but the equaliser wasn't going to come, even
after a late corner that saw everybody, including McGuigan, position
themselves in the Airbus box.

This was always going to be a hard place for Port to come to, what with
Airbus in a good run of form, and Port inevitably finding it harder to push
themselves that extra yard after securing the title last Saturday. Airbus
seemed determined to be the first team this season to take the three points
off Port, and every credit to them they defended solidly and managed to put
a halt on Port in the final third all afternoon. Port, probably, would have
been better served to keep the ball on the deck, especially considering the
strong wind and Airbus' height advantage. But there's no need to be too
critical of Port after what has been an exceptional season - one league
defeat in over 12 months of football 'aint that bad!!

Airbus: Swift, Armor, Carroll, Dowridge, Muthana, G Roberts, Farrell, Dodd,
S Hughes, Costello, Hooley.
Subs: I Marsh, A Marsh, Henderson.

Port: McGuigan, J G Jones, Foster, D Evans, Webber, Harrison, Caughter
(Farr), R Owen, G Parry (R Hughes), R Williams (T Williams), C Owen.

Iwan Gareth.