Fast-starters Port in cracking early form
FAST-STARTING Porthmadog made it three straight wins in the Huws Gray Alliance with a 3-1 triumph over Ruthin Town at Y Traeth last Saturday.
Craig Papirnyk’s men were on the attack from the off, and with just four minutes gone the ball was worked across from the right to reach Julian Williams on the edge of the box on the left.
The forward looked up and, seeing keeper Dylan Jones a couple of yards off his line, lobbed superbly over the stranded custodian.
Two minutes later Ywain Gwynedd found Williams wide left. The frontman broke at pace, getting behind the defence, and his low cross provided Cai Jones with a simple tap-in to put the home side two up.
Pressure on the Ruthin goal continued and a Chris Jones free kick hit the outside of the post.
Town were being served well by their keeper Jones, who cut out a dangerous low ball from Chris Jones with forwards racing in on goal.
Then against the run of play Ruthin halved the deficit, and it was a welltaken goal with Llyr Morris outpacing the Port defence and scoring with a fine angled shot into the far corner.
Despite this setback Port continued to create chances and could well have scored a couple more first-half goals.
In a slick home move Gwynedd set up Cai Jones, putting him clear on goal, but keeper Jones kept his shot out.
It needed another good save when Cai Jones’ good lay off was fired goalwards by Gwynedd, but Jones produced another good save.
With the score at 2-1, the visitors were not out of the game and Iddon Price had to clear another Morris effort off the line.
However, Port restored their twogoal advantage when Cai Jones set up Gruff Williams and despite getting a hand to the shot, the keeper could not prevent it rolling into the net.
With half time approaching another shot from Cai Jones tested the keeper and the busy Jones pulled off a good save to deny Gareth Jones Evans.
The second period lacked the quality of the opening half and it was perhaps not surprising there were no goals in the second 45 minutes.
Ruthin strove hard, knowing a second goal would allow them back into the game.
Garmon Hafal cut in from the left, forcing a good save from Richard Harvey, but by and large Port were able to keep the game under control and though they did not repeat the kind of movement seen in the opening half, probably their best opportunity came five minutes before time when sub Cai Parry’s good low ball would have found the net with even the slightest touch but instead it passed everybody and ran across the face of goal. ● Port were due to host Caernarfon Town in a much-awaited derby last night (Tuesday) and this Saturday sees the Traeth men journey to Powys to face Llanfair United (kick-off 2.30pm).