Port edge Blaenau to clinch cup

PORTHMADOG lifted the Pathfinders Challenge Cup with a 3-1 win over Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateurs in front of a large crowd of over 400 at the Traeth.

The home team needed two late strikes from man of the match, Rhys Alun Williams, to finally settle a tight contest.

The Pathfinders Cup is an annual event which coincides with the Pathfinders visit to their summer camp at Criccieth.

Port started the game strongly, forcing Blaenau back deep into their own half, but despite the pressure a mixture of good defending, near misses and poor finishing left the game surprisingly goalless after 15 minutes.

But Blaenau showed that they had the pace and guile to hit on the break and moments after Williams had a goal disallowed for Port, the visitors struck.

The home defence was caught out by a quick break and Joe Dukes, against the run of play, found the net.

The goal gave the visitors the confidence to push on and especially in the latter stages of the half the two sides matched each other. On 41 minutes, David Copsey came close for Blaenau, bursting through on goal but was denied by a good save from the advancing Paul Pritchard.

But on the stroke of half-time it was Port’s turn to hit on the break.

Williams broke on the left, cut inside and from the narrowest of angles struck a cracker into the far corner of the net to level the scores at the interval.

The game followed a similar pattern in the second half with Port controlling the possession but coming up against a determined, well organised Blaenau defence and behind them keeper Gethin Jones was in excellent form.

Once again Blaenau looked to hit on the break and some well worked moves released the runners to test an often stretched home defence.

Twice keeper Jones pulled off saves to deny Williams, one of these with his leg as the wideman bore down on goal.

The pressure mounted towards the end as Port pushed forward to look for the winner.

With just five minutes remaining Math Roberts, down the left created the opening for Williams whose shot went in off the post and on 90 minutes the game’s outstanding player went on to complete his hat-trick and make the game safe and clinch the trophy for Port.