Port tie called off after keeper injury

PORTHMADOG’S Welsh Cup tie against Cymru Premier side Penybont came to a premature end following an accidental coming together between home keeper Rhys Watson and Port forward Rhys Alun Williams, writes GARETH WILLIAMS.

This left the keeper motionless on the ground, with, what the physios attending considered a possible spinal injury.

It was thought unwise to move the player and an ambulance was called immediately.

Players were then taken off the field while awaiting the arrival of the ambulance.

The ambulance service were unable to respond and gave a waiting time of three hours and Wilson was left lying on the 3G pitch in damp cold conditions.

Attempts by Penybont to call a private ambulance also drew a blank.

After 30 minutes referee Ben Williams had to call the game off.

The Penybont FC Twitter account reports. “Finally ambulance turned up at 7.30pm.” -a very sad state of affairs.

The Porthmadog club wishes Wilson well and hope that the injury turns out to be less severe than was feared during the immediate aftermath.

As to the game itself, it was a great end-toend cup-tie which swung one way then another and in the final minute of added time Williams levelled the scores at 2-2 to send the game into extra time.

And what a goal it was crowning a great performance by the player.

His fantastic shot on the turn was partially saved by keeper Rhys Watson but could not be prevented from finding its way into the net. Williams also scored Port’s first goal and this was also a top quality effort.

A super Tomos Emlyn cross was steered past the home keeper by Williams, racing in at the back post.

That goal levelled the scores at half-time. It is very unfortunate that a performance full of movement and ball winning as well as scoring two goals has no place now in official statistics.

But Williams can take heart from the impact he is now making at first team level.

Penybont also came up with two great goals.

Nathan Wood scored with a super strike from 25 yards which caught everyone by surprise as it thumped the back of the net.

For their second goal, Daniel Griffiths met a corner from set-piece star Kane Owen, glancing a header into the corner of the net.