Porthmadog dent leaders’ home record
A PERFORMANCE of character was what was called for and that is exactly what we got all over the pitch, writes Gareth Williams.
There is indeed life after Gresford. Two great strikes from Shaun Cavanagh were highlights in an otherwise workmanlike afternoon. Great credit must go to Craig Papirnyk and Alun Winstanley for lifting the squad and ensuring the team were set up to make life difficult for the runaway league leaders and to the players for sticking to the plan.
Port showed the lessons of last week had been learned well enough to end Prestatyn’s 100% home record.
With regular keeper Paul Pritchard unable to play through injury, Craig recalled Traeth legend Richard Harvey and despite not having played since his retirement in May 2018, his experience and quality made him a perfect choice in such testing conditions. Port started with a bare bones squad for, in addition to Pritchard, they were without suspended duo Gareth Jones Evans and Jay Gibbs while John Owen was also absent from injury at Gresford.
The home team were soon showing why they top the table, breaking quickly, bringing their widemen into the game and when they lost the ball closing down quickly. Port knew they would need to stay organised, keep their discipline, keep things tight and wait their turn with the wind on their backs.
Port looked to hit on the break and a good angled shot from Shaun Cavanagh tested home keeper Rushton.
On 29 minutes Harvey came to collect a long through ball, the wind took it away and in the ensuing scramble he was adjudged to have fouled and referee Aaron Jones pointed to the spot. Harvey saved Jordan Davies’ shot from 12 yards but Davies followed up to net the rebound. Heads, however, did not go down.
The second half was a fairly scrappy affair but given a huge lift by three excellent goals.
On 64 minutes Shaun Cavanagh received wide on the right, cut inside then unleashed a powerfully struck angled shot past the despairing hands of Jon Rushton to level.
On 82 minutes Cavanagh’s free kick from 25 yards thumped the bar before deflecting off the beaten Rushton into the net. The ecstatic travelling support had visions of the impossible but unfortunately three minutes later Ben Maher cracked a beauty of a free kick from wide right into the roof of the net.
Craig Papirnyk commented: “Great point today, more importantly a much improved performance and reaction after last week. Really pleased for the travelling supporters who were behind the lads all game once again.”