Cavanagh double sees off Buckley

SHAUN Cavanagh struck again, netting a brace of goals in a second consecutive game as Porthmadog overcame Buckley Town 2-0 at Y Traeth, writes GARETH WILLIAMS.

With the standings as they are at the wrong end of the Cymru North table, this was a must win fixture.

Port got their tactics right and showed that the lessons of Gresford had been learned with regards to playing in windy conditions.

The conditions were such that it was almost impossible to build and play constructive and creative football.

Amazingly, given the strength of the wind, the two goals which settled the game were of the highest quality and would have been outstanding in the most perfect of weather.

There was an early opportunity for Buckley when a good ball was played in to the near post from the right but the ball ran out of control for a goal kick.

The majority of the play was in the Port half but, despite this territorial advantage, Richard Harvey in the Port goal did not have any serious saves to make.

The nearest Buckley came to taking the lead came on 23 minutes with a good ball from the right to the back post but, in the conditions, Spridgeon’s header went wide.

Unsurprisingly the best opportunity came from a Port error in midfield allowing Jake Roberts to run to the edge of the box, but his low shot went narrowly wide of the post.

The only other threat came from a free kick wide right but Josh Jones’s near post header was off target. Port rarely threatened during the first 45 minutes leaving keeper Makaruk a spectator most of the time.

But reaching the interval without conceding a goal was no small achievement and the front men, holding the ball up relieving the defence, were also vital contributors.

The game was won and lost during the first 15 minutes of the second half when Port created two great goals.

Jay Gibbs set up the move, opening up the visitors’ defence with a pass out to the right to find Jamie McDaid. The winger cut inside and lifted a perfect cross to the back post, allowing Cavanagh to send a bullet header past Makaruk.

It took just seven more minutes for Port to add a second and Cavanagh was again key to it all.

Iwan Lewis sent a superbly controlled ball into space for Cavanagh and the forward beat the advancing Makaruk with the neatest of lobs into an empty net.