Quarter-final clash is too close to call

PORTHMADOG will aim to keep their last hope of silverware this season alive tonight when they host Holyhead Hotspur in the quarter-finals of the Huws Gray Cup (7.30pm).

Both clubs will be looking for a quick turnaround in form after suffering league defeats last Saturday.

Port went down 2-0 at Flint Town United, while Holyhead endured an eighth straight league reverse when they slumped 2-1 at Ruthin Town.

However, in the midst of their poor run Hotspur put an in-form Guilsfield out of the Huws Gray Cup despite being down to 10 men with Dean Garney sent off after just 10 minutes.

This evening’s foes have met three times already this season and Holyhead lead by two wins to one.

Last August, the Holy Islanders triumphed 5-3 at Y Traeth in the Nathaniel MG Cup. A month later, Port visited Campbell Harrison’s side for a league game and perished 3-0.

Craig Papirnyk’s men did gain revenge in the home league return, however, a Sion Bradley hat-trick the highlight of a 4-2 triumph last month.

Porthmadog remained seventh in the Huws Gray Alliance despite losing at Flint last weekend.

The Cae-y-Castell surface was not suited for free fast-flowing football and as a consequence most of the first half was played in the air.

Port’s best efforts were shots from Sion Edwards and Joe Chaplin that Silkmen keeper Josh Hart saved well.

Five minutes into the second half, Flint’s Mark Cadwallader found himself unchallenged eight yards out and planted the ball past keeper Richard Harvey to make it 1-0.

On 67 minutes the home side increased their lead when Tomos Emlyn was adjudged to have handled in the box and the penalty was clinically executed by Richie Foulkes.

Port created three good late chances, Bradley’s free kick from the left being cleared off the line by a defender before Hart made a magnificent fingertip save from a Josh Banks effort and then Ceri James sent a 25-yard volley just past the right hand post, but it was not the visitors’ day.

The winners of tonight’s tie will host Flint in the semi-finals on Saturday.