Port slump to 7th loss
THE cold reality of the Cymru North 2019/20 is descending on the Porthmadog and their supporters after they were beaten again, this time 4-2 at Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant, writes GARETH WILLIAMS.
A good performance against league leaders Prestatyn goes out of the window as the bread and butter games continue to go against them. Once again their defensive frailties were exposed as Llanrhaeadr continued their great start to the season to consolidate their 3rd place in the table.
Port failed to capitalise on the early lead, conceding twice in three minutes shortly before halftime. Then, despite drawing level early in the second half, once again failed to take advantage of a good period of play to go on and win the game.
Instead they slumped to their seventh defeat of the season.
The early play was even, but a couple of early jittery moments at the back were a sign of what was to come.
It needed a good block from Ceri James when Dan Hindley’s long throw created panic, and a deflection was needed to keep out a shot on the turn from Tom Evans, while Rob Evans cleared off the line following a corner.
But it was Port who went ahead in a most spectacular way.
Dead ball specialist Jay Gibbs struck a belter from 35 yards into the far corner of the net.
Following the goal, Port raised their game and John Owen increasingly became a threat to the home defence. A good exchange of passes between Owen and Mel McGinness created a shooting chance for the former but the finish lacked power and keeper Hayns saved comfortably.
A minute later, McGinness’s flicked header went narrowly past the post.
Gibbs then tested Hayns with a low shot from the edge of the box and with Port continuing to apply pressure Ilan ap Gareth went down in the box only for the referee to wave play on.
It needed another save from the keeper when ap Gareth this time curled a shot aimed for the top corner. The same player crossed low to the far post inches beyond McGinness’ reach.
In the latter stages of the opening half the home team again pushed forward. Paul Pritchard blocked Iwan Matthews, as he attempted to take advantage of a good crossfield pass.
Minutes before the end of the half Llanrhaeadr struck twice in three minutes to take the lead.
The goals came from a couple of Matthews free kicks wide on the left.
The first was not dealt with defensively and Khayam Wytton was on hand to score from close range. Matthews needed a large slice of luck to find the net with the second free kick.
The powerful strike took a huge deflection, leaving Pritchard stranded as Llanrhaeadr turned the game on its head.
The game restarted with Port badly in need of an equaliser and nine minutes in, it had arrived.
After Sam Thomas fired over the bar for Llanrhaeadr, McGinness struck for Port.
A brilliant forward ball from Telor Williams set him up and he controlled it superbly and with the neatest of flicks took the ball behind the home defence and finished coolly with a lob into the corner of the net.
Owen broke well down the left but fired into the side netting from a narrow angle while Lewis’s low curling cross was just beyond McGinness, sliding in at he back post.
McGinness, having his best game since joining the club, was now in the thick of everything.
He had a shot deflected wide and when he again broke behind the home defence, failed to finish with an attempted lob. Hayns needed another good save when McGinness met a Evans cross.
Despite the pressure, the third goal refused to come and disaster struck on 74 minutes.
When Hindley picked up a loose ball on the left, a slip on the wet surface for Pritchard allowed Gary Meredith in at the back post for the simplest of tap-ins.
Then in the 89th minute, Matthews sealed the win for the home team, meeting Sam Thomas’s free kick at the back post and volleying the best of the four Llanrhaeadr goals.