Back-to-back victories for dominant Port
PORTHMADOG made it back-toback victories as they won 3-1 at Llanfair United, writes GARETH WILLIAMS.
Despite this, they remain in 15th place but have now put themselves within striking distance of Llangefni, Gresford and Buckley who are placed immediately above them and who all suffered defeats at the weekend.
Though they dominated play from the start, it took Port until the 41st minute before they went ahead for the first time and it took a late strike from Sion Parry before the travelling support could rest easy and breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Port started strongly and John Livermore and Rob Evans combined well down the right.
But when the low cross came in there was no finishing touch. Though Port applied the early pressure, Llanfair had the first effort on goal when Paul Griffiths fired from distance.
A good turn in the box from Mel McGinness followed, but his shot was palmed away by keeper Mark Richards.
Then totally against the run of play the home team went ahead after 19 minutes on what was virtually their first foray into the Port box.
A deep cross to the back post found Tom Gregory unmarked and his cool finish was struck low across the keeper to make it 1-0.
Following the goal Port lifted their game and went in search of the equaliser.
Iwan Lewis, Jay Gibbs and Ilan ap Gareth started to pull the strings in midfield and, six minutes after going behind, Port drew level when a well-judged through ball from Iwan Lewis put John Owen in on goal and the forward pushed on into the box for a well placed finish.
Port were now in control and Owen was in again, this time from Gibbs but keeper Richards was equal to the task and saved well. Pressure continued with McGinness pulling his shot wide and Gibbs having a shot blocked, but with half time approaching Port went ahead.
Midfield duo Ilan ap Gareth and Gibbs combined well with Gibbs running on to a fine angled ball and lashing it into the roof of the net for his sixth of the season.
Half-time came with Port 2-1 ahead but feeling that they could have been further in front.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Port pressing and having a good 80% of the possession but were unable to forge ahead to make the game safe.
But with time ticking away and the score remaining at 2-1, Llanfair began to sense that there might well be something in the game for them.
On 76 minutes Toby Evans was put through but Paul Pritchard was forced into a rare save.
Well directed free kicks and corners from Paul Griffiths had the Port defence under pressure for the first time and there was much nail biting in the stand amongst the travelling support.
In these exchanges the Port bar was struck and Alun Hughes fired over from a good position.
Then when it was feared that the win was in danger of becoming a draw Parry did what all super subs do: he netted the clincher on 85 minutes.
Following a Gibbs corner the ball broke loose for him on the back post and he drove home.