PORT BOUNCE BACK IN STYLE AFTER LLANRWST DEFEAT

RHOSTYLLEN FC ................ 2 L McBurney 25’

S Chesters 50’

CPD PORTHMADOG .............. 5 Julian Williams 23’, 37’. Ifan Emlyn 40’

Stuart Rogers 54’

Rhys Alun 61’

PORT picked up what ended up being a pretty comfortable 3 points at Rhostyllen, writes

.

Port certainly made a very fast start as Julian Williams looped a header onto the crossbar in the opening few minutes and Dewi Thomas was one of many Port players who tested the opposition keeper with long range efforts. Having said that, the opposition also created a couple of chances on their own, with the ball over the top being an especially effective weapon and Dylan Roberts made a good save from a header by one of the Rhostyllen forwards.

With 22 minutes on the clock, Port took a deserved lead, as Stuart Rogers flighted in a quality set piece delivery: Julian Williams was luckier this time with his header nestling in the back of the net. The away side’s joy was shortlived as 3 minutes later, the sides were back level thanks to some horrible defending by Port – a cross came in from the home side and the visiting goalkeeper failed to deal with it and his CBs didn’t fare much better, only succeeding in half clearing the ball leading to a simple strike by Lee McBurney reaching the

Rhydian Morgan

back of the net.

This seemed to fire up the visiting players and Dewi Thomas was unlucky to be millimetres from connecting with a header from another superb Stuart Rogers cross.

The anguish soon turned to elation as Julian Williams once again got his head to a cross from Josh Banks to double his tally for the afternoon and restore Port’s lead – within 3 minutes, the lead was extended thanks to absolutely sublime team play, leading to John Littlemore’s pass setting up Ifan Emlyn Jones to score with the crispest of 20 yard strikes into the bottom left corner. A half of many chances ended with Port leading 3 – 1.

The 2nd half did not start as well for the Traeth outfit as they conceded in the opening 5 minutes, albeit this time with a hint of controversy. From a corner, a Rhostyllen player headed the ball onto the post and the rebound by Sam Chesters seemed to be clawed off the line by Dylan Roberts – however, the referee and his linesman seemed convinced that it had crossed the line.

Once again, this seemed to spark the Port players back to life and they’d restored their two-goal lead within 4 minutes as the Rhostyllen tactic of playing out the back was thwarted by Paul Lewis, who nicked the ball on the corner of the 18 yard box and slid John Littlemore through on goal, but whilst he couldn’t finish his chance, the ball fell to Stuart Rogers on the D and he bent an absolute beauty of a finish into the corner of the net.

This tactic continued to bring further joy as the game went on, Julian Williams this time hurrying the home defence and won a ball he really should never have got to – following a Paul Lewis cutback, Rhys Alun was very unlucky not to add to his goals tally for the season thanks to a superb low save by the home keeper, Luke Christie.

But, Port’s 5th arrived from the resulting corner, Rhys Alun was the beneficiary as he picked the pieces from the cleared corner and finished with great aplomb once again.

There could have been further glory for Rhys as he picked the ball just inside the opposition half, beating several defenders, before passing the ball to Rogers, who unselfishly tried to lay a goal on a plate for Littlemore, but he unfortunately couldn’t finish. He did well to shield the ball from the keeper, before setting up Julian Williams for the hat-trick chance, but he put his effort wide and the scoreline finished 5 – 2 to Port.

One final note is to congratulate young Cian Pritchard on his 1st Team debut as a 2nd half sub – he certainly made an impact.

It’s back to cup action next weekend as Port make the trip to face JD Cymru North side Buckley Town in what will likely be a very tough JD Welsh Cup 2nd Round tie.

BELIEVE it or not, being 65 years of age has its advantages. This was Port’s 8th competitive match of the season so far but amazingly their first league encounter at home, writes Treflyn Jones. So, at last, I was able to use my discounted season ticket for senior citizens (ouch!) for the first time. It makes sense for young or old to purchase one as it provides a very substantial saving over 15 league games. Just a little plug!

A minute’s silence was impeccably observed in memory of a great and unassuming servant of the club over many years, namely Meirion Parry. The defeat, of course, was disappointing but the size of the crowd was a fine advert for this league and a fitting tribute to Meirion. Indeed, Meirion, unlike many among us, would not have sulked at tonight’s defeat but would probably have said: “Never mind! We’ll win the next one and the next one and……..”

Yet again, Port started brightly and Rhys Alun was put clean through but his disappointingly tame effort was blocked by Gwydion Owen who did not put a foot wrong all night in the Rwsters’ goal.

As the first half wore on, it became increasingly apparent that Llanrwst were dangerous on the break and an interception put Callum Parry through on goal and his firm shot beat Dylan Roberts on his near post. This was a wake up call for Port and they produced many well constructed attacks, but the final shot was consistently blocked by a very tight Llanrwst defence.

On 40 minutes, however, Port finally got the ball in the net with a towering header by Julian Williams, but he was adjudged to have made contact with the keeper and the “goal”was ruled out. As an ex-keeper myself, I can shamefully confess that I felt ludicrously over protected by all refs when it came to high balls and that’s just another way of saying that this goal was legit in my slightly biased eyes. So there! Sour grapes? Maybe. At half time, Llanrwst led 0-1.

At the start of the second half, Mathew Jones replaced Paul Lewis and a few minutes in, an intricate Port move culminated in Jamie McDaid placing a header over the bar. A few minutes later, Port’s fate was sealed as another counter-attack put in the determined Callum Parry who confidently blasted past Dylan Roberts. If anyone deserved two goals tonight it was this man.

There followed a lengthy passage of frantic Port attacks, corner after corner, a 25 yard thunderbolt from Julian Williams against the crossbar. It was deserving of a goal but it just wasn’t Port’s night.

There were the usual “moaning minnies” in the Port crowd. Only the churlish would agree, but one thing is certain... when our chances come, we must take them ... Llanrwst-style!