ALERT RHYS WINS NAIL-BITER FOR PORT
Ardal League North-West CPD PORTHMADOG 1 Rhys Alun 79’
ST. ASAPH CITY 0
Before today’s match, a minute’s silence was impeccably observed in memory of former Port player Bruce Emmanuel, a very fine player in his own right and father of Peter who wore the black and red with pride during our initial period in what is now known as the Welsh Premier, writes Treflyn Jones. Our condolences go to Bruce’s family and friends.
Port supporters had to endure 90 nerve-jangling minutes before our slender-looking win was secured, and, it is fair to say that had we taken a higher proportion of several fairly clear-cut scoring chances, the result would have been put beyond doubt before the hour mark.
Port were on the offensive from the start, and three minutes in, Stuart Rogers should have hit the target with Port’s opening salvo when well-placed after great work by Marcus Banks and Matty Jones.
A period of seemingly innumerable corner kicks for the home side followed, all well dealt with by a disciplined St. Asaph defence, before the visitors came close to scoring via a glancing header by Jason
Foulkes from a corner kick. On 25 minutes, Paul Lewis and Julian Williams missed sitters in quick succession to the growing frustration of the Traeth faithful. There wasn’t much wrong with Port’s approach play but they had certainly left their shooting boots at home.
The second period was barely four minutes old when substitute Rhys Alun blasted onto the target from 25 yards and produced a fine finger-tip save by Luke Jones. A couple of minutes later there were very strong shouts for a Port penalty when Rhys was bundled over in the box but the referee waved ‘play on’. Mid-way through the half, the Quarry End fans were ripping their hair out when a well-placed Marcus Banks volleyed over the bar. Then, Luke Jones brilliantly saved a great left-footed halfvolley by Rhys Alun. When oh when were we going to score? Well, the goal finally arrived on 79 minutes with a relatively soft penalty after a coming together (one might say) in the box.
Up stepped Rhys Alun and though his effort was brilliantly saved, he was alert enough to slam the rebound home to the delight of most of the very commendable 302-strong crowd. We may well see a play-off match at the end of the season, but even if we don’t, we can tell the whole of Wales we are the best supported Tier Three side by a country mile!
You have to feel for St. Asaph as this result may well see them relegated. On today’s showing, they will probably return to Tier Three sooner rather than later. Best of luck to them.
On Friday there will doubtless be further nerve-shredding moments when we travel to Y Felinheli for a 6.30 kick-off. Be there!
Porthmadog: Paul Pritchard (GK), Gareth Jones-Evans, Iddon Price, Ifan Emlyn, Stuart Rogers (Josh Banks 68’), Dewi Thomas, Matty Jones, Marcus Banks ( Cian Pritchard 86’), Julian Williams (Rhys Alun 46’), Paul Lewis, Euron Roberts (John Littlemore 75’)