CHIRK BATTERING WORSENS PORT WOES

CPD PORTHMADOG 0 CHIRK AAA 5

Mike McGloughlin 19’ Dale Davies 38’

Rhys Edwards 39’ Matty Williams 69’ Louie Middlehurst 80’ OH, dear! This was a ‘must win’ game for Port but… you know the rest, writes

Treflyn Jones.

Believe it or not, Port started quite brightly as Gerwyn Williams turned in the box in the opening minute but his left foot shot was not good enough as it tamely trickled past the post. Then on five minutes, Chirk’s Rhys Edwards was given a half chance which went over the bar. Minutes later, Gerwyn Williams produced a glancing header which went narrowly past the upright. Even-stevens for the first ten minutes!

From then on, the visitors settled and grew more and more into the game and it took a great one- handed save by Harvey to thwart a well-struck 20 yard effort from a Chirk attacker. Tom Mahoney then came up with what proved to be Port’s third (and final!) goal attempt of the entire match as his firm left-footer drifted over the bar from distance after a promising build-up.

Chirk opened the scoring shortly thereafter after a deft touch found Max

McLaughlin in space, and, with only Harvey to beat, he confidently side-footed home.

Then, shortly after the half-hour mark, disaster struck as Josh Banks was red-carded for an alleged foul on Dale Davies just outside the box.

The decision appeared extremely harsh to put it mildly and Port were already faced with a mountain to climb.

A few minutes later, Dale Davies doubled the visitors’ advantage when he rose well at the far post to head home. A Port defender appeared to clear the ball but the linesman signalled that it had crossed the line.

On 38 minutes, the game was well and truly over as a contest when Rhys Edwards did very well to chase a long ball from defence before calmly slotting the ball past Harvey, and 0-3 it remained at the end of the first period.

The second half therefore became a case of damage limitation for the beleaguered hosts and this much they achieved until the 69th minute when an excellent far post header by Matty Williams found its way into the far corner. Then, on 80 minutes, it was Louie Middlehurst’s turn to put the icing on Chirk’s rich cake when his thumping shot proved too hot to handle for Richard Harvey who had played quite admirably. Yes, final score 0-5!

I really sympathise with our loyal supporters

However, even now, we still attract crowds that Chirk, Cefn, Penrhyncoch, Gresford, Mold, Guilsfield etc. can only dream about... and this is how we are ‘rewarded.’

Finally, congratulations to Chirk on their deserved victory and good luck for the rest of the season.

Next Saturday, Port will travel to Mold Alex for another league encounter.