PORT WIN GUARANTEES CYMRU NORTH SAFETY
CPD PORTHMADOG 2 Stuart Rogers 43’ Gerwyn Williams 60’ PENRHYNCOCH 1 Dan Owen 45+2’
HOME wins have been a rare commodity for Port this term but this one was possibly the sweetest as it guaranteed the club`s safety within the J.D. Cymru league for the season, writes Treflyn Jones. The victory was hard-earned but probably deserved on the balance of play.
The first goal-scoring chance fell to the visitors in the shape of the experienced Geoff Kellaway but his first-time volley from ten yards out was ill-directed and sailed over the bar. The bulk of the remaining chances during the half fell to the home side. On fifteen minutes, Port came agonizingly close to drawing first blood when the tireless Alex Boss latched on to a good lay-off from Meilir Williams and his strong shot slammed against the crossbar. Three minutes later, the hosts came close again when an intricate move put Stuart Rogers clean through on goal but his attempted placement was comfortably gathered by Fairbrother in the Penrhyn goal. We went close again a few minutes later when Cai Jones was offered what would have been a tap-in if it were not for a very bad bobble which meant that his attempt went well over the bar.
Mid-way through the first half, the visitors were looking increasingly dangerous on the break and it took a sharp save by Morgan Jones in the Port goal to foil Kellaway`s low close-range drive.
Just before the half-hour mark a great run on to the by-line by Alex Boss set up Meilir Williams but his careful shot came off the post and shortly after, a goodlooking shot from twenty yards by Cian Pritchard went straight into the keeper`s arms.
On 41minutes, however, Port took the lead after a looping high ball into Penrhyn`s box was only partially cleared and, following good work by Cai Jones, Stuart Rogers drove the ball low into the corner of the net beyond Fairbrother`s right hand
The game was drifting towards the half-time whistle, when, much to the horror of the home faithful, Penrhyncoch equalized and yes folks……. It was in the forty seventh minute!
Penrhyncoch patiently kept possession within Port`s box before a clever back-heel by the wily Kellaway presented a great chance to Dan Owen which the young striker took with aplomb and the half ended somewahat unexpectedly all square at one-apiece.
Worryingly, the visitors kicked off the second half in the same way as they ended the first and Port were lucky to see a tremendous shot by Josh Shaw thundering off the post and the follow up shot forced Jones into another great save.
Port kept their heads and on the hour mark, an excellent move involving Nathan Williams and Josh Banks culminated in a low, measured cross from Stuart Rogers being tapped-in by substitute Gerwyn Williams, at the far-post. 2-1 Port
Port held on to drag themselves up to the magic 30 points mark and, therefore, to safety at last.
A pleased Craig Papirnyk commented at the end, “Porthmadog staying in the league was my only objective this season, we’ve done that and I’m made up for the club, its hard working volunteers and loyal supporters who travel week in week out.
“We’ve had our doubters but we believed as a group we’d do it, job done !”
● Port pair Cian Pritchard and Kian Hughes were again part of the Wales Schools’ U18 winning squad in last Wednesday’s Centenary Shield Tournament international.
Cian is a Coleg Meirion Dwyfor student, while Kian studies at Coleg Cambrian in Flintshire. The Wales team is coached by former CPD Porthmadog and Bangor City star striker, Marc Lloyd Williams (Jiws).
Wales followed up the 3-4 win at Wexford over the Republic of Ireland, with a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland Schools U18 at the Old Road Ground of Cymru South club, Briton Ferry Llansawel.
Congrats to both players and to Jiws.