DIVISION ONE

AFC WHITCHURCH ...... 4 PORTHCAWL TOWN ATHLETIC ...................... 5

PORTHCAWL Town Athletic pulled off their most significant victory of the season in downing highflying AFC Whitchurch in this nine-goal thriller in the capital, writes Tony Poole.

It was the kind of win that the Seasiders had threatened all season but at Whitchurch, they played as a team.

While Thomas Warren made his considerable presence felt in anchoring midfield, the back-four combination of captain Matt Ellis, Joe Downes along with the Davies brothers – Rob and Tom – also earned their spurs.

Porthcawl had the lead after a quarter of an hour when pop idol Jordan Marks crossed for Jake Lane to hit the target.

But the sides changed ends on 1-1 – Whitchurch converting a penalty – and they went on to lead for the only time at 2-1.

However, in a truly remarkable turnaround, Porthcawl went on to score four unanswered goals during 12 minutes of mayhem.

The equaliser came from Jorge Crofts, who lost goalie Phil Harrison to collect an eighth goal of the season.

They went 3-2 up on the hour when Crofts was felled in the box, and captain Ellis converted a fourth penalty of the campaign.

And top marks went to Marks on 65 minutes for a pinpoint corner that Ellis headed in to move on to eight goals this term.

Things got even better in the 70th minute when speedster Morgan Thomas scored a superb individual goal.

At 5-2 with 20 minutes to go, the Seasiders looked home and dry until the men from the capital came again in dramatic style. By the 80th minute, they had reduced arrears to 5-4, leaving Porthcawl with a bumpy ride during the closing exchanges.

But for once, they clung on to the points with only a fourth league win of the season taking them past Cogan Coronation and into 13th spot on superior goal- difference.

This Saturday, Porthcawl welcome Tonyrefail to Lock’s Lane in what represents a first meeting of the season between the clubs.