26/07/2025 Cynghrair Ardal North West League: Lleoliad / Venue: Y Traeth, Porthmadog (k.o 7.45pm)

Noddwyr y Gêm / Match Sponsors: EDDIE BLACKBURN
Noddwyr y Bêl / Match Ball Sponsors: BLOCKFOIL MANCHESTER & IJ PLASTERING PORTHMADOG

A new season has dawned & with it comes great optimism of a successful season for any club. Imagine the joy of turning up at the ground on opening night to find out that your new goalkeeper is suspended & you have a centre back in goal…. nothing like a dose of realism to temper the optimism!

In a quiet opening 10 minutes, a couple of crosses were sent in to test the keeper out, but Iddon dealt with them well in what was bound to boost his confidence a bit more. Disaster was to strike for Port soon after though after a corner was only half cleared & the recycled cross beat the offside trap & it was an easy finish at the back post for Penmaenmawr’s Charlie Urquhart to put the newly promoted side ahead.

With 20 minutes on the clock, following a superb through ball by Gruff Ellis, Port’s new Portuguese striker beat the offside trap & was through on goal, however he failed to finish off a great move. However, a minute later, Caio Evans picked the ball up in the middle of the park & laid on a ball for Jake Jones to put in a peach of a cross that was controlled by Bravo in the 6 yard box & his finish was superb to score his first league goal for the club.

It may have taken 20 minutes for them to kick start their season, but there was really one team in it afterwards, with Rhys Alun mere inches away from heading in a Brookwell cross, before he wasted a central free kick opportunity from 20 yards out & Brookwell also guilty of missing a good chance following great work between him & Cai Jones.

Johnny Bravo was still causing havoc, beating defenders for fun & when he was taken out by a defender with 10 minutes left of an absorbing first half, the offending player was convinced it was dive?! I suspect this player would struggle to recognise diving were he to be watching Tom Daley at the Olympics in all honesty! Unfortunately, yet again, a free kick in a dangerous position was wasted.

It then turned into the Danny Brookwell show though – as his beautiful, lofted ball from midfield, paired with a perfectly timed run from Rhys Alun put Port ahead! Just before the half time whistle, Port’s lead was extended as Danny Brookwell curled an absolute beauty of free kick over the keeper’s head & into the left hand corner of the goal. It was to be 3-1 Port at HT

Before several members of the crowd were able to get even close to their seats for the 2nd half, Brookwell was at it again as he took his goal contributions to 3 for the night (2 goals, 1 assist) with a cool finish in the bottom left corner for 4 – 1.

By now, Port were all over the newly promoted side & could have been further ahead, but for two saves by William Jones, the Phoenix keeper – one was a superb save from point blank when the ball fell to Jack Rimmer on the volley in the 6 yard box!

Port were to score a 5th on the hour mark though as some crisp passing play saw Johnny Bravo in space in the 18 yard box, but his effort was kept out by the keeper, only for the ball to fall to Sam Reynolds, who finished well to net his first goal for his new club as well.

Following a raft of substitutions, the game quietened down for a lot of the 2nd half – however this didn’t stop Shaun Cavanagh getting in on the action, as he netted two goals in the final 10 minutes. His first, a cheeky Panenka styled penalty after he was fouled in the box & his 2nd goal going in at the 2nd attempt, a cool finish having seen his first effort blocked after good work down the wing from fellow sub, John Littlemore. All in all, a successful opening night – 7 goals, 3 points & a relatively easy night for our stand in keeper!

One of the younger Port supporters turned to me at one point during the game & said that the Penmaenmawr shirts reminded them of the ‘Squashies’ confectionary (for those not aware, they are a softer version of the old Drumstick lollies) – isn’t it apt how a night can go from sweet to sour for a team in no time?

Our next match will be on Saturday afternoon (August 2) in the FAW Dragon Signs Amateur Trophy against Nefyn United, with a 2pm kick off.

Porthmadog: Iddon Price (GK), Jake Jones, Jack Rimmer, Gruff Ellis, Ryan Williams, Caio Evans, Johnny Bravo (Shaun Cavanagh, 67’), Sam Reynolds (Arden Gisbourne, 74’), Rhys Alun Williams (Zac Pike, 64’), Cai Jones (Math Jones, 64’), Danny Brookwell (John Littlemore, 67’)

Unused subs: Meilir Ellis & Sam Carrier

Penmaenmwr Phoenix: William Jones (GK), Liam Jones (Cody Williams 72’), Jamie Jones, Alex Brownhill (Paddy Hold, 72’), Charlie Urquhart, Liam Griffiths, Harley Crossfield, Ben Jarvis (Darren Evans, 58’), Daniel Williams (Morgan Roberts, 72’), Daniel McIlvogue, Ethan Jones (James Hobson, 58’)

Attendance: 285

Adroddiad / Report: Rhydian Ll. Morgan.