Porthmadog
Gruff Ellis 28’
Jonny Bravo 84’
Gruff John 89’
3 vs 2
Trearddur Bay
Tom Hilditch 12’, 90’+7’
17/01/2025
Cynghrair Lock Stock Ardal North West League
Lleoliad / Venue: Y Traeth, Porthmadog
k.o 2.030pm
Noddwyr y Gêm / Match Sponsors: DEWI I ROBERTS Adeiladwyr / Building Contractors
Noddwyr y Bêl / Match Ball Sponsors: BLOCKFOIL Manchester & CARIAD CARE HOMES
A big win for Port in terms of the league, as well as ending the sequence of straight defeats at the hands of the visitors from Ynys Mon. It came as a result of a huge team effort and a couple of second half goals worthy of winning any game.
Has the bogey been laid to rest? It would be a brave man to say ‘yes’ with certainity, but one thing is certain, the sequence has been well and truly broken, though there was more than one bogeyman alive and kicking around the Traeth this afternoon. This was particularly true of a second half littered by long delays, bad fouls and off the ball incidents which resulted in a massive 12 minutes of added time.
The game started on fire and Port could have gone ahead in the very first minute when Osian Evans outpaced the Trearddur defence but his low shot lacked power and was easily saved by Paul Pritchard.
Following on from this early break it was Trearddur who started taking charge and on 12 minutes they took the lead. A break down the right, a low cross and Sebastian Samuel fired powerfully from the centre of the box. Josh Cooke pulled off a fine save, only for Tom Hilditch to pick up the pieces to net from close range.
The visitors could have struck again on 17 minutes but Josh Cooke thwarted a Tom Hilditch header after the former Port forward had chased a long through ball. Port were sruggling o get into the game at this stage as the energetic Liam Armstrong ran the midfield.
But gradually Port got themselves back into the game and on 27 minutes they drew level. An excellent Danny Brookwell corner to the back post was met by Gruff Ellis whose fine looping header found the net. Two minutes on and Port came close again, and again the source was a Danny Brookwell corner, this time met by Cai Jones whose clean header was touched over by Paul Pritchard.
Trearddur struck back however and Christoph Azimales spurned a good opportuinity when through on goal but Josh Cooke kept out his close range effort. It was end to end now and Port came close on 38 mintes when Rhys Alun met an excellent Osian Evans cross only for Paul Pritchard at full stretch to keep it out. 1-1 at the interval.
Port came out strongly from the start of the second half, a long range effort from Gruff John whistled over the bar and several free kicks followed as the game became increasingly physical. Rhys Alun racing goalwards was pulled down and his free kick was saved at the expense of a corner.
On 59 minutes Port failed to take advantage of a penalty awarded after Danny Brookwell, on one of his forward charges, was brought down. But Rhys Alun’s penalty was well saved by Paul Pritchard diving to his right. More free kicks followed and Danny Brookwell fired one of these from wide right narrowly past the post. Pritchard was soon in action again pulling off another fine save this time to keep out a Cai Jones effort.
With Port piling on the pressure finally the goal came and what a goal! Sub Jonny Bravo, on 84 mins, cut in from the left and lifted his angled 25 yard effort high into the far top corner and no chance for the excellent Paul Pritchard this time. This brought home supporters to their feet and four minutes later Port looked to have sewn up the game when Gruff John scored another beauty, turning well in the box to fire powerfully making it 3-1.
But the game was not over as we started on 12 minutes of added time. Trearddur threw themselves forward and Port retreated to deep defensive positions. Almost inevitably the deficit was cut and predictably Tom Hilditch was the culprit. Despite the11 man defence, at the back post he headed in the cross from the right. 3-2 on 96 mins.
It was a nervy, tense ending for home supporters and relief as Les Davies fired wide in the 102nd minute and total relief when the referee finally called an end to proceedings. A huge win which extends the lead over 3rd placed Llay Welfare to 11 points.
Next Saturday we are away at Penmaemmawr with the kick off at 2pm.
Porthmadog: Joe Cooke, Gruff John, Gruff Ellis, Ryan Williams, Cai Griffith (JacK Rimmer 70’), Sam Reynolds, Caio Evans, Rhys Alun (Jonni Bravo 80’), Cai Jones, Osian Evans (Jake Jones 86’), Danny Brookwel (Shaun Cavanagh 70’), Unused subs: Dan Clark(gk), Sam Carrier.
Yellow: Gruff John 49’,.
Trearddur: Paul Pritchard, Thomas Taylor, Liam Armstrong, Sean McCaffery, Tom Hilditch, Christoph Azimale (Les Davies 89’), Ryan Pryce, Joseph Williams, Gareth Evans, Harri Jones, Sebastian Samuel (Toby Jones 68’). Unused subs: Owen Griffiths(gk), Morgan Rowlands, Sion Edwards, Anthony Marshall.
Yellow: Thomas Taylor 60’, Ryan Pryce 60’, Toby Jones 87’, Tom Hilditch 89’. Joseph Williams 90;+8’
Dyfarnwr / Referee :-Richard Gwyn Edwards
Cynorthwywyr / Assistants : Adrian David, Lloyd Warburton-
Torf/Attendance : 308-
Adroddiad / Report :- Gareth Williams