Flashback – 15 years ago: Porthmadog blast five past Cwmbran Town

CPD Porthmadog 5 (Parry 2 & 29, C Owen 7, Foster pen 17, L Davies 55)
Cwmbran Town 1 (Heal 34)
Welsh Premier League – Nov 26, 2005

Four goals in the first half-hour at Y Traeth put Porthmadog out of sight in a Welsh Premier contest against troubled Cwmbran played on this day 15 years ago.

With strikers Carl Owen and Les Davies giving the Crows defence a torrid time, the game was virtually decided by half time.

The game was only two minutes old when the visitors defence was opened up by a Davies cross, and though Danny Hughes’ initial shot was blocked, Gareth Parry was on hand to beat keeper Gareth Wesson from 10 yards.

There was little time for Town to recover before Owen was bursting on to a ball by Lee Webber over the defence and lobbing the advancing Wesson to find the net.

Port domination continued with Davies striking his shot into the side netting and then after 17 minutes Owen again outpaced the visitors defence but just as he was pulling the trigger he was brought down in the box by Nicky Ward.

Referee Rob Duncan pointed to the spot and had no option but to show Ward a red card.

Mike Foster proceeded to convert the penalty and Port were in uncharted waters with such a comfortable lead so early in the game.

Things got even better after 27 minutes when Parry, who was at his best in midfield, crowned a good build up by scoring his second and Port’s fourth with a superbly struck low shot from 25 yards.

To their credit the away team, whose off-the-field problems were well documented before the match, continued to play their constructive passing game.

Though they rarely threatened in the box they did gain reward when skipper Simon Heal lashed a fine 20 yard shot which went into the net via the upright.

Half-time: Porthmadog 4 Cwmbran 1

Port threatened immediately after the break but Wesson saved well from Parry again and then twice in quick succession to deny Owen and Rhys Roberts.

After 56 minutes Davies made it five for Port when he beat two defenders in a fine run on the right before cutting into the box and beating Wesson with a powerful low shot.

Ritchie Owen was unfortunate not to make it six when his shot on the turn struck the bar.

Carl Owen headed Hughes’ near post cross wide of the target and Wesson saved well at Owen’s feet after a good move involving Davies and sub Jason Harvey.

This was to be Port’s day from the start with Cwmbran two goals down in only seven minutes before being reduced to 10 men for over 70.

Port: Richard Harvey: Rhys Roberts, Ryan Davies, Lee Webber, Mike Foster, Danny Hughes (Ywain Gwynedd), Gareth Parry, Tony Williams (Gareth Caughter), Ritchie Owen (Jason Harvey): Carl Owen, Les Davies.

Cwmbran: Wesson, Green, Billing, Ward, Carpenter, Allcock, Heal, Goodridge, Misbah. Phillips, Edwards. Subs: Rodgers, Fernquest, Tippings.