Flashback – 5 years ago: Frustration for Port as Conwy take maximum points

Conwy Borough 3 (Josh Dures 22, Joe Chaplin 49, Luke Robinson 73)
CPD Porthmadog 2 (Jamie McDaid 42, Julian Williams 87)
Huws Gray Alliance – February 6, 2016

At the end of the 90 minutes Porthmadog players were left to wonder how on earth they left Y Morfa pointless.

In this Cymru Alliance battle played five years ago this afternoon, Port had in excess of 80% of the play and their opponents were reduced to 10 men for the last half hour.

Conwy’s attacks over the 90 minutes could be counted on one hand yet they managed three good goals and even with 10 men defended resolutely, riding their luck at times to hold on for the three points.

Port opened strongly with the returning Jamie McDaid soon making his presence felt, sending Asa Hamilton through on the right but Conwy’s new keeper John Lynch saved well with his legs.

Two minutes on and Hamilton chased down a long ball on the left, outpacing his marker before cutting inside, rounding the advancing keeper, but had his shot cleared off the line by recovering defender Jack Simon.

Then on 22 minutes, and totally against the run of play, Port found themselves a goal down.

Moses Barnett’s free kick was only partially cleared and Josh Dures jumped highest to send a looping header over Richard Harvey into the net.

Port continued to dominate, but despite the pressure the home defence was not seriously opened up until three minutes before the interval.

Hamilton’s perfectly weighted through ball had McDaid racing into the box and behind the defence to coolly find the net for the equaliser.

Half-time: 1-1

Just three minutes after the resumption the Tangerines went back into the lead.

Joe Chaplin received the ball on the left just inside the Port half, raced past Gwydion Ifan and cut inside into the box before lashing a low shot under Harvey into the net.

Again Port piled on the pressure and it needed a good save from Lynch to keep out a Julian Williams shot after he had been put away down the left by McDaid.

On the hour mark, Conwy’s Teddy Whelan received his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card in the space of just five minutes.

Despite creating several chances to get back on level terms Port did not fully exploit their extra man.

Cai Jones set up Josh Banks down the left but the full back’s powerful shot flew narrowly over the bar and a well struck effort from 25 yards by Eilir Edwards unfortunately went straight to Lynch.

Further disaster then struck for the visitors as a cross-field pass by Iwan Lewis was intercepted and the ball moved quickly forward to Luke Robinson who, finding himself without support, unleashed a thunderous shot from 30 yards which hit the underside of the bar and dropped into the net behind Harvey.

Port kept trying and It needed a good Lynch save to cut out Eilir Edwards’ dangerous cross while a Julian Williams free kick sailed inches the wrong side of the post.

The second away goal did not come until the dying minutes and it was one of the highest quality deserving a better fate than being a footnote in a defeat..

Hamilton burst into the box to supply Julian Williams who curled a super shot across the keeper and high into the top corner.

Late on both Hamilton and Banks had shots cleared off the line, but in the end it was all too little too late as Conwy clung on for three valuable points.

CONWY: John Lynch, Chris Rowntree, Moses Barnett, Jack Simon, Teddy Whelan, Mark Beech, Joe Chaplin, Josh Dures, Luke Robinson, Jordan Haskell, Ben Holmes. Used subs: Thomas Orme, Ross Howcroft-Jones.

PORTHMADOG: Richard Harvey, Gwydion Ifan (Cai Jones 60), Josh Banks, Steve Bratt, Iddon Price, Ceri James (Iwan Lewis 46), Rob Evans (Stuart Rogers 81), Eilir Edwards, Julian Williams, Asa Hamilton, Jamie McDaid.

Many thanks to Gareth Williams of Porthmadog for an excellent report