Flashback – 15 years ago: Carl Owen hits a double in Port success

Porthmadog 3 (Carl Owen 15 & 45; Jason Sadler 83)
Carmarthen Town 0
Vauxhall Masterfit Welsh Premier – March 14, 2006

Carl Owen struck at the double in this week 15 years ago as Porthmadog found the form which had deserted them of late to record a comfortable victory over Carmarthen.

With Paul Friel playing in a more advanced midfield role and Danny Hughes occupying the anchor position, the hosts looked far better balanced as they took the game to their opponents.

They could have gone ahead after 11 minutes when keeper Rob Thomas failed to hold a typical Les Davies blaster but neither Carl Owen nor Gareth Caughter was able to complete the job.

Just four minutes later came Port’s opener as Jason Sadler’s cross from the left was touched on by Caughter for Owen to shoot low past Thomas from 12 yards.

Carmarthen attempted to strike back straight away but Wayne Jones’ curling shot passed narrowly outside the angle of post and crossbar.

The home side continued to look the more threatening and Thomas had to pull off a good save to keep out Lee Webber following a Mike Foster free-kick.

Sadler went close but Thomas foiled his attempt to lob over him into the empty net.

Probing runs by Caughter and Davies kept the visitors defence at full stretch and just on half-time one of these runs bore fruit.

Davies burst down the right and Owen got on the end of a cut back to the near post, flicking the ball past Thomas to give the home side a deserved two-goal advantage at the interval.

Half-time: Porthmadog 2 Carmarthen 0

The Old Gold showed more determination after the break as they looked for the goal which would bring them back into the game.

They had a rare opportunity after 56 minutes when a defensive muddle left Sacha Walters clear in the box but Harvey pulled off a fine save to deny him.

Play became rather scrappy as Carmarthen were unable to create any real chances and the home defence were never seriously troubled.

Once again Porthmadog looked the more likely to score.

Davies thundered against the upright, then an Owen volley was kept out by a keeper who knew very little about the shot.

The third goal had to come and a good build up involving Owen and Davies ended with the latter supplying Sadler whose low shot found the corner of the net.

With the result now settled Carmarthen’s best effort came from Craig Lima’s 85th minute header which struck the bar and Foster was glad to head the rebound back over the goal for a corner to ensure a clean sheet.

Porthmadog: Richard Harvey: John G Jones (Geraint Mitchell 70), Lee Webber, Rhys Roberts, Mike Foster: Gareth Caughter, Paul Friel, Danny Hughes, Les Davies: Carl Owen (Iwan Thomas 87) Jason Sadler (Curt Williams 84). Subs not used: Ywain Gwynedd, Iwan Williams.

Attendance: 139

Many thanks to Gareth Williams for another excellent report from the Porthmadog website archive