Flashback – 15 years ago: Caernarfon fight back from 2-0 down to win at Y Traeth

CPD Porthmadog 2 (Les Davies 16, Carl Owen 37)
Caernarfon Town 3 (Gerard Maloney 40, Steve Watkin 59, Dylan Owen 73)
Vauxhall Masterfit Welsh Premier – March 25, 2006

Despite taking a two-goal lead at the Traeth this date 15 years ago, Porthmadog ended up beaten by a Caernarfon outfit which finished deserved winners overall.

Port started well and looked the more likely to score with Ywain Gwynedd and Carl Owen going close in the first five minutes.

John Rowley then had a good opportunity for Caernarfon in the 10th minute but shot straight at keeper Richard Harvey.

Almost immediately Les Davies for Porthmadog raced half the length of the field before letting fly with a cracker from 20 yards, but was unlucky to see his shot strike the upright with Caernarfon glovesman Paul Pritchard beaten.

A home goal had to come and after 16 minutes a good build up involving Geraint Mitchell and Jason Sadler gave Owen the opportunity to cross from the right and Davies scored from close range.

The hosts could have gone further ahead when a Davies lob caught keeper Pritchard off his line but the ball bounced narrowly wide.

Sadler found himself one-on-one with Pritchard, having been put through by Owen, but the keeper saved well diving low to his right.

In the 36th minute Owen gave Porthmadog the two-goal advantage they deserved when he met Mike Foster’s deep cross at the far post and sent a superbly-directed header looping over the keeper.

The two-goal advantage lasted only three minutes as Gerard Maloney brought the visitors back into the game with a finely struck free-kick from 25 yards.

Half-time: Porthmadog 2 Caernarfon Town 1

Sadler threatened early in the second period, turning Waynne Phillips and forcing a save from Pritchard and the keeper also had to punch clear under pressure from Gwynedd.

After weathering these early attacks Caernarfon stepped up a gear and just before the hour mark another set piece gave them the opportunity to level the scores.

This time it was a corner by Maloney which was met at the near post by the experienced Steve Watkin and his flick found its way under Harvey into the net.

Town were now on top adapting better to the extremely wet conditions in the second period.

After Sadler shot tamely at Pritchard, the dangerous Rowley on the counter attack was just wide of the target and moments later, when the ball was only partially cleared, ex-Port attacker Marcus Orlik’s powerful shot brought a good save from Harvey.

Caernarfon, with Watkin holding the ball up well at the front and Lee Jones pulling the strings in midfield, looked the more likely to go ahead.

When the home side could only part-clear a cross from the left, Dylan Owen volleyed through a crowded penalty box and the ball took a deflection from Foster’s head and into the corner of the net – 3-2 to Caernarfon and the turnaround was complete.

Good efforts from Rowley again and Lee Jones could have put the Cofis further ahead.

The home side had a last chance to secure a point, but both Lee Webber and Rhys Roberts failed to secure a final touch following a Foster free-kick.

Porthmadog: Richard Harvey, Geraint Mitchell (John G Jones 64), Lee Webber, Rhys Roberts, Mike Foster: Ywain Gwynedd (Tony Williams 60), Paul Friel, Gareth Caughter, Les Davies: Carl Owen, Jason Sadler.

Caernarfon: Paul Pritchard, Waynne Phillips, Jimmy McNulty, Kenny Irons, Richie Owen, Gerard Maloney (Dylan Owen 60), Marcus Orlik, Rob Williams, Lee Jones, Steve Watkin, John Rowley (Gwyn Peters 85).

Attendance: 287.