Flashback – 5 years ago: Port win as stand in keeper Paps keeps clean sheet
Rhayader Town 0
CPD Porthmadog 2 (Hamilton 60, Wozencraft OG 90 +)
Cymru Alliance – April 2, 2016
Despite player-manager Craig Papirnyk having to become a stand-in keeper from just the fourth minute after regular stopper Paul Whitfield got injured, Port kept a clean sheet and took maximum points at Y Weirglodd on this day five years ago.
At the start of the 2015-16 season Asa Hamilton had scored the only goal for Rhayader in a 1-0 win over Porthmadog at Y Traeth.
Eight months on, with Hamilton now a Port player, he repaid the damage by netting his new team’s opener in a 2-0 victory over the Powys men.
In the very first minute at Y Weirglodd, Whitfield pulled a hamstring and after a fruitless attempt to continue was subbed on 10 with Papirnyk donning the No 1 shirt.
Play was even in the early stages with the first real effort on goal coming for Rhayader when Rhydian Davies tried a shot from 20 yards which failed to hit the target.
The closest the home side came to scoring throughout the 90 minutes came on the quarter-hour when player manager Dylan McPhee lifted a free kick into the box and with the ball bouncing dangerously around Davies headed narrowly over the bar.
Port gradually worked themselves into the game and home keeper Luke Evans made the first of several excellent saves when he did well to tip a Gruff Williams header over following a Jamie McDaid corner.
Evans then got down smartly to divert Hamilton’s 20 yard effort round the post for a corner.
Towards the end of the half Port came on strongly and twice Josh Davies was unlucky to see shots on the turn deflected for corners after he had received first from Cai Jones and then from a Gruff Williams free kick.
In the last minute of the half the home team had custodian Evans to thank again as he saved from Hamilton.
Half-time: 0-0
Early in the second half a dangerous Craig Harris free kick caused some panic in the Port penalty area but was eventually cleared.
Port began to dominate and McDaid burst threateningly from midfield only to fire over from 18 yards.
Then on the hour mark the visitors finally took the lead.
Cai Jones raided down the right and Hamilton stealing in at the back post met his well-judged cross to net with a low shot from eight yards.
Four minutes after going ahead a good Port build up ended with a Cai Jones effort which curled wide of the post.
Though Port continued to enjoy plenty of possession with Ceri James directing operations from midfield there were few real chances at either end.
Stand-in stopper Papirnyk did eventually get into the action in the later stages, first saving a low shot from Harris, another from Davies and also cutting out Chris McKenzie’s looping cross.
In the closing stages Port pushed forward to try and settle the game as Hamilton’s free kick scraped the bar and McDaid’s through ball found Josh Davies but Evans saved again.
Port’s second goal did not arrive until the second minute of added time.
Julian Williams, who had been a threat since coming on after 75 minutes, cut into the box on the left and his low cross evaded the Port attackers but was turned into his own net at the back post by full back Thomas Wozencraft.
PORTHMADOG: Paul Whitfield (Craig Papirnyk 4), Rob Evans, Josh Banks, Gruff Williams, Iddon Price, Ceri James, Iwan Lewis, Asa Hamilton, Josh Davies, Cai Jones (Julian Williams 75), Jamie McDaid.