Flashback – 15 years ago: Porthmadog end 2005-06 season with fine win

CPD Porthmadog 2 (Sadler 7, L Davies 32)
Welshpool Town 0
Vauxhall Masterfit Welsh Premier – April 22, 2006

Porthmadog rounded off their 2005-06 campaign in style with an impressive victory at Y Traeth.

Two first half strikes were enough to give the home side the points and though they did not add to their score in the second period the visitors, on a bad recent run, rarely threatened the Port goal.

Porthmadog could have been ahead after only four minutes when Mike Foster found Les Davies with a useful cross but the forward’s header was narrowly off target.

The home supporters did not have to wait long for the first goal, however. Danny Hughes, who was in excellent form prompting in midfield, sent Jason Sadler on a run and the striker beat keeper Robin Bloor with a low shot at his right hand post.

The home side went close to doubling their lead when Les Davies forced Bloor into a partial save and the keeper did well again to recover and block Sadler’s shot at the near post.

The mid-Wales Lilywhites then enjoyed a period of strong pressure and Richard Harvey had to pull off two good saves, but after 32 minutes the home side deservedly went further ahead.

Les Davies burst into the box before firing in a shot which Bloor could only partially save. The supporters’ player of the season was not to be denied, however, and Les made no mistake with his second bite to bring his season’s league tally up to 11 goals.

Half-time: Porthmadog 2 Welshpool Town 0

The second half produced very little in the way of football with both sides resorting to long ball tactics in by-passing the midfield.

A Welshpool attack, containing several proven goal scorers, made little impact on a defensive formation with the three centre backs – Ryan Davies, Lee Webber and Rhys Roberts – used as a unit for the first time.

This formation allowed the two full backs to push up more in attack.

Porthmadog’s main tactic was to use the pace of Sadler but the service in the second period lacked the accuracy of the opening half.

The closest Porthmadog came to scoring was when Gareth Caughter crossed from the by-line but John Gwynfor Jones’ header was narrowly off target.

Sadler attempted a cheeky lob from 35 yards but failed to catch Bloor out.

Then towards the end Ian Williams went on a good run but his shot was straight at Bloor.

Welshpool were a shadow of the side that had done so well this season and apart from one scramble in the box and a shot into the side netting by Aden Shannon, Harvey, in the home goal, was largely untroubled.

Porthmadog: Richard Harvey: Ryan Davies, Lee Webber (Ywain Gwynedd 89), Rhys Roberts: John G Jones, Danny Hughes, Paul Friel, Iwan Thomas (Gareth Caughter 62), Mike Foster: Jason Sadler, Les Davies (Ian Williams 86).

Welshpool: Robin Bloor, Jonathan Jones, Dave Cunnah, Brett Jeffries, Ceri James, John Keegan, Justin Wickham, Ross Jeffries (Mark Roberts 77), Steve Rogers, Aden Shannon, Calvin Davies.
Subs not used: Geraint Windsor, Tomi Morgan

Attendance: 233

Many thanks to Gareth Williams for the match report and Dorothy Williams for the photographs