Flashback – 15 years ago: Another late show from Porthmadog salvages them a point

Principality Building Society Welsh Premier – Saturday, January 6, 2007

CPD Porthmadog 1 (Carl Owen 90)
Llanelli 1 (Nicky Palmer 76)

Report: Gareth Williams

Fifteen years ago today Carl Owen’s injury-time equaliser gave Porthmadog a well-deserved point in a game of few chances where defences were generally on top.

Following a goalless first half it was Port who had looked the more threatening during the second period, but Llanelli took the lead against the run of play with less than 15 minutes left.

The South Wales visitors started well, Craig Williams volley flying past the upright.

The best early chance, however, fell to Porthmadog when Jason Sadler and Les Davies created a clear opening for Gareth Caughter, who with only the keeper to beat failed to connect and the ball crept narrowly wide.

Carl Owen replaced the injured Caughter after half an hour.

Towards the end of the half Porthmadog’s Richard Hughes went close from a Clayton Blackmore corner and Les Davies broke on the left but his powerful shot was well blocked.

Half-time: Porthmadog 0 Llanelli 0

Les Davies cut inside and struck a good shot early in the second half but keeper Duncan Roberts saved well.

In the 63rd minute, Davies’ low cross from the left was touched past the post by Carl Owen.

With 14 minutes left it was Llanelli who took the lead when Rhys Griffiths’ cross took a fortunate deflection, providing an unmarked Nicky Palmer with the simple task of heading into an empty net.

An away win seemed now to be the most likely outcome with the full-timers holding on for a much needed three points to get their title challenge back on course.

But Porthmadog proved the game is not over until the final whistle is blown.

First Roberts needed to be at his best to keep out Sadler, then, with Llanelli expecting the whistle to blow, Rhys Roberts, December’s WPL Player of the Month, rose in the box to flick on John Gwynfor Jones’ cross and Carl Owen applied the finish.

Porthmadog: Richard Harvey: John G Jones, Ryan Davies, Rhys Roberts, Mike Foster: Gareth Caughter (Carl Owen 30), Richard Hughes, Danny Hughes, Clayton Blackmore, Jason Sadler, Les Davies. Subs not used: Aled Rowlands, Kevin Roberts, Mark Cook.

Llanelli: Duncan Roberts, Dale Griffiths, Gary Lloyd, Richard Appleby (Neil Thomas 66), Stuart Jones, Wyn Thomas, Nicky Palmer, Lee Phillips, Rhys Griffiths, James Thomas, (Jacob Mingorance 58), Craig Williams.

Referee: Brian Lawlor (Holyhead)
Attendance: 188