Flashback – 20 years ago: Porthmadog beat Llangefni Town in Cymru Alliance top of the table battle

FLASHBACK – 20 YEARS AGO

Porthmadog 2 (Caughter 71, Pugh 89)
Llangefni Town 1 (Parry 87)

Huws Gray Fitlock Cymru Alliance League – December 19, 2002

REPORT: MR GARETH WILLIAMS

In this week 20 years ago a dramatic finish at Y Traeth saw Porthmadog maintain their unbeaten record in the 2002-03 league season.

Visitors Llangefni entered the game on a run of 10 straight wins so it was certainly the case that something would have to give when these form sides clashed.

Port soon had the Cefni defence under pressure, Dave Farr threatening with his darting runs and close control.

After only four minutes, the home side should have taken the lead when Farr broke on the right and his accurate cross created a clear opening for Steve Cooper, who shot narrowly past the post.

Just a minute later Farr came bursting through the centre and John Roberts, under severe pressure, could only stop him by pulling him down in the box for a clear penalty.

For once Dafydd Evans, the penalty ace, was not on target as Richard Harvey dived to his left to save well but at a comfortable height.

Port continued to stretch the away rearguard and former Traeth keeper Harvey was soon in action again pulling off a good save to thwart Farr.

Minutes later Harvey pulled off another fine save from a glancing Farr header following a Gareth Caughter cross from the left.

The clearest chance of all fell to Tony Williams, after 38 minutes, when he failed to get his head to Lee Webber’s cross-goal header.

With the goal gaping at point blank range he somehow was unable to make contact.

Port totally dominated the opening half and could easily have been three or four goals up whilst Llangefni rarely threatened.

Town’s only danger moment came when keeper Gerard McGuigan muffed a clearance and was fortunate to see Gerallt Jones’ lob go well wide.

Half-time: 0-0

Early in the second period and Harvey was called on to make two more good saves, first to hold a Farr lob and then a Steve Pugh header.

Llangefni now became more impactive and Grahame Austin along the left was a danger.

After 55 minutes he broke to the by-line and his cross found Darren Pritchard well-placed, but the shot was screwed well wide.

Then after 71 minutes came the breakthrough. Mike Foster’s corner was met by Webber’s back post header and Caughter was the quickest to react and put Porthmadog ahead.

This led to a tense period in the game when tackles started flying in and tempers became frayed.

The visitors pressed hard, throwing everything forward and putting the home defence under an aerial siege.

After 87 minutes Pugh gave away a needless free-kick 25 yards out and though Jason Thomas’ effort was partially cleared a high ball into the box found sub Bob Parry, whose looping header beat McGuigan to level the scores.

With only a minute of normal time left Port deservedly regained the lead when Pugh atoned for his earlier error and took full advantage of a scramble in front of goal following another Foster corner.

A tense and exciting finish, but Port were the better side overall and deservedly gained a double over their promotion rivals.

AFTERMATH

Porthmadog went on to win the league title by 19 points, while Llangefni finished fourth.

TEAMS

PORTHMADOG

Gerard McGuigan
John Gwynfor Jones
Danny Hughes
Lee Webber
Mike Foster (c)
Dafydd Evans
Ritchie Owen
Steve Cooper
Gareth Caughter
Dave Farr
Tony Williams (Steve Pugh).
Subs not used: Iwan Roberts, Campbell Harrison

LLANGEFNI TOWN

Richard Harvey
Neil Jatt
Jason Thomas
John Roberts
Andrew Wagstaffe
Darren Pritchard
Nigel Barry
Gerallt Jones
Jason Sadler
Grahame Austin
Corey Sinnott
Subs
Bob Parry
Steve Moss