FLASHBACK – 15 years ago: Away day joy for CPD Porthmadog in Welsh Premier

Ceri James (right) scored in Porthmadog’s 3-1 win at Carmarthen on November 21, 2009

Fifteen years ago this week Porthmadog were in the Welsh Premier League and one of their best performances of the season was a great 3-1 away win at Carmarthen Town.

Here is the match account of club stalwart Gareth Williams

Principality Building Society Welsh Premier – Saturday, 21 November, 2009

Carmarthen Town 1 (Hicks 8)
CPD Porthmadog 3 (James 6, Roberts 47 & 65)

An outstanding second half team performance coupled with two super strikes by Paul Roberts gave Port a well deserved three points.

The 3-1 triumph represented Port’s first win on the road this term and when Ceri James scored after six minutes it was also their first away league goal of 2009/10.

In view of the extreme weather conditions it was a minor miracle that the game took place at all, so the Carmarthen club are to be congratulated on the quality of their playing surface and also their ground staff, for ensuring the fixture went ahead.

Though Carmarthen were first out of the blocks with Mark Dodds testing Richard Morgan with a header, it was Port who went ahead after only 6 minutes in their first attack.

Marc Evans’ right wing corner held up in the strong wind and Ceri James’ touch had Port appealing that the ball had crossed the line.

Though the ball was cleared the linesman agreed with the Port players, signalling a goal.

Port did not hold the lead for long as Carmarthen replied with a good move down the left and after an exchange of passes Nathan Cotterall crossed for Tim Hicks to equalise from 10 yards.

Following this goal, the Old Gold went on to dominate with Cotterall and Kris Thomas combining down the left to open up the Port defence time and again.

A low shot by Hicks was gathered at the second attempt by Morgan in the atrocious conditions and Paul Fowler, cutting in from the left, wasted a good opportunity with a wayward shot.

Both Cotterall and Hicks lifted attempts over the bar when well placed and Morgan did well to keep out Cotterall’s angled shot.

Gradually, as the half wore on, thanks to Euron Roberts, ably supported by Marc Evans, the Carmarthen attacks down the left were stemmed.

Though they were second best for much of the half Port did have their moments and following a good sweeping move Paul Roberts crossed for Gareth Parry whose volley was kept out by keeper Neil Thomas’ outstretched leg.

Another move down the right ended with Adeb Shannon just failing to get on to Euron Roberts’ low cross.

HALF-TIME: 1-1

Carmarthen’s profligacy was punished immediately after the interval.

Dan Pyrs burst from midway to the edge of the Town penalty area before finding Paul Roberts, who turned inside on to his left foot and also turned the game on its head with a 20 yard thunderbolt into the top corner of the net.

Confidence suddenly flowed through the Porthmadog team and they were unlucky not to open a two-goal margin when keeper Thomas failed to deal with Evans’ corner and his weak punch would have ended up in the net but for the thick mud on the goal line.

Shannon went close to adding a third when his curling well-hit 25 yard free kick forced Thomas to pull off a fine save, touching the ball over the bar.

Two-goal hero Paul Roberts

Soon after, however, after 65 minutes, Pyrs worked another Evans corner across to the left where Paul Roberts found the space to drill another powerful shot past Thomas.

Carmarthen’s efforts to get back into the game were met by some excellent Port defending, closing down well in both midfield and at the back.

They kept possession well, passing the ball out from the back and rarely resorting to the big boot.

Cotterall did test Morgan with a 75th minute shot which needed a full length save diving to his right, but on the whole the hosts were becalmed.

TEAMS

Porthmadog: Richard Morgan, Jack Jones, Euron Roberts, Dan Pyrs, Ryan Davies, John Keegan, Aden Shannon (Marc Gornall 90), Ceri James (Steffan Antionazzi 88), Paul Roberts, Marc Evans (Mike Thompson 69), Gareth Parry.

Carmarthen: Neil Thomas, Richard Hughes, Nicky Palmer, Neil Smothers (Sacha Walters), Mark Dodds, Kris Thomas, Craig Hanford (Ben Morris 86), Tom Hicks, Paul Fowler, Pritchard (Danny Thomas 65′), Nathan Cotterall.