FLASHBACK – 5 years ago: Porthmadog upset form book with great victory at Colwyn Bay

Five years ago this weekend CPD Porthmadog produced one of their best results in a very long time.

The Traeth club, then in tier 2 Cymru North, travelled to take on a Colwyn Bay outfit with seven straight wins behind them during their first season back in the Welsh football system  after a 35-year absence.

In the week leading up to the trip to Llanelian Road, Port had parted company with popular manager Sion Eifion Jones and former boss Craig Papirnyk was given the task of leading the players through what was proving a very difficult spell results-wise.

However, one of the main reasons football is often referred to as The Beautiful Game is its unpredictability.

Porthmadog FC stalwart Gareth Williams runs us through events at Colwyn Bay five years ago during the shortened 2019-20 season.

JD Cymru North League – November 23, 2019

Colwyn Bay 1 (Bryant 27)
Porthmadog 2 (Price 37, ap Gareth 54 pen)

It has been a hard few days at the Traeth and not the kind of situation a friendly close-knit club likes to find itself.

The response by Craig Papirnyk and the squad was breathtaking, for had they caved in to a team on a run of 7 straight wins, it might not have been a huge surprise.

It was a case of when the going gets tough, the tough get going and it was not just a spirited reaction to a difficult situation.

This was a performance of quality to be savoured and enjoyed. In fact, it was an exciting game with both sides going for the victory without a parked bus in sight.

Port had to come from behind to clinch the win with Ilan ap Gareth’s spot kick turning out to be the decider. The tension lasted to the very end with a determined defence successfully keeping the Bay at bay.

Port opened strongly and might well have gone ahead in the first minute. A good sweeping move started deep in their own half down the left, across to John Owen, the shot from 18 yards was kept out by keeper Andy Coughlin stretching low to the foot of the post – an excellent save.

Port continued to control the play with the Bay forced back into their own half. On 20 minutes Coughlin pulled off another good save to deny Mel McGinness driving forward from midfield.

In just a few minutes it was McGinness again when Port hit on the break and this time he got behind the defence, one on one with the keeper but again Coughlin saved his team, getting a hand to the shot and pushing it for a corner.

A whole 21 minutes had passed before Paul Pritchard joined the action with a comfortable save. Gradually however the Bay began to get a foothold in the game and the travelling support were wondering if it was to be another case of neat approach play and no goals.

Suddenly their worst fears were realised as Bay broke quickly down the left and and the pace of the counter attack left the Port defence stranded.

Mitchell Bryant raced on to the low cross and finished clinically from close range.

It seemed a case of here we go again, a worry that increased when Alex Downes rattled the Port crossbar.

But to their credit Port stood up to the test and within 10 minutes they were back on level terms.

Ifan Emlyn’s free kick was struck towards Coughlin’s near post and Iddon Price nipped in to net from close range. The scores remained level at the interval.

Half-time: 1-1

Both sides came out in the second period looking for a winner. Port again pushed forward threateningly and within 10 second half minutes they had got their noses in front.

The goal came following good interplay down the left which allowed Ilan ap Gareth to burst threateningly into the box where he was brought down by Downes. Referee Alex Livesey pointed to the spot immediately.

Ilan ap Gareth stepped up for a real pressure kick and, with the keeper going the wrong way, he crowned an excellent individual performance with the winning goal. The travelling support went nuts.

In reality. despite going ahead there was a huge amount to do before the 3 points could be claimed.

When McGinness was brought down on the edge of the box Iwan Lewis lifted his free kick over the bar.

At the other end Pritchard was down well to save an angled shot from wide right by Downes.

Downes was now a threat with several dangerous crosses. Pritchard was in the action with a double-fisted punch to clear Sion Edwards’ dangerous free kick. With time running out Downes’ low cross created an opportunity for Joe Chaplin but to the relief of the travelling support his shot flew wide.

After more than 4 minutes of added time the final whistle signalled that celebrations could begin on the pitch, in the dugout and in the stands.

A real team performance for all 13 players used, with subs Gethin Thomas and Sion Parry making an important contribution.

Final word to Craig Papirnyk, “Fantastic to get the win today, especially for the Port faithful who haven’t experienced much joy lately but still get behind the club week in week out. It’s not been the best week but I’m glad we gave you some happiness today with a very good performance from the lads.”

Porthmadog: Paul Pritchard, Tomos Ifan, Josh Banks, Dan Roberts (Gethin Thomas 25), Iddon Price, Ifan Emlyn, Iwan Lewis, Mel McGinness (Sion Parry 83), John Owen, Ilan ap Gareth, Rob Evans..

Colwyn Bay: Andy Coughlin, Alex Downes, Jordan Carrington (Kian Owen 83), Darren Thornton, Will Bell, Matthew Russell (Mike Williams 65), Julian Williams, Toby Jones, Mitchell Bryant, Damien Ketley (Joe Chaplin 46), Sion Edwards.

Attendance: 291

What happened after this?

• Porthmadog finished third from bottom and were relegated to tier 3
  

• Bay finished fourth in the table on their return to the Welsh pyramid.
  

• The season came to an abrupt end in early March 2020 due to the worldwide pandemic