FLASHBACK – 20 years ago: Porthmadog collect three Welsh Premier points

Vauxhall Masterfit Welsh Premier – Monday, December 27, 2004

Porthmadog 2 (Lee Webber 32, Gareth Caughter 58)
Aberystwyth Town 0

Report: Gareth Williams – http://www.porthmadogfc.com

On this weekend 20 years ago Porthmadog were in the top flight Welsh Premier and celebrating a 2-0 victory over ever-presents Aberystwyth at Y Traeth.

Two incidents, 10 minutes apart, in the opening half had what was probably a decisive influence on the result of this game.

The first came when Port took the lead, very much against the run of play, just after the half-hour mark.

A Mike Foster free-kick had been cleared out to the left flank where it reached Ritchie Owen, whose excellent left-footed cross found centre-back Lee Webber well placed to turn the ball into the net from five yards.

The second came when Sion James was shown a red card for a so-called professional foul pulling down Gareth Caughter, who would otherwise have been clean through on goal.

Before these happenings Aber had looked most likely to open the scoring and on at least three occasions the home side were indebted to keeper Gerard McGuigan for denying the visitors the chance to go into the lead.

McGuigan reacted well to turn a Paul Moore strike over the bar before throwing himself to his left to beat out a close-range Glyndwr Hughes shot and the forward then fired the rebound into the side-netting.

Just after Port had taken the lead, Aber carved out another good opportunity when Moore slipped a useful ball which found Gavin Allen in space in the box but McGuigan was quickly off his line and blocked superbly.

Port were also well served during this difficult period by the central-defensive pairing of Ryan Davies and Webber.

While much of the threatening action was at the Port end the home side, apart from the goal, did go close when Steve Jones got behind the defence and his cross to the far post was met by Caughter, whose header was well kept out by keeper Lewis Solly.

HALF-TIME: Porthmadog 1 Aberystwyth 0

By the second half the swirling rain made conditions very difficult but whether it was the extra man or not Port soon established themselves as front runners and started to dominate proceedings.

After failing to take advantage of a good Ritchie Owen ball into the box, Caughter more than made amends when 13 minutes into the second half he put the home side further ahead with a well taken goal.

Webber again had a hand in matters, rising to a cross from the right and heading back across the goal where Mark Williams nodded over the defence and Caughter in space coolly fired past Solly.

Aber did respond briefly first when Sion Meredith got on to the end of an Aneurin Thomas free-kick but his header was just off target.

Then after 69 minutes Glyndwr Hughes dispossessed Foster, finding himself one on one with McGuigan but the keeper, who had a much quieter second period, was again equal to the task.

This really marked the end of Aber as a threat and Port should have gone on to win even more convincingly.

Port introduced injured returnees Carl Owen and later Aled Rowlands and the former should probably have done better in taking advantage of a poor Solly goal-kick.

From the resulting corner Ritchie Owen powered a 25 yard effort the wrong side of the upright. Rowlands then lashed into the side-netting after an excellent build-up involving Rowlands himself, Carl Owen, Caughter and Steve Jones.

Caughter then slipped in the muddy box after being put through by a fine Rowlands ball.

Porthmadog: Gerard McGuigan: John G Jones, Ryan Davies, Lee Webber, Mike Foster: Steve Jones, Gareth Parry, Dafydd Evans, Ritchie Owen (Aled Rowlands), Mark Williams (Carl Owen), Gareth Caughter. Subs not used: Tony Williams, Bari Evans.

Aberystwyth: Lewis Solly, Nick Evans, David Burrows, Aneurin Thomas, Sion James, Gari Lewis, Glyndwr Hughes, Bari Morgan, Paul Moore, Gavin Allen, Sion Meredith. Subs: Jason Rees, Andy Evans, Mark Gornall.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT

• The teams met again on New Year’s Day at Park Avenue. The game ended 0-0.
• Porthmadog finished 11th in the Welsh Premier that 2004-05 season, Aber ending up eighth.
• This was Port’s second season back in the top flight after a five-year absence and they were to remain a WPL club until 2009-10.