Ardal Northern League Cup Final: Porthmadog’s day in the sun at Rhyl

LOCK STOCK ARDAL NORTHERN LEAGUE CUP FINAL 2024-25

Porthmadog 4 (Brookwell 2 & 78; Hilditch 21 pen & 34)
Brickfield Rangers 1 (Vale 74)

Two goals apiece from leading marksmen Tom Hilditch and Danny Brookwell ensured Porthmadog ended the 2024-25 season on a massive high by lifting the Lock Stock Ardal Northern League Cup.

While Chris Jones’ side would no doubt have preferred the tier 3 Ardal North West league title or promotion – they finished third – the lifting of a trophy still serves as a real tonic to the Traeth men.

Ardal North East champions and Cymru North bound Brickfield entered Saturday’s final at the Hops and Barley Community Stadium in Rhyl as favourites, but Port were more than worthy winners on the day.

While the Eifionydd club have won higher-ranked trophies in their history, including the tier 2 Huws Gray Cup in 1998-99 and 2002-03, this latest addition to their cabinet is a very welcome boost.

MATCH REPORT – MR TREFLYN JONES

Port got off to an absolute flier on the immaculate Rhyl pitch.

There were barely two minutes on the clock when Rhys Alun’s deft pass put Brookwell clean through on goal and the Anglesey-based striker made no mistake as he slammed a confident left-footer past Ryan Price to open the scoring.

Brickfield simply could not settle as a rampant Port continued to press hard. After 20 minutes, Chris Jones’ men doubled their account.

A glorious diagonal pass by Ryan Williams found Brookwell in space on the right wing. Just as he beat his marker to get into the box, he was brought down and referee Adam Herbert pointed to the penalty spot.

Up stepped Tom Hilditch to confidently send the keeper the wrong way.

Barely 10 minutes later, two became three. An intricate exchange of passes saw the ball eventually land at the feet of Hilditch, who tapped into an empty net for his 26th goal of the season.

Hilditch could well have clinched his hat-trick a couple of minutes later as his close range low shot drifted just wide of the upright and Rhys Alun also came desperately close but his header went straight into the keeper;s grateful arms.

It took until the tird minute of injury time at the end of the first period for Brickfield to get a shot on target, but Gerson Silva Neto’s crisp half-volley went straight into Ollie Farebrother’s hands.

Half-time: Brickfield 0 Porthmadog 3

If the first 45 belonged to Port, then it has to be said the second half was bossed largely by the men of Wrexham as they showed greater composure and intent.

They had nothing to lose and their attacking play was occasionally putting the Port defenders into a spin.

On the hour mark, Port custodian Farebrother reacted well to keep out a worthy effort by the dangerous Tom Freeman with an outstretched leg and minutes later a fine shot clattered off the crossbar.

Ten minutes later, Brickfield deservedly reduced the arrears when a slick move put prolific scorer Andy Vale clean through. There was a dribble past a defender and then a pretty step-over before he guided the ball confidently past Farebrother to make it 3-1 with his 35th goal of 2024-25.

Brickfield were well on top by now and it took a miraculous close range save by Farebrother to prevent the green and whites doing some real damage.

However, Lady Luck seemed to be smiling on Port today as, a minute later, substitute Sion Williams broke through the midfield on a strong run. His pass found Brookwell who made no mistake as he glided the ball past Price to put the game beyond Rangers at 4-1 with his 19th goal this term.

Port lifted the League Cup at a very Sunny Rhyl ,and, to cap it all, the Man Of The Match award went to Caio Evans, who ran his socks off all afternoon.

Brickfield Rangers: Ryan Price, Thomas Williams ( H Lucas Jones 90+1), Benjamin Dawson, Kiran Russell, Steve Watkins (Callum Roberts 25), Andy Vale, Isaac Dawson, Aiden Fox (J Lima Texeira 86), Tom Freeman (Ryan Lancelotte 86), Dominic Doherty, Gerson Silva Neto (Leroy Ngema Stamp 90+1).

Porthmadog: Oliver Farebrother, Jake Jones (Shaun Cavanagh 78), Cai Griffith, Gruff Ellis, Iddon Price, Caio Evans, Rhys Alun (John Littlemore 73), Ryan Williams, Tom Hilditch (Sion Williams 60), Cai Jones (Jack Rimmer 73), Danny Brookwell (Jamie Jones 78).