ARDAL NORTH WEST: Pritchard treble as Pwllheli hit six, Porthmadog fight back for NFA draw

ARDAL NORTH WEST REPORTS – SATURDAY, JANUARY 10

NFA 2 Porthmadog 2

Draw specialists NFA had to settle for a seventh points-share in 15 games as Porthmadog fought back from two-down to earn an even-split at Rhyl’s Ffordd Derwen.
The second-place visitors managed to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat during a stirling performance late in the second half.
NFA took a seventh-minute lead when goalkeeper Dan Clark, deputising for the unwell Josh Cooke, was called upon to deal with a high punt into the box. His punch, under pressure, was mis-timed and fell behind him for Owen Herbert to score with the simplest ever of tap-ins.
Port settled and for the most part controlled the rest of the first half, but still went in a goal down.
The men in black and red started the second period strongly and again produced a string of corner kicks and half-chances, all thwarted by desperate last-ditch tackles and solid goalkeeping by Philip Williams.
Then came the second and almost inevitable sucker punch on 61 minutes. A quick break through the middle and the ball was relayed to the right wing.
The outswinging cross was met by a diving punch by Clark which only went straight into the path of Harri Williams, who netted with ease from 15 yards.
From there, Port showed a lot of character and sought to play the ball forward at every opportunity.
On 76 minutes a long through ball at last pierced the home defence but Williams bravely dived at the feet of the marauding Osian Evans. Sam Reynolds attempted to retrieve the situation and as the ball squirmed free during a goalmouth scramble, Rhys Alun drove home to make it 2-1.
Then, barely a minute later, following great work by Reynolds and Rhys Alun, substitute Liam Morris sent in a high cross which was headed high into the far corner of the net by fellow sub Jonny Bravo. Two-apiece and game on!
There were two more chances for Port before the end. First, Osian Evans broke clean through on goal but his firm shot was superbly saved by Williams.
Then, an identical break by Rhys Alun was thwarted again by the keeper following some hesitancy by the busy striker.
The hosts then produced some anxious moments for the visitors including a drive from 12 yards which just cleared the bar, but 2-2 it remained at the end of something of a thriller.

Llanrwst United 1 Bethesda Athletic 1

Ardal North West top-scorer Osian Hughes’ 13th goal of the season earned Bethesda a second 1-1 draw of the campaign against Llanrwst.
A Steffan Davies own goal on 33 minutes gave the Rwsters a half time advantage, but Joe Todd’s delivery set up Hughes to make it 1-1 from a corner just past the hour.

Llay Welfare 1 CPD Y Felinheli 1

Third-place Llay needed a 78th minute leveller from David MacIntyre to salvage a point against a determined Felinheli.
The Welly have now lost just one of their last 12 matches – and that was a 5-2 defeat at Felin in the Ardal Northern League Cup.
So the Wrexham side will have been wary of how dangerous the opposition can be entering Saturday’s clash and it was the away team which struck first when Byron Davis bagged his 19th goal of the campaign, Iwan Edwards with the assist.
Llay made it all-square 12 minutes from the end when MacIntyre benefited from Lewis Fearns’ supply skills.

Penmaenmawr Phoenix 1 CPD Pwllheli 6

New signing Cian Pritchard plundered a hat-trick as Pwllheli romped to a thumping 6-1 success at next-to-bottom Phoenix.
Pritchard, who recently join Pwll from Penrhyndeudraeth, boosted his tally for the season to 22 goals in 21 games with a third treble of 2025-26, scoring on 38, 72 and 81 minutes.
Also on target twice was promising 17-year-old Hari Lambe, after 21 and 83, while captain Josua Jones opened the scoring on 13 and provided two assists.
This result followed four straight defeats for Pwllheli. Pen’s consolation reply came via Harley Crossfield on 48 minutes.

Trearddur Bay 4 Mynydd Isa 2

The Beach Boys made it seven league wins in eight starts after completing a season’s double over Mynydd Isa.
Scott Davies fired the visitors into a 27th minute lead, but Liam Armstrong made it 1-1 on 32 and Les Davies edged Bay in front in added time at the end of the half.
Armstrong and Davies also supplied the assist for each other’s goals.
No further goals arrived until the 83rd minute, Toby Jones setting up Sebastian Samuel to make it 3-1.
Isa proved they were not out of it when sub Cayden Hazeldine pulled one back on 85, but soon after Nigerian striker Samuel struck again to clinch the points with his sixth goal in seven matches.