FLASHBACK – 25 YEARS AGO: Porthmadog in sparkling form at Halkyn United

HUWS GRAY FITLOCK CYMRU ALLIANCE LEAGUE – FEBRUARY 17, 2001

Halkyn United 0
Porthmadog 4 (K Roberts 17, G Caughter 55, 81, C Owen 68)

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

It was 25 years ago on this date that Porthmadog gained their fourth successive away win and thereby completed the double over Cymru Alliance League newcomers Halkyn.

This was a game which the visitors dominated from the start but once again it looked as though they would find translating possession into goals a problem.

Steve Pugh, showing good form in midfield, crossed after five minutes for Carl Owen to head just over the bar and with 10 gone, Kevin Roberts hit a 25 yard drive which Alan Tyrrell tipped over the bar.

After 17 minutes Martin Jones thundered the ball against the bar from 25 yards and the rebound fell to Kevin Roberts who saw his gentle shot slip through Tyrrell’s hands and into the Halkyn net. This rather fortunate goal was all Port had to show for their opening half dominance.

This domination is shown clearly by the fact that it took 21 minutes for Sweet to put in Halkyn’s first direct shot on goal and this was easily dealt with by Kenny Dixon.

The second-half, however, gave Port the kind of reward which their good play deserved.

After 55 minutes, Gareth Caughter broke in from the left cutting into the box, beating the last defender before driving high into the net from 15 yards.

Halkyn’s lack of control in midfield and a tendency to give the ball away restricted their chances when going forward, but after 66 minutes Steve Alcock put in the home team’s best effort when his long-range attempt had to be touched over the bar by the ever alert Dixon.

In the main, however, Dixon was well protected by an efficient Port defence in which Mike Foster was again outstanding .

In the 68th minute came, perhaps, the best goal when Pugh collected a stray pass on the right of midfield and gave a perfectly-weighted pass over the home defence for Carl Owen to run on to and finish the move with an accurate lob over keeper Tyrrell. Owen went close again after 80 when combining well with Caughter.

A period where both sides indulged in some over vigorous and flying tackles, which went unpunished by the referee, came to a head when Carl Owen was brought down on the edge of the area resulting in Halkyn’s Julian Jones being given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

From the ensuing David Evans free-kick the ball was blocked only to Campbell Harrison on the left. Harrison carried the ball to the byline, cutting in and his accurate low cross was touched in by Caughter to make the score 4-0.

HALKYN UNITED

Alan Tyrrell, Powell, K Davies, Scott, Julian Jones, Clayton, Darren Wild, Johnson, Sweet, Taylor, Steve Alcock. Subs: Lee Acott, Bryce, Horne.

PORTHMADOG

Port: Kenny Dixon, Martin Jones, Danny Hughes, Mike Foster, Campbell Harrison, Dafydd Evans, Steve Pugh (Neil Roberts), Lewis Coady, Gareth Caughter, Kevin Roberts, Carl Owen. Subs not used: Stuart Williams, Owain Tudur Jones.