FLASHBACK – 25 YEARS AGO: Porthmadog take on Holyhead Hotspur in the Cymru Alliance

HUWS GRAY FITLOCK CYMRU ALLIANCE LEAGUE – FEBRUARY 24, 2001

Porthmadog 3 (K Roberts 8, 26, D Evans pen 80)
Holyhead Hotspur 0

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

On this date 25 years ago Porthmadog recorded a three-goal victory over Holyhead Hotspur at Y Traeth.

In the process, Port completed a league double over the Holy Islanders, who they had also beaten in the Welsh Cup earlier in the 2000-01 season.

If the score in this February 24, 2001, clash suggests an easy home victory then nothing could be further from the truth, for Port had to be at their best to overcome a determined Holyhead side.

The Port triumph was built on another sound defensive performance. Kenny Dixon kept a third clean sheet in a row in an end to end battle with the first goal effort coming from the visitors’ ever-dangerous Nigel Moore after four minutes.

It was first blood to Porthmadog, however, when Kevin Roberts put them ahead after eight minutes. The goal came from a right wing corner by Mike Foster which was deflected across the goal where Roberts got in front of keeper Dylan Pritchard and headed into the net.

Soon after Carl Owen cut in from the left for Port, but Steve Pugh failed to convert a threatening low cross.

Almost immediately play swung to the other end and a fine diving save by Dixon was needed to keep out Adrian Owen’s fierce shot.

After 26 minutes came Port’s second goal when a back pass was neatly intercepted by Roberts again, who ran on to score unchallenged.

Port were unlucky not to have gone further ahead when a fierce Lewis Coady drive was headed off the line by James Parry and again when a clear handball on the goal-line was seen by everyone except the officials!

HALF-TIME: Porthmadog 2 Holyhead Hotspur 0

The second-half continued much as the first with both sides playing good passing football.

Martin Bohana had to be at his best to stem the Port attacks. Kevin Roberts was in outstanding form for the home team, linking up well with Carl Owen supplying intelligent ground passes and clever flicks with his head.

Despite non-stop end to end football it appeared that no more goals would be scored.

Dixon performed marvels to save from Moore after 52 minutes and then Adrian Owen headed just over.

Minutes later at the other end Pritchard punched over from Roberts on the counter attack.

Then it was Dixon again saving from Moore clear on goal after 68 minutes. An excellent six-man move for Port followed with Pritchard turning Roberts’ header behind for a corner.

Eventually the only goal of the half came when a clever Roberts pass put Pugh clear on the right. He broke into the box where he was pulled down by Bohana.

David Evans converted the spot kick, sending Pritchard the wrong way.

PORTHMADOG

Kenny Dixon, Martin Jones, Danny Hughes (Warren Gibbs), Mike Foster, Campbell Harrison, David Evans, Steve Pugh, Gareth Caughter, Lewis Coady, Kevin Roberts, Carl Owen (Neil Roberts). Sub not used: Osian Roberts.

HOLYHEAD HOTSPUR

Dylan Pritchard, James Parry, Alan Doutch, Jonathan Doutch, Martin Bohana, Jody McEachern, Mark Jat, Carl Taylor, Nigel Moore, Adrian Owen, David Williams. Subs: Nick Dumbarton, Robin Hodgkinson.

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED THAT SEASON?

• Porthmadog finished sixth in the Tier 2 Cymru Alliance, Hotspur 13th
  

• The teams met four times in 2000-01: Welsh Cup – Hotspur 2 Porthmadog 3; League – Hotspur 1 Porthmadog 2, Porthmadog 3 Hotspur 0; North Wales Coast Challenge Cup – Hotspur 1 Porthmadog 1 (Hotspur won 4-1 on penalties)