FLASHBACK – 25 YEARS AGO: Porthmadog dominate Denbigh Town at Y Traeth in Cymru Alliance clash

HUWS GRAY ALLIANCE – MARCH 14, 2001

Porthmadog 2 (Evans 54 pen, Gibbs 62)
Denbigh Town 0

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

On this date 25 years ago Porthmadog made it eight matches unbeaten – six of them wins.

Nonetheless, the home side made heavy weather of gaining the 3 points in a game which they totally dominated for long periods.

From the start their passing game put the visitors under pressure.

After 5 minutes Nathan Pope, in the Denbigh goal, had to rush out to cut out a good Carl Owen run and soon after Kevin Roberts was threatening after a neat chipped pass by Dafydd Evans.

Denbigh, however came closest to scoring in the early exchanges when Derry Morris’ near post header went inches past following an accurate Matty Williams corner.

Port then forced a series of corners around the half-hour mark and although the ball bobbed dangerously around the Denbigh area the home side failed to take advantage.

By now, Steve Pugh on the right side for Port was creating huge problems for the visitors’ defence with his clever runs and accurate crosses.

After 35 minutes he made a fine solo run into the heart of the defence only to see his finish slip agonisingly on the wrong side of the upright.

Then on the stroke of half-time he sent another accurate cross but no forward managed to get the finishing touch. The Denbigh goal had led a charmed life but at half-time there were no goals.

Half-time: 0-0

The second half started as the first had finished with the home side on the offensive and still unable to convert their chances. Then Pugh, after 54 minutes, cut in from the right and surged into the area at speed and just as he prepared to shoot was brought down by Craig Harker.

Referee Elwyn Jones pointed to the spot and Dafydd Evans converted confidently.

Pugh was soon at it again, breaking on the right and squaring only for Carl Owen’s shot to be blocked.

Then after 62 minutes, following a short corner on the right, Pugh cut along the byline and his low cross was shot into the roof of the net by Warren Gibbs from 12 yards.

Denbigh were not about to surrender and towards the end they had their best period of the game. First a good cross by Stuart Roberts had to be scrambled away for a corner and then after 78 minutes Mervyn Williams, deputising for the injured Kenny Dixon, was called upon to make a fine save – his first of the match – following good work on the left by Neil Walker.

The Port defence, however, held firm to complete their 6th successive clean sheet.

The closing minutes of the game were marred by a nasty injury to Denbigh’s full-back Will Kirby.

Porthmadog

Mervyn Williams, Martin Jones, Warren Gibbs, Danny Hughes, Campbell Harrison, Dafydd Evans, Richard Hughes (Neil Roberts), Steve Pugh, Gareth Caughter (Stuart Williams), Carl Owen (Emyr Jones), Kevin Roberts.

Denbigh Town

Nathan Pope, Andrews, Will Kirby, Murray, Craig Harker, Lee Mason, Matty Williams, John Jones, Derry Morris, Stuart Roberts, Neil Walker. Subs: Jon Slater, Simon Jones, Mark Speakman.

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED THAT SEASON?

• In the reserve fixture at Denbigh on Augist 19, 2000, Porthmadog won 4-1 with goals from Gareth Caughter (3) and Kevin Roberts.
• Porthmadog finished the 2000-01 season sixth in the Cymru Alliance, with Denbigh down in 15th