FLASHBACK: Porthmadog score five on the road in Powys

HUWS GRAY ALLIANCE – MARCH 19, 2011

Rhayader Town 3 (Collister 11, Jones 82, Thomas 90)
Porthmadog 5 (C Owen 8, 18, C Roberts 20, Orlik 55, R Roberts 65)

Reports: http://www.porthmadogfc.com – diolch yn fawr

On this date 15 years ago an impressive Porthmadog scored five on the road at Rhayader in the Huws Gray Alliance League.

For a second consecutive Saturday Port went nap to gain a very comfortable victory and inflict, on the home side, a 10th consecutive league defeat.

Port got off to the best possible start and were a Carl Owen goal up in the 8th minute. They were 3-1 up at the halfway and by the 65th minute were 5-1 to the good and cruising, and should have gone on to score a few more.

But conceding two late goals through some sloppy defending took a little of the shine off the result.

On a surprisingly hard dry pitch it was clear the lively ball would take some controlling and, with some strong physical tackles flying in, it was obvious from the start that referee John Spender would need to exercise a firm hand.

From the start Port were on the attack and looking the most likely to gain an early goal. This proved to be the case as a ball played from midfield took a deflection into the path of Carl Owen who took full advantage, breaking behind the home defence to fire a low 15 yard shot which rattled the inside of the post on its way into the net.

The early lead was short lived as some hesitant defence allowed Mike Collister to find the room to latch on to Lance Jones’ left wing corner and his shot from 8 yards was deflected wide of keeper Richard Harvey.

The goal provided only temporary relief for the home side as Port were soon on the attack again.

The travellers were back in the lead after 18 minutes when Carl Owen met Marcus Orlik’s cross at the near post and a low header squeezed inside the post.

Two minutes later. Darren Gowans’ quality angled ball put Craig Roberts behind the defence on the left. The forward cut inside to finish with a confident angled 15 yard shot.

Port, though they did not add to the 3-1 lead before the interval, continued to threaten the home goal.

Ten minutes into the second half and the visitors further extended their lead when Orlik chased to the byine, outwitted the full-back and from a very narrow angle fired the ball across the keeper and into the far corner for a quality finish.

With 65 on the clock came the fifth goal when Rhys Roberts netted for the fourth consecutive game and not for the first time he rose highest at the back post to meet Orlik’s corner to head inside the post. Cai Jones soon almost replicated the Orlik goal from a narrow angle but the shot was cleared off the line.

Rhayader then raised their game to take advantage of some unnecessary free kicks conceded around the box.

From the first of these with eight minutes left, the ball was only cleared as far as Glenn Evans who crossed low for Lance Jones to score from close range.

With yet another free kick conceded it came to Rhys Thomas who found himself one on one with Harvey and scored the home side’s third.

This was a disappointing end to a good performance but Port almost ended with a final flourish with two good chances missed.

PORTHMADOG

Richard Harvey, Jack Jones, Mike Foster, Gareth Jones Evans, Ryan Davies, Rhys Roberts (Gareth Owen 80), Marcus Orlik, Dan Pyrs, Craig Roberts (Paul Roberts 29), Carl Owen (Cai Jones 62), Darren Gowans.

RHAYADER TOWN

Eifion Price, Robbie Steel, Tyrone McFadden, Glenn Evans, Dave Sivell, Tom Evans, Lance Evans, Christian Jones, Rhys Thomas, Oliver Richards (Matt Morgan 59), Mike Collister.