Danny’s double delight – were these Brookwell’s two finest hours in a Porthmadog shirt?

Were these Danny Brookwell’s two finest moments at Porthmadog?

Two victories he will never forget…..

LOCK STOCK ARDAL NORTHERN LEAGUE CUP FINAL 2024-25

Porthmadog 4 (Brookwell 2 & 78; Hilditch 21 pen & 34)
Brickfield Rangers 1 (Vale 74)

Two goals apiece from leading marksmen Tom Hilditch and Danny Brookwell ensured Porthmadog ended the 2024-25 season on a massive high by lifting the Lock Stock Ardal Northern League Cup.

Ardal North East champions Brickfield entered the final at the Hops and Barley Community Stadium in Rhyl as favourites, but Port were more than worthy winners on the day.

Port got off to an absolute flier on the immaculate Rhyl pitch.

There were barely two minutes on the clock when Rhys Alun’s deft pass sent Brookwell clean through on goal and the Anglesey-based striker made no mistake as he slammed a confident left-footer past Ryan Price to open the scoring.

Brickfield simply could not settle as a rampant Port continued to press hard. After 20 minutes, Chris Jones’ men doubled their account.

A glorious diagonal pass by Ryan Williams found Brookwell in space on the right wing. Just as he beat his marker to get into the box, he was brought down and referee Adam Herbert pointed to the penalty spot.

Up stepped Hilditch to confidently send the keeper the wrong way.

Barely 10 minutes later, two became three. An intricate exchange of passes saw the ball eventually land at the feet of Hilditch, who tapped into an empty net for his 26th goal of the season.

Hilditch could well have clinched his hat-trick a couple of minutes later as his close range low shot drifted just wide of the upright and Rhys Alun also came desperately close but his header went straight into the keeper;s grateful arms.

Half-time: Brickfield 0 Porthmadog 3

If the first 45 belonged to Port, then it has to be said the second half was bossed largely by the men of Wrexham as they showed greater composure and intent.

They had nothing to lose and their attacking play was occasionally putting the Port defenders into a spin.

On the hour mark, Port custodian Oli Farebrother reacted well to keep out a worthy effort by the dangerous Tom Freeman with an outstretched leg and minutes later a fine shot clattered off the crossbar.

Ten minutes later, Brickfield deservedly reduced the arrears when a slick move put prolific scorer Andy Vale clean through. There was a dribble past a defender and then a pretty step-over before he guided the ball confidently past Farebrother to make it 3-1.

Brickfield were well on top by now and it took a miraculous close range save by Farebrother to prevent the green and whites doing some real damage.

However, Lady Luck seemed to be smiling on Port today as, a minute later, substitute Sion Williams broke through the midfield on a strong run. His pass found Brookwell who made no mistake as he glided the ball past Price to put the game beyond Rangers at 4-1. Game over – celebratuon time!

LOCK STOCK ARDAL NORTH LEAGUE PLAY-OFF 2025-26

Porthmadog 3 (O Evans 42 pen, 90+2, Brookwell 80)

Knighton Town 0

After a two-season absence Porthmadog are heading back to Tier 2!

The Traeth club booked their place in the JD Cymru Northafter a promotion play-off triumph over Ardal North East runners-up Knighton Town at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth,

One of North Wales football’s players of the season, Caernarfon Town loanee Osian Evans, who joined Port in December, scored twice to make it a magnificent 22 goals in 19 matches for Chris Jones’ Tier 2 bound heroes.

A close fought first half looked to be ending 0-0 before a foul on Rhys Alun in the box on 42 minutes led to a penalty which the dependable Evans converted.

Both keepers produced fine saves in the opening 45, Knighton’s Ben Davies denying Rhys Alun and Evans, while Josh Cooke pulled off a great stop at the other end.

All to play for in the second half and as time wore on the tension grew inside the stadium.

However, in the 80th minute came the moment the Port fans had been willing to happen.

Sub Danny Brookwell, so often a star performer for the Traeth men, knocked in his eighth goal of the season – an absolute stunner – to make it 2-0.

And Port applied the final act in the 90th minute when Evans notched his second of the night, ensuring Porthmadog join CPD Dinas Bangor City 1876 and Llanuwchllyn in the Cymru North in 2026-27.