Huws Gray Cup Final 2010/11 -Saturday, 7 May 2011
CPD Porthmadog ... 0 Guilsfield ... 3
James Henderson 45’
Gareth Jones 77’
Chris Roberts 82’
At the Rock, Cefn Druids.
Guilsfield turned league form on its head to deservedly lift the Huws Gray Cup at The Rock,
Rhosymedre today. They settled better to the conditions going ahead just before the
interval and striking twice more in the second period to put paid to any threat of a Port
second half revival. Good performances by James Henderson, Gareth Jones, Rob Cookson and
Ross Frame put the mid-Wales club on top and they took their chances with accurate finishing.
Neither side settled in the early stages on an uneven surface and there was little to
enthuse the crowd. The nearest to a goal came when Chris Roberts forced his own keeper
Dave Maguire into a diving save when he directed Gareth Jones Evans’ cross goal wards.
In the middle part of the half Guilsfield started to build a head of steam with Mark
Davies and Rob Cookson combining well down the left. From one of these breaks Cookson cut
inside but sent his shot across the face of goal and wide. Soon after Ross Frame was also
off target at the near post. Cookson was again in the action and Jamie McDaid did well to
head his corner off the line. It needed another goal line header this time from Dan Pyrs to
keep out a Ross Frame lob with Richard Harvey off his line. With half time approaching Port
set up three good opportunities in quick succession. Paul Roberts put Marcus Orlik in behind
the defence but the striker’s attempted lob of the keeper went outside the post and both Paul
Roberts and Gareth Owen were both off target with good heading opportunities. Then almost on
the stroke of half-time Guilsfield made Port pay for these missed chances when they struck
themselves. They won a corner down the right and James Henderson’s angled header put the
mid-Wales club ahead at the interval.
Straight after the restart Richard Harvey went down well to prevent Ross Frame taking advantage
of a well rehearsed free kick routine. Port were stung into action and pushed forward looking
for an equaliser. Gareth Jones Evans thumped a cracker from the edge of the box which keeper
Maguire failed to hold but the ball was scrambled clear. Dan Pyrs then came close when he met a
Marcus Orlik corner at the back post. Gareth Jones Evans was again in the action when he wove his
way past three defenders before unleashing another cracker from the edge of the box and was very
unlucky to see it strike the post before being cleared for a corner. That was the closest Port
came to finding a goal and when Gareth Jones Evans limped off Port lost their main threat. Barry
Evans who had to be recalled from Pwllheli due to the lengthy injury list might have scored with
his first touch but Maguire went down to save. But with 77 minutes gone Guilsfield got the goal
which they needed. Taking advantage of some loose play in midfield Ross Frame and Gareth Jones
broke forward and a quick exchange of passes set up Gareth Jones who drilled a low angled shot
past Richard Harvey. Five minutes later and Guilsfield made the game safe with a third goal.
Ross Frame’s downward header found Chris Roberts on the edge of the box and his low shot through
a crowded box eluded Richard Harvey having taken a huge bobble. Keeper Maguire maintained his
clean sheet for the afternoon when he pulled off a good save to keep out a Gareth Owen header.
Disappointment for Port and the large group of travelling supporters that their team had reserved
one of the poorest performances of the season for the Cup Final. But no one was in any doubt that
on the evidence of the afternoon’s action that the Huws Gray Cup 2010/11 was deservedly on its
way back to mid-Wales.
Porthmadog: Richard Harvey, Jack Jones, Mike Foster, Gareth Jones Evans (Richard Hughes) , Gareth
Owen, Dan Pyrs, Cai Jones, Darren Jones, Paul Roberts (Barry Evans 73), Marcus Orlik, Jamie McDaid.
Sub not used: Gareth Parry.
Guilsfield: Dave Maguire, Llion Davies (David Williams 90’), Mark Davies (Joe Coulson 90’), Gareth
Jones, James Henderson, Jonathan Jones, John Harris, Richard Astley, Ross Frame, Chris Roberts
(Graham McGill 88’). Yellow: Graham Jones 77’.
Referee: Mike Pugh (Lydbury)
Huws Gray Alliance -Saturday, 30 April
CPD Porthmadog ....0 Caersws .... 1
Gareth Sudlow 11’
A disappointing end to the season as a single goal scored, after only eleven minutes,
was enough to give the visitors the three points which means that they complete the
season in 5th place. Gareth Parry speaking after the game saw the performance as
symptomatic of the Port season, “We perform well for a few games but then this
frustrating inconsistency strikes again as it did today.” The defeat could in truth
have been heavier had Caersws taken some of the excellent chances which they created
in the second half. The defeat means that Caersws have completed the double over Port
which puts them (Port) in 8th place at the season’s end .
In the opening half Caersws had the very strong wind on their backs but both sides
found it very difficult to settle and establish any pattern to their play. Port were
first on the attack and Cai Jones, after been put through by Dan Pyrs, failed to hit
the target. Port continued to press into the wind and several promising moves were
wasted when the final ball lacked accuracy. Against the run of the early play Caersws
went ahead when Gareth Sudlow, with 11 minutes gone, did well to keep his volley down
striking the back of the net from 12yards. Port lost Ryan Davies very early with a
pulled hamstring and the strong wind and hard surface continued to cause problems. Just
before the half hour mark Jacob Smith tested Richard Harvey from wide on the left with
a well struck shot which the keeper needed two bites before clearing his lines at the
near post. Port responded when Cai Jones crossed after a good move down the right but
Craig Roberts lifted his shot over the bar. Port continued to enjoy more of the play but
when Rhys Roberts put Marcus Orlik away on the right the forward’s shot took a
deflection for a corner. From another corner two minutes later Cai Jones found Paul Roberts
at the corner of the box but the well struck angled shot flew narrowly over the bar. Half
time arrived with Caersws holding on the their early lead but with neither side
establishing dominance.
Marcus Orlik tested Ramsey, in the Caersws goal soon after the restart but the keeper did
well holding on under pressure. But Caersws were soon on the attack with wingers Richard
Evans and Jacob smith using their pace to open up the Port defence. The visitors created a
series of good scoring opportunities and it needed a fine one handed save by Richard Harvey
to keep out Richard Evans bearing down at the back post. Then it took a Gareth Owen goal
line clearance to keep out Neil Mitchell whose angled shot looked goal bound. The chances
continued to be created by Caersws and Richard Evans lifted his shot over the bar when well
placed. At this stage Port’s only response was Marcus Orlik’s dipping 40 yard
free kick which went over the bar. But this was the only temporary break in the Caersws
pressure as Richard Harvey did well to turn Jacob Smith’s angled shot round the post
after another Richard Evans supply. For Port Marcus Orlik drew a good save from keeper
Ramsey at his near post and the same player headed wide when Craig Roberts crossed to the
back post. But it was Caersws, who throughout the second half created the better
opportunities, looked the more likely to score. Marc Griffiths burst through for them finding
himself one on one with keeper Richard Harvey who did well to push the shot round the post.
In the end Caersws were not punished for their wastefulness and the early goal proved enough
for the three points.
Port will now turn their attention to the Huws Gray Cup and hope that the game at Cefn will
provide an end of the season lift. It was worrying to see Ryan Davies limp off so early in
the game and Craig Roberts also going down adding to the injury worries ahead of the final.
With three players cup-tied it will be fingers crossed that key midfielder Gareth Jones
Evans recovers in time to play.
Porthmadog: Richard Harvey, Jack Jones, Mike Foster, Rhys Roberts, Ryan Davies
(Craig Roberts 7, Gareth Parry 83’’), Gareth Owen, Cai Jones (Darren Gowans 62’),
Dan Pyrs, Paul Roberts, Marcus Orlik, Jamie McDaid.
Subs not used: Campbell Harrison, Merfyn Williams. Yellow: Marcus Orlik 60’.
Caersws: Alex Ramsey, Eric Ramsey, jack Hughes, Gareth Sudlow, Scott Williams, Graham Jones,
Richard Evans, Neil Mitchell, Graham Evans, Marc Griffiths, Jacob Smith. Subs; luke Williams,
Matthew Stones, Ben Henderman. Yellow: Alex Ramsey.
Referee: Ryan Hiller-Smith Attendance: 146.
Huws Gray Alliance -Monday, 25 April
Ruthin Town ... 1 CPD Porthmadog ... 2
Joe Price 37' Paul Roberts 31'
Cai Jones 59'
Port completed an Easter double over the league’s two form clubs. Today they ended
Ruthin’s run of six straight victories which ironically started at the Traeth. Though
Port enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession and had the better chances the fact
that there was only one goal in it for the last half hour meant that it was never
going to be an easy win. It took two excellent goals to achieve the victory and the
fact that the post was also struck three times emphasises that this was a well deserved
three points.
Port started well playing into a stiff breeze and Jamie McDaid was involved from the
start. In only the second minute he broke down the right finding Paul Roberts in the box
but the striker’s shot was well blocked. Twice in the following minutes McDaid forced
Barker, in the Ruthin goal, to save at the expense of a corner. Despite playing on one
of the best away surfaces for several months, the swirling wind and the bone hard ground
made life difficult for both sides and with numerous free kicks being awarded play became
disjointed and lacking a pattern. Ruthin attacks were few but Port were well aware of the
danger that Kevin Garland posed and were glad to see his header from Garner’s cross drift
wide. But with 31 minutes gone the deadlock was broken when Paul Roberts picked up a pass
25 yards out he turned well, making room for himself, before unleashing a cracker from 20
yards which gave Barker no chance at all. Another shot from distance almost doubled the
lead but Dan Pyrs’ well struck shot flew narrowly wide. Then totally against the run of
play Ruthin equalised with an opportunist goal. They were awarded a free kick just inside
the Port half and Shaun Williams slipped the ball to Joe Price only a few yards away. The
full back teed it up before unleashing a thunderous 40 yard shot which caught Richard
Harvey slightly off his line and in the swirling wind the ball sailed high into the top
of the Port net. It was disappointing for Port after largely controlling events. They
almost struck back immediately when Darren Gowans cut into the box from the left a before
firing through a crowded box, a shot which Barker did well to save as he only saw it at the
last minute. A minute later and Mike Foster slipped a glorious ball into the box for Paul
Roberts who was very unlucky to see his shot strike the bar and bounce to safety. Ruthin
had the final attack of the half ending with Garner striking his free kick across goal
and wide.
Port started the second half on fire and were desperately unlucky not to go ahead
immediately. Mike Foster floated a shot which struck the far post and Barker pulled off a
good save from Paul Roberts following up. Pressure continued and Barker was soon in action
again saving low at his near post from Darren Gowans. Just before the hour mark came the
second Port goal and again it was well worked with an excellent finish. Dan Pyrs, back after
suspension, burst from midfield before lifting a quality ball over the defence for Cai Jones
to race on to. The young forward controlled well and finished confidently with a low shot
from 10 yards. Three minutes later Dan Pyrs himself was unlucky not add his name to the
scoring list when he took a pass from Jamie McDaid and struck the foot of the post with a
low shot. This was followed by another Dan Pyrs effort from way out which Barker saved well.
Ruthin were finding it difficult to make an impact on the game now though they defended
stubbornly as they had done at the Traeth. They caused some problems with one or two corners
but the Port back four were largely in control and Rhys Roberts kept a tight rein on danger
man Kevin Garland. When an attack down the right by Arron Aby provided Garland with a
shooting opportunity the striker failed to hit the target. With time running out Paul Roberts
came close and, in added time, Rhys Roberts had a shot cleared off the line following a Marcus
Orlik corner. But the closeness of the score at the end meant that it was with some relief the
Port camp heard the final whistle and the 14th victory of the season was safe.
Porthmadog: Richard Harvey, Jack Jones, Mike Foster, Richie Owen (Darren Jones 89’), Gareth
Owen, Rhys Roberts, Jamie McDaid, Dan Pyrs, Paul Roberts, Cai Jones, Darren Gowans
(Marcus Orlik 73’). Subs not used: Carl Owen, Mervyn Williams(g). Yellow: Paul Roberts 46’.
Ruthin: Gareth Barker, Jamie Price, Will Roberts, Jack Jones, Shaun Williams, Mark Entwistle,
Arron Aby, Matthew Davies, Kevin Garland, Adam Jenkins, Joe Garner. Subs: Chris Hogg, Tryfan
Prosser, Miles Todd, Ben Jones. Yellow Kevin Garland 11’, Jack Jones 24’, Jamie Price 90’.
Referee: Aled Jones (Lampeter) Attendance: 87.
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