Welsh Premier League   - Friday, October 10th

CPD Porthmadog ... 2	NEWI Cefn Druids ... 3
John Rowley 38'	Mike Heverin 3'
Gareth Parry 85'	Chris McGinn 6' 15'

On a night of awful weather conditions and even worse defending it was a
case of déjà vu at the Traeth during the first half hour of this game! In
a repeat of the first half of the Welsh Cup tie against Caernarfon, Port were
left chasing the game after sloppy defending left them with a mountain to
climb. Unfortunately, that's where the similarities between the two games
end - this time, despite having numerous chances, Whelo's team couldn't
quite overturn the early deficit.

Port's defence had conceded 12 goals in three games prior to tonight and the
defensive frailty was demonstrated after only 3 minutes. Again it was a
mix-up at the back - Ryan Davies' pass to Eifion Jones was easily
intercepted by Mike Heverin who left Jones trailing before slotting the ball
past Richard Harvey in goal. A further 3 minutes into the game and it got
even worse for the home team. From a free kick, the much travelled Ricky
Evans, now with his 9th Welsh Premier club, floated the ball into the box
and it was a simple matter for Chris McGinn to put Druids 2-0 up with a free
header from just a yard out.

Ironically, despite conceding two early goals, Port were getting the lion's
share of the possession. Frustratingly for the home supporters, however,
their team could not turn possession into chances. Half chances fell to Marc
Lloyd Williams and John Rowley, but neither seriously troubled Edwards in
the Druids' goal. Then with only fifteen minutes gone, Druids looked to have
put the game beyond Port with their 3rd goal. This time, there was little
that the Port defence could have done - Chris McGinn with a superb thirty
yard effort leaving Harvey clutching at thin air.

After conceding a third, Port's looked to have lost all shape and things
could have gone from bad to worse had Evans and Heverin taken their chances
after defensive errors. It took until the half hour mark before the home
supporters had something to shout about. Lloyd Williams had a good shout for
a penalty waved on by the ref after the striker was seemingly up-ended in the
box. This seemed to spur on the home side to their best period of the match.
Ten minutes before the break, following a neat one-two with Carl Jones, Mike
Foster played a good cross into the box but Rowley's header was inches wide.

By now Druids were having to resort to foul play to prevent the Port
attacks. It was one such free kick, following a foul on Lloyd Williams,
that lead to Port's opener. From the free kick, Ryan Davies neatly
controlled the ball on his chest before laying the ball off to Rowley and
the striker made no mistake, toe-poking the ball home through a crowd of
players. Jiws probably should have made it 2 a minute later, but his effort
was tame following great set-up work by Carl Jones. The league's record
scorer came even closer just before the half time whistle, but his looping
effort went agonisingly over the bar.

The second half started in an open manner, with plenty of chances for both
sides. Rowley had a shot saved at one end while at the other it took a last
gasp Richie Owen tackle to prevent a scoring opportunity. Port had a brace
of good efforts after 55 minutes - Jiws and Carl Jones both testing the
keeper with long range efforts. Edwards had to do even better on the hour mark,
with a great save down to his left from a John Rowley header. After this
flurry of activity, Druids were pleased to see the game settle into a
scrappy spell with neither defence seriously being tested.

With time quickly running out, Port came close to halving the deficit on 70
minutes. A long pass found Lloyd Williams free on the right and he in turn
found Carl Jones on the edge of the box. His effort from the edge of the
penalty area whizzed just the wrong side of the upright. There followed a
good spell for Druids. Richard Owen was called into action to make another
last gasp tackle on 75 minutes and a few minutes later Richard Harvey made a
fine save at the feet of McGinn after one pass had wrong footed the back
four.

With time running out, Port became more desperate - Ryan Davies was
substituted with 10 minutes to go leaving just 3 in the defence. The
resulting formation looked disjointed and the game became extremely scrappy.
It took two great pieces of skill for Port to score their second. Carl
Jones' fine run bamboozled the visitor's defence and his layoff found Gareth
Parry on the edge of the penalty area. He skipped past a couple of defenders
and his low shot beat the keeper on his right hand side. However, with 85
minutes now on the clock, it was too late for the equaliser and the three
points go to Cefn Druids - their first league win of the season.

This was a disappointing result against a team that we would expect to beat
at home. Paul Whelan will be extremely concerned that his defence has now
conceded 15 goals in 4 games - silly mistakes and the lack of discipline at
the back have cost us dearly over the past few games. A lot of work will
need to be put in on the training pitch if we are to stem the flood of
goals.


Porthmadog: Richard Harvey, Mike Foster (Richie Owen 45'), Eifion Jones,
Ryan Davies (Danny Rylance 80'), Mark Thomas (Gareth Parry 45'), Rhys
Roberts, Steve Kehoe, Carl Jones, Chris Jones, Marc Lloyd Williams, John
Rowley

NEWI Cefn Druids: Carl Edwards, Mark Powell, Chris Marriott, Geraint Lewis,
Dan Darnett, Lee Jones, James Hussaney, Chris McGinn, Mike Heverin, Ricky
Evans, Mike Thompson

Referee: Michael Jones		Attendance: 173

Emyr Gareth

Welsh Premier League Cup   - Tuesday, October 7th

CPD Porthmadog ... 2	Bangor City ... 3
Gareth Parry 74'	Les Davies 14' 68'
Chris Jones 76'	Mike Walsh 25'

With 68 minutes gone Bangor City were three goals up but a late rally by
Port, scoring twice in two minutes, gave us a score line which was a fairer
reflection of the play on the night. Victory for Bangor means that they only
need a draw to ensure a place in the quarter finals of the competition.

Following an even opening spell Bangor drew first blood after 14 minutes
when Les Davies, against his old club, rose highest in the box to head Sion
Edwards' dangerous cross past Vickers in the home goal. Bangor enjoyed a
good spell with Edwards forcing Vickers into a good save at the expense of a
corner and Sergeant prompting and probing in midfield. Then after 25 minutes
Bangor extended their lead taking advantage of a stray pass to break down
the left and, though the initial shot from Edwards was partially cleared,
Walsh was on hand to score from 8 yards. Following the second Bangor goal
Port came into the game and a 27th minute Ogilvy corner caused a mighty
scramble in the Bangor box with Marc Lloyd Williams failing to force the
ball home through a crowd of players. Port continued to pressurise and
forced four corners in quick succession but failed to turn this to their
advantage. Soon after Jon Peris Jones lifted a high cross from the right and
John Rowley rose well but Smith, in the Bangor goal, pulled off an excellent
save pushing the ball round the post. Though play remained even through most
of the half Bangor went in at the interval two goals ahead. 

Chris Jones came on in the second half for the injured Rowley and in the
third minute of the half fired a 25 yard free kick which Smith failed to
hold but the keeper scrambled away Marc Lloyd Williams' effort to turn in
the rebound from a narrow angle. Port in the early stages of the half were
threatening to get back in the game with Chris Jones screwing a good
opportunity wide of the post and Smith needing to be at his best to keep out
an Eifion Jones header. With 68 minutes gone Bangor struck again and looked
to have made the game safe when Les Davies broke into the box from the right
and in typical style bustled and muscled his way through and finished with a
well placed low shot. But unlike in the two previous encounters with Bangor
heads did not go down and in the 78th minute Gareth Parry, making a welcome
return from injury and adding bite and quality to midfield, scored with a
header. He rose well in the box to meet Chris Jones's corner directing it
past Smith. Two minutes later Port closed the gap further when Chris Jones
found space in the box to drill a ball worked in from the right to find the
net from 15 yards. But the equaliser did not transpire and Les Davies could
have completed his hat trick when put through by Walsh. That was Walsh's
last useful contribution as he received his marching orders with an 86th
minute second yellow card from referee Carmelo Lo Faro.

This proved to be a far better performance from Port than was the case in
the previous encounters with Bangor, matching them for long periods and
creating a number of good chances. It also gave manager Paul Whelan a chance
to look at a changed formation and at some players who have not featured
recently. Ben Ogilvy looked far more at home in midfield, Chris Jones found
the net as an emergency front player and young Danny Rylance was given more
time on the pitch. There were also far fewer errors this time -these have
been a blight on otherwise good performances this season.

Porthmadog: Dave Vickers, Steve Kehoe, Eifion Jones, Ryan Davies, Richie
Owen: Jon Peris Jones, Gareth Parry (Danny Rylance 75'), Rhys Roberts (Mark
Thomas 77'), Ben Ogilvy: John Rowley (Chris Jones 46'), Marc Lloyd Williams.
Yellow: Rhys Roberts 55'

Bangor: Paul Smith, Swanick, Hoy, Johnson, Brewerton, Sergeant, Limbert (
Kilackey 73'), Walsh, Les Davies, Sharp (Caio Iwan 70'), Sion Edwards
Beattie 90').
Red: Mike Walsh 86' Yellow: Swanick 55'

Referee: Carmello Lo Faro.		Attendance: 146

Gareth Williams