On a bitterly cold day, the Wellmen welcomed Porthmadog to Halkyn Road, and with Port starting the day in 4th position in the Huws Gray League, the Wellmen knew it was going to be a tough game.
The opening exchanges of the first half was played from end to end with both sides looking to make an early breakthrough, SIon Bradley for Port should have taken his shot sooner before Town’s defence was able to clear, and Shaun Tuck, on his return after a 4 match ban, fired wide after a good move involving Ross Ankers and Brady McGilloway. Ankers then had a shot smartly saved by Richard Harvey, before Harvey was called into action again shortly afterwards to tip over a Steve Thomas free kick after the ball was floated towards the far post with Jamie McDaid threatening. Port’s Paul Lewis then found himself through on goal but Town Goalkeeper John Rushton saved well.
Port were putting a bit of pressure on the Wellmen’s back four, and Port put a great ball towards the Town goal forced Rushton to punch the ball clear, but the ball fell to Lewis but before he could shoot, the referee blew for a foul on Town’s Gareth Sudlow. With time running out in the first half, the visitors took a fortunate lead, as Cai Jones had a shot, but it took a wicked deflection on its way towards goal which left Rushton wrong footed, and the ball nestled into the corner of the net. It was very nearly another goal for the visitors a few minutes later, as Chris Jones burst through, and with only Rushton to beat, his shot sailed over the bar when it was easier to score. In the dying minutes of the half, Town very nearly equalised. A good move saw Matty Hurdman put in a great cross towards Tuck, who was brought down in an attempt to control the ball, but the ball broke to Phil Lloyd who’s shot across the face of goal very nearly saw McGilloway get on the end of it to steer the ball home but the ball went out for a goal kick.
With the visitors taking a half time lead, the Wellmen came out for the second half and were forced into a substitution as Jamie McDaid had picked up an injury and he was replaced by Paul Williams. Tuck was brought down by Port’s Josh Banks who was shown the yellow card but the free kick came to nothing, before Port’s Gareth Jones-Evans fired over the bar. With nearly an hour played, Cai Jones thought he had increased Port’s lead but his goal was disallowed as he was in an off side position taking the shot. Town then created a great chance, a good move down the right saw Ross Ankers cross the ball from the byeline towards the far post, and the on rushing Paul Williams managed to hit a great volley goalwards but Harvey was down early to save the ball to keep Port’s lead intact.
Graeme Williams was then introduced in place of Brady McGilloway, and Town brought out another good save by Harvey, as Matty Hurdman’s free kick into the box saw Harvey having to tip the ball over for a corner. Haseldin then brought on Matty Harvey in place of Paul D Williams, and he made an instant impact, rising well and heading home the equaliser from Steve Thomas’ corner. The goal gave Town hope of getting a winner, and a couple of minutes after the equaliser, Tuck was put through on goal, and he weaved in and out round the defenders and was brought down but no penalty given, before Tuck again was involved in Town’s next effort, again finding room in the box to shoot on the turn but the ball went inches wide of Harvey’s right hand post. Tuck again was causing problems for the Porthmadog defenders, and he got on the end of Steve Thomas’ cross, but his touch saw the ball go inches over Harvey’s crossbar.
Town’s faithful didn’t have to wait too long for the winner, and Tuck made it count this time, the ball finding him on the edge of the box, and despite the challenge of a Port defender, his shot flew in past Harvey, much to the delight of the Wellmen supporters. With time running out in the half, Porthmadog’s Meilir Williams was through on goal but his touch let him down just as he was about to shoot goalwards, before heavy pressure on the Wellmen’s penalty area saw Paul Lewis fire wide, before a good free kick into the box saw the Wellmen clear the ball to safety, before Lewis again getting the final chance of the game but his shot was saved easily by Rushton.
The referee blew for full time and Town had made it two wins out of two, and as the Wellmen supporters left Halkyn Road, many would have been please of the performance put in by Town to come from behind to take all three points. Next up is a trip to Conwy, as the Wellmen will be looking to keep their good form going with another 3 points.