Port were distinctly unfortunate to slip to yet another single goal defeat against an Aberystwyth side who, despite their elevated league position, they more than matched in all facets of the game. Once again a lack of goal power let them down. The result of the game hinged on a freak incident in the 23rd minute when following a poor clearance Mark Lloyd-Williams sent a high speculative ball towards the Port goal from just inside the Port half.
The looping ball went high over the stranded McGuigan and to the amazement of all and, none more so than Mark Lloyd Williams himself, it dipped under the bar and put the home side ahead. Ironically this was the striker's only contribution to a game where he was comfortably marshalled by the excellent Lee Webber.
Prior to the goal Port had the better of the early play and they could have gone ahead in the 8th minute when a Mark Williams flick fell to Carl Owen whose shot lacked power and ran straight to keeper Worsnop. An excellent Ryan Davies ball found Caughter on the right and the winger cut inside Burrows and tested Worsnop again. The clearest chance of all came after 20 mins when Mike Foster caught out the home defence with a low free-kick into the box and Carl Owen saw his shot fly just over the bar with the goal gaping in front of him. Then came the freak goal and for a period Port became unsettled and none more than McGuigan himself who was guilty of a couple of misdirected kicks one of which provided Anthony Wright with a clear chance on goal but his shot was off target. A glaring Ryan Davies error went unpunished thanks to a well timed Webber intervention. Just before half-time McGuigan confirmed that he was back on his game with a fine reflex save from a Bari Morgan blaster. The half ended with Carl Owen again threatening along the left for Port.
Port had the better of the play in the second period without creating any clear-cut chances. The home defence held out with a mixture of defensive scrambles and often heavy tackling. The game rarely flowed with the ball spending far too much time in the air as both sides usually by-passed the midfield relying on route one. Aberystwyth in the second period relied mainly on counter-attacks and from one of these Morgan brought a fine save from McGuigan who also pulled off a fine diving near post save from a Hennigan free-kick. Port's best efforts came from a Caughter far post header and then following a good build-up Lee Webber's shot few over the bar.
The introduction of Graham Austin on the left for Port opened up the game and he made several dangerous runs on the wing. An unsavoury incident near the end saw Carl Owen being withdrawn following a dangerous tackle by keeper Worsnip who made no effort to play the ball. Amazingly he only received a yellow card from the over tolerant referee. One last effort and after applying more pressure Ritchie Owen's well struck effort from 18yds cannoned off the bar to safety.
This was not an attractive game but Port supporters are at a loss to understand how Aberystwyth occupy such an elevated position in the table.
Aberystwyth: Worsnop, Burrows, Lee, Aneurin Thomas, Short, Baker, M.Lloyd-Williams, Morgan, Wright, Ricky Evans, Hennigan.Subs: Lawless, Llyr Hughes, Brynmor Jones.
Port: McGuigan, John G Jones, Ryan Davies, Lee Webber, Mike Foster, Gareth Caughter (Graham Austin), Dafydd Evans, Gareth Parry (Danny Hughes), Ritchie Owen, Mark Williams, Carl Owen (Tony Williams).
Report by: Gareth Williams
