A goal in each half proved enough for Port Talbot to win the battle of the 'Ports' and gain a season's double over Porthmadog. The game was almost totally dominated by a gale force wind which blew from the town end. The strength of the wind can be guaged by the fact that one Ged McGuigan goal kick blew back with such force that it blew over the goal line giving Port Talbot a corner! The visitors had the advantage of the wind at their backs and indeed this proved to be decisive when they took the lead after only five minutes. A Nathan Cotterell corner from the right, with the defence only partially clearing, for Clark to play the ball back into the box and Lima was on hand to score from 8 yards. At this early stage the home side were finding it almost impossible to get the ball out of their own half.

Gradually, however, Port got back into the game and after 15 mins Ritchie Owen tested Raynor at his near post. Carl Owen was performing well holding the ball up and bringing others into the game and in one move down the left he combined well with Gareth Caughter whose cross was dropped by Raynor but just out of Graham Austin's reach. Despite having the elements in their favour Port Talbot failed to create any more openings and the home defence coped well with, teenager, Jon Peris Jones excelling in a difficult debut.

Things started brightly for the home side in the second period. With the wind at their backs it took them only five minutes to draw level. Gareth Caughter sent Austin away on the left and the winger played a good ball in for Mark Williams to flick the ball past Raynor at the near post. The home supporters now sat back expecting their team to forge ahead but as often happens the wind proved to be less of an advantge than expected. Carl Owen, who had been a thorn in the side of the visitors defence throughout, had to be withdrawn after the goal and thereafter there was no one to hold the ball and open the Port Talbot defence. Indeed just after the hour mark Port Talbot were back in the lead when Nathan Cotterell broke well on the left and beat keeper McGuigan to the ball as the keeper came rushing out of his area. The winger despite being forced wide kept his head and, from a narrow angle, squeezed the ball into the unguarded goal.

For the rest of the second period Port huffed and puffed without really creating a clear opening. Without Dafydd Evans and Gareth Parry, and with Carl Owen having to be withdrawn, they seemed to lack the guile to open up the visitors defence and make best use of the gale at their backs. They had their moments with Gareth Caughter just failing to convert a Webber header across the face of the goal and Mark Williams brought a fine finger tip save from Raynor. The visitors also threatened to increase their advantage but McGuigan pulled off a fine save to deny Lima.

All in all this was a disappointing home performance in atrocious conditions.

Port: Gerard McGuigan, John G Jones, Jon P Jones (Bari Evans), Lee Webber, Mike Foster, Danny Hughes, Gareth Caughter, Ritchie Owen, Graham Austin, Mark Williams (Campbell Harrison), Carl Owen (Tony Williams).

Port Talbot: Simon Raynor, Rob Cockings, Allan Clark, Rich Carter, Neil Smothers, Haydn Fleming(Nathan Wigg), Sean Mainwaring, Nathan Cotterell, Craig Lima, Chris Watkins (Ryan Franckom), Russel Wigley.Sub not used: Lee Skyrme.

Report by: Gareth Williams