Rhyl are champions! It was a triumph gained on the back of wonderful season rather than by a brilliant season finale. In fact until Andy Moran punished a defensive slip-up with only a minute left on the clock Port were always in with a chance to spoil the party. Port can, in fact, count themselves unlucky not to have gained a share of the spoils on the day.

During the opening phase of the game Rhyl enjoyed most of the possession and controlled the midfield with Steve Walters showing up well. As early as the second minute McGuigan was in action keeping out a close range effort and soon Moran was breaking on the right and feeding Powell on the edge of the box but the shot flew over the bar. Rhyl applied the pressure but Davies, Webber and an outstanding John Gwynfor closed them down well denying Moran a shot on target on more than one occasion -though Timmy Edwards had a shot deflected for a corner.

Then after 18 mins Jamie Brewerton created the opening for the first goal when he received on the left and played a good low ball into the box finding Gary Powell in space and the experienced forward drove right footed low well past McGuigan. Apart from a shot over the bar by Walters on the half-hour the league leaders failed to carve out any more opportunities during the opening half. In fact the home side came more into the game with Carl Owen outpacing the Rhyl defence in pursuit of a bouncing through ball but Smith for the visitors rushed out of goal to do enough to force Owen to screw his shot wide of the upright.

Port started well in the second period and after 50 mins they were very unlucky not to find themselves back on level terms when Gareth Caughter burst through the centre and supplied Carl Owen on the left who turned inside his marker and sent a curling 20 yd. shot rattling against the upright with Smith beaten. Carl Owen was soon threatening again down the left outpacing Edwards but his shot was diverted for a corner. Then as the home side continued to apply the pressure the referee Kevin Parry turned down a loud 58th minute appeal for hand ball against Brewerton. The referee must have been one of the few people not to have spotted the incident and the TV cameras confirmed that indeed it should have been a penalty.

Rhyl realised that they needed to score again to feel secure and Limbert received a good crossfield ball in space on the right to send a deep cross to the far post and though Moran met it well his header went over the bar. Another far post header this time by Powell from a Graves free-kick was again over the bar. A timely tackle by Ryan Davies and a save by McGuigan from Walters followed but another Rhyl goal did not appear on the cards.

Indeed Port picked the pace again and sub Tony Williams threatened with a good run on the right and with two minutes to go Carl Owen controlled superbly on the edge of the box and cut inside to fire a low drive just past Smith's left hand post.

With a minute left Mike Foster appeared to lose his footing and Moran, who had been well held up until that point, was on hand to take a typical striker's goal with a controlled run and a clinical finish. It was then a case of let the party start and soon players and supporters alike in the 837 crowd had started their well deserved celebration of a magnificent Welsh Premier season.

Port: Gerard McGuigan, John G Jones, Ryan Davies, Lee Webber, Mike Foster, Gareth Caughter, Dafydd Evans (Campbell Harrison), Ritchie Owen, Graham Austin (Gareth Parry), Mark Williams (Tony Williams), Carl Owen

Rhyl: Paul Smith, James Brewerton, Mark Powell, Lee Atherton, Tim Edwards, Steve Walters, Gareth Wilson, Mark Limbert, Andy Moran, Gary Powell, Stuart Graves.Subs: Michael Jackson, Chris McGinn, Chris Adamson.

Report by: Gareth Williams.