In a hard fought game Port, for the second game in succession, held on for a point in a game where the home side could have taken all three points. The notorious Maesydre slope once again had a strong influence on the game with the team enjoying the advantage of the slope, dominating events. So it was that Port dominated the opening half while Welshpool were on top in the second period and they also carved out the better scoring opportunities. The playing surface also dictated the type of game, as the kindest that can be said about it is that it was barely playable with players on both sides slithering about, unable to gain a safe foothold to pass or tackle.
Port were well on top in the opening half, with the home side rarely breaking out of their own half. They came close with a couple of early efforts as first Ritchie Owen lobbed just over the bar from the edge of the box and Webber headed Owain Roberts' corner just past the post. Their best effortsin a half, where despite their territorial domination they created few chances, came from Gareth Caughter who after 20 minutes fired in a useful shot which Dawson gathered at his near post and later another Caughter effort which Dawson this time failed to hold, but there was no one on hand topick up the pieces.
Welshpool attacks were restricted to one or two counter-attacks. From one of these McGuigan had to pull off a fine save to deny Gary Roberts. Soon after Jeffries burst through for the home side, but was stopped by a perfectly timed Webber tackle.
The second half was, however, a different story as the home side used their experience of the slope to good effect. Unlike Port, who had used high balls over the defence, the home side relied on the ball on the ground to break through the centre and turn the Port rearguard. It took Welshpool only four minutes following the restart to find the net. Brett Jeffries converted after receiving a square ball from Rogers and fired low from 10 yards. But it took only two minutes for the visitors to get back on level terms. Having broken up field they forced a corner on the right and the set piece duo of Mike Foster and Lee Webber struck when Webber rose well to head in from close range.
Then an incident occurred which marred the game. Ricky Evans retaliated wildly to a tackle by Owain Roberts which led to a nasty stamping. Referee Huw Jones of Llanrhaeadr responded correctly and showed Evans a red card, but then completely lost his hold on events and also showed a red card to Gareth Parry who had no part in the fracas and was nowhere near it. The kindest thing that can be said is that it was a case of mistaken identity. That this is the first red card given to a Port player since their return to the Welsh Premier only rubs salt in the wound.
The fracas seemed to have more of an effect on Port than the home side and, although the scoring was over, Welshpool created several opportunities. They struck after the hour mark when McGuigan denied Rogers with a fine reflex save from point blank range. Two minutes later Rogers fired into the side netting when well placed. After 70 minutes Lee Webber headed a Jeffries header off the line and later the visitors escaped miraculously when a Ryan Davies turned a Courtney cross on to his own crossbar. Before the end McGuigan had to rush to the edge of the box to pull off another fine save to cut out a Shannon effort.
The last two away draws have been close calls, but Port have reached the half way mark in the season in a healthy eighth spot in the table.
Report by Gareth Williams
