Davies wonder goal leaves TNS with a point
A WONDER goal from former Bangor winger Les Davies left Saints to rue a host of missed of chances and a classy goalkeeping display from Porthmadog debutante Richard Harvey.
The former Llanegefni stopped produced a string of fine saves which prevented TNS from running-up a cricket score in a period of domination either side of the break.
But it was the home side who held the upper hand in the early exchanges and, after Gareth Caughter had been allowed a free run down the right to fire just wide, Port took the lead two minutes later.
Davies got his head to a cross before Michael Jackson and Carl Owen fire home from 15 yards.
Gerard Doherty palmed another Owen effort away before Chris King was forced to head off the line from a Davies shot.
But TNS gradually built up the pressure, with new signing Alfie Carter just high and wide with a 20-yarder and both Michael Wilde and Marc Lloyd Williams going close within a minute.
Wilde looked certain to level when one-on-one with Harvey, but the keeper prevailed and also saved well from Steven Beck and Jiws again.
But a rare mistake led to the equaliser six minutes before the break when Harvey failed to hold a Lloyd Williams shot and Wilde pounced on the rebound from five yards out.
On the stroke of half-time Saints were ahead from a cleverly worked free-kick, Carter stroking the ball to Jamie Wood who squared for Lloyd Williams to bundle the ball into the net.
Beck was just wide with another effort after the break as TNS continued to pressure the Port goal, with Wilde denied again by Harvey.
But the best chance to make the points safe fell to Carter, who should have done better after being put clear by a sublime Scott Ruscoe through ball, only to see Harvey claim the ball again.
The miss proved costly as Port immediately broke upfield and Davies sliced through the TNS defence to plan an unstoppable shot past Doherty.
It was perhaps reward for a plucky home performance, although sub Barry Hogan almost ruined wild home celebrations when he blazed wide from close range at the death. |
