Football: Porthmadog FC hope experience will tell

Aug 14 2008 By Dave Jones

WITH four successive warm-up wins behind them Porthmadog enter the 2008/09 Welsh Premier League season in good form – but they know the really serious stuff starts this Saturday.

Beating lower league sides like Llanrug United, Ruthin Town, Flint Town United and Bethesda Athletic are all well and good, but with Carmarthen Town and Bangor City their first two WPL opponents, Port’s true mettle will soon be tested.

The majority of last season was a nightmare for the Traeth side but there was a fairytale ending when a 1- 0 home win – their first of the campaign – on the final day over mighty Rhyl secured their survival.

His mission accomplished, manager Viv Williams departed immediately and in his place came Paul Whelan, the ex-Bangor City hero who had cut his managerial teeth with Glantraeth in the Cymru Alliance.

Operating on a reduced budget, Whelan has been able to boost his squad by signing striker John Rowley from Caernarfon Town, plus winger Chris Jones and midfielder Steven Kehoe from Llangefni, keeper Dave Vickers and midfield man Richie Owen.

The re-signing of the likes of Marcus Orlik, Ryan Davies, Richard Harvey, Gareth Parry, Mark Thomas and Rhys Roberts is also a tonic for the new manager, but sadly there have also been high-profile departures.

Port’s two most prolific marksmen, Paul Roberts and Carl Owen, left within a short space of time for Welshpool and Rhyl respectively and also on the move are Danny Hughes, Richard Smart and David Hughes.

With a trip to Carmarthen first up this Saturday, a home League Cup tie with Caersws on Tuesday and then a meeting with Welsh Cup holders Bangor City at Y Traeth on August 23, Whelan knows he is in for a tough baptism.

"I’m looking forward to it," said Whelan. "It’s going to be a big challenge, but you’ve got to go for it. I’d be ecstatic if we got two (league) wins to start us off, but we’d be happy to get a couple of points."

Another major capture for Porthmadog has been Mel Jones as assistant to Whelan. Jones has been running the Bangor City academy and his dedication to nurturing young talent will blend well with Port’s increased emphasis on youth this season.

The Eifionydd men rounded off their pre- season campaign with a 4-2 victory over Welsh Alliance hopefuls Llanrug United last Wednesday.

A Marcus Orlik hat-trick was the highlight of this friendly against the club managed by former Port hero, Aled Owen.

It took Orlik only five minutes to open his account, finding the net with a 15-yard effort. Llanrug were back on terms before the quarter-hour mark had been reached when a shot from distance caught Richard Harvey off his line and the ball went in off the post.

Orlik scored a second after 27 minutes, this time with a back post header following a Mathew Hughes cross. Llanrug battled back to level the scores, just before half-time, with a free-kick from the edge of the box.

It took Port until the 67th minute to draw ahead again when Orlik completed his hat- trick from the penalty spot after Chris Jones had been brought down.

Number four came when Richie Owen was on hand to take advantage of a Gareth Parry shot which the Llanrug keeper failed to hold and he netted from close range.

Twice Port hit the bar with efforts by Orlik and Parry and there were numerous other chances created but not converted.