MATCH REPORT | Gresford Athletic 2-3 Porthmadog | 2023/24 JD Cymru North, Matchday Four

Porthmadog scored a late winner to deny Gresford Athletic any points at The Rock on matchday five of the 2023/24 JD Cymru North on Saturday.

An end-to-end first half started with Charley Edge looking for the opener in the 11th minute, which went just wide of the post.

Following an early change of Joe Chaplin coming off for Haci Ozlu, Toby Gallagher-Keenan also has a good effort in the 30th minute, but it's met with a block from a Porthmadog defender.

However, in the 34th minute, Porthmadog earned a penalty after Mike Jones brought down Daniel Brookwell in the box, which was put away by Shaun Cavanagh, giving the away team the lead.

Gresford Athletic respond quickly, though, with Dominic Deacon doing superbly to play through Charley Edge, who scores the equaliser in the 37th minute.

Porthmadog are awarded another penalty in the 42nd minute following an Adam Hesp handball in the box and regained the lead with Shaun Cavanagh putting it into the back of the net from 12 yards.

In the first minute of added time, however, Gresford Athletic also earned a penalty of their own after Gruffydd Ellis brought down Haci Ozlu in the box. He took the penalty himself and put it away to level the scoring on the brink of half time.

The second half began with a change of goalkeeper for Gresford Athletic, with Matt Bubsy replacing Mike Jones at half time.

Matt Busby was quickly called into action, with him doing well to make a good save from a long-range Porthmadog effort in the 58th minute.

Haci Ozlu aimed for his second goal of the game with a good effort in the 48th minute, but it was matched with a good save by Porthmadog goalkeeper Matty Wallace.

Then, in the fourth minute of added time at the end of the second half, Porthmadog cruelly scored, with Ifan Jones the goalscorer to give The Port a late winner.

The game ended with the 3-2 scoreline for Porthmadog, with Gresford Athletic still on the search for that first league win of the 2023/24 season.

Haci Ozlu was voted as the Gresford Athletic Man of the Match, putting in a good performance and scoring a penalty, despite the result.

Gresford Athletic

Starting XI: Jones (GK) (Busby - 46'), J. Smith (Roberts - 83'), Hesp, Johnson, S. Smith, Griffiths (C), Edge, Buxton, Gallagher-Keenan (Ellis - 88'), Deacon (Spridgeon - 88'), Chaplin (Ozlu - 25')

Goalscorers: Edge, Ozlu

Yellow cards: S. Smith

Porthmadog

Starting XI: Wallace (GK), Owen, Banks (Price - 64'), Wiliams (C), Mahoney, R. Williams, Cavanagh (C. Jones - 46'), Brookwell, Evans, R. Alun Williams (I. Jones - 84'), Ellis (Smith - 75')

Goalscorers: Cavanagh, I. Jones

Subs not used: Papirnyk (GK)

Match Officials

Referee: Richard Wright

Assistant Referees: Harvey Smallman, Simon McCormick