A SOLID performance by Porthmadog earned them a deserved share of the spoils with Welsh Cup winners Bala Town in a keenly-contested friendly at the Traeth last weekend.

Though the Welsh Premier League club enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession, a well organised home defensive performance meant that Tyler French in the home goal was not unduly troubled.

A goal either side of the half-time interval by Jordan Evans for the Lakesiders and Leon Doran for Porthmadog proved to be the only scoring of the afternoon.

Bala had started strongly, and soon pushed Port back into their defensive half, with a neat delivery from Chris Venables being met by Andrai Jones, but keeper French was able to claim to the ball.A good break by Julian Williams produced the first real threat at the other end, with a good run and turn, but he failed to get power on the shot and keeper Ashley Morris stretched full length to save.

Bala responded by winning a corner on the left and when the ball broke free Nathan Burke struck powerfully, but Ifan Emlyn was well placed to block on the line.

Two minutes on and a good ball was played through for Ian Sheridan, but French made a smart save to deny him.

Bala were dominating possession, and Evan Horwood’s decent delivery was headed back towards goal by Venables, but it was scrambled away by the hosts.

They continued to enjoy a large share of possession, but Porthmadog were now providing more of a threat on the break.

Twice Sion Bradley was involved down the left for the hosts, and a good exchange with Julian Williams resulted in an angled shot, which struck the side-netting.

Minutes later, having been put away by Cai Jones, Bradley’s shot went dangerously across the face of the visitors’ goal.

It was Bala, however, who had the last word of the opening half when Jordan Evans broke into the box on the right and unleashed a powerful low shot, which found the bottom corner of the net, to give Bala the advantage at the interval.

The game re-started with a number of substitutions, and Port enjoyed a good passage of play 10 minutes into the half, before equalising in the 59th minute.

Following a good Port build up, the ball reached Sion Bradley on the edge of the box and his well judged through ball put Leon Doran in behind the visitors’ defence and Doran took his chance coolly, when side-footing into the far corner.

The Lakesiders responded with a break down the left, and a fiercely struck shot from Jordan Evans struck the crossbar.

Nathan Burke and Ryan Wade also blazed over, and Evans’ teasing ball was aimed towards Jones, who slightly mistimed his jump and saw the ball go out.

Will Bell saw an effort blocked, Stuart J Jones headed wide at the backpost and Evans’ fired over from close range as Bala lacked composure in the final third.

Port were still looking dangerous on the break, however, and just past the hour Julian Williams played a ball across the face of goal, but again there was no final touch.

A good break and turn by Sion Bradley provided another goal-scoring chance, but the shot was blocked and cleared.

In the latter stages, Bala pushed forward and forced a corner. Anthony Stephens provided Stuart Jones with a good opportunity, but his header veered just wide.

A free kick from Stephens followed, but it flew over the bar, and when Chris Venables worked an opening for himself the defensive cover did its job and the shot was blocked and cleared to safety.

A keenly contested warm-up game ended in a huge thunderstorm, and when referee Martin Roberts blew the final whistle, the players and officials were glad to race for the shelter of the changing rooms.

PORTHMADOG: T French, R Evans, L Doran, C James, D Roberts, I Emlyn, C Jones, I Price, J Williams, C Jones S Bradley. Substitutes: M Williams, I Lane, S Bratt, A Jones.

BALA: A Morris, A Stephens, S J Jones, W Bell, E Horwood, C Venables, D Thompson, J Evans, N Burke, I Sheridan, A Jones. Substitutes: C Vernon, R Valentine, S Fisher, R Wade, Davies, S Jones, G Rule. Referee: M Roberts.