PORTHMADOG’s most rewarding spell of their Cymru Alliance campaign so far was extended to five wins in six matches as they edged a close 2-1 win over Gresford.

Having pretty much dominated the opening half, without finding the net, Porthmadog had found themselves a goal down early in the second half, and were glad to take advantage of a penalty award to bring them back into the game,

Five minutes after Tom Wells had headed Gresford in front, referee James Walker pointed to the spot at the other end, and Julian Williams stepped up to score.

Rob Evans then secured the points with a rasping 20 yard drive from an acute angle on the right, after a home attack had not been properly cleared on 75 minutes.

Yet, it still took a breathtaking save by keeper Richard Harvey to deny Max Peate from 15 yards to secure the win.

Porthmadog, who had lost by the same 2-1 margin at Gresford in September, started brightly, with a Rob Evans through ball putting Hamilton in behind the visiting defence, but from a wide angle his attempted lob went over the bar.

Then, when Cai Jones released Josh Banks to cross from the left, Hill-Dunt saved Rob Evans’ good back post header.

Keeper Hill-Dunt was soon in action again, this time making an excellent double save. First he touched a cracking shot from Rob Evans on to the post and then stopped the Julian Williams follow-up.

Williams then forced Hill-Dunt into another fine stop from 15 yards, while the only concern at the home end was an edge-of-box shot from Jack Mountford.

The early exchanges in the second half produced a chance at both ends, Gresford’s Sam Richardson dragging the ball across the face of the target and the home team’s Hamilton having a strong drive fended away by the visiting goalkeeper.

Gresford, however, gained the breakthrough goal on 57 minutes when Tom Wells got on the end of a free-kick from the right to direct a header from 10 yards into the net, beyond the diving Harvey.

Five minutes later, Hamilton was wrestled to the ground in the box and hat-trick hero of last Saturday Julian Williams stepped up to slot home from 12 yards.

There were a couple of escapes for Porthmadog as Gresford’s Owen Roberts steered wide and into Harvey’s hands, before the hosts netted their vital winner.

After the ball was half cleared, Iddon Price spread his pass wide to Evans, in space on the right. He cut inside into the box and unleashed a tremendous shot into the roof of the net, beating the keeper at his near post with his powerful strike.

Despite the setback, Gresford pushed forward looking for an equaliser and Harvey was twice in action in the closing stages, first denying Max Peate with an outstanding save, with Gruff Williams clearing his own cross bar for a corner.

Harvey was needed to be at his best again in the five minutes of added time, cutting out a dangerous low cross from Jamie Price, but Porth were able to hold on for what was a deserved three points.

With Holyhead losing, Porthmadog move up two places in the Cymru Alliance to eighth in the table - and all their attention now switches to the big game at league leaders Caernarfon on Saturday.

PORTHMADOG: R Harvey, G Williams, J Banks, C James (J Davies 60 minutes), S Bratt, I Price, I Lewis, R Evans, J Williams, A Hamilton (E Edwards 68 minutes), C Jones (S Rogers 81) Unused subs: G Ifan, C Papirnyk.

GRESFORD: J Hill-Dunt, J Price, A Stockton, M Peate, N Peate, S Richardson, J Mountford, T Wells (M Thompson 84), O Roberts, M Latham. G Williams (J Griffiths 71). Unused: E Jones, M Cook. Ref: James Walker. Att: 145.