PORTHMADOG were pegged back from a two-goal interval lead as they had to settle for a 2-2 draw with visitors Flint Town United in the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance last weekend.

They had completely dominated the first half and, well before the half hour mark, they were deservedly two goals up and probably should have been out of sight.

Shaun Cavanagh’s brace took him to 10 league goals for the season, and their tally should have been added to, but the second-half was a total contrast, with the Silkmen staging a furious fight back.

Flint’s new signing Gerard Kinsella made a dream debut, netting twice to give the visitors a share of the points which, after 45 minutes, had seemed most unlikely.

“It was a frustrating game today,” admitted Porthmadog boss Craig Papirnyk.

“We played some of our best football in the first half, only to be so disappointing in the second, but credit to Flint, who grew into the game and got their reward.

“Giving away a 2-0 lead is not good enough, and lessons will be learned by us.”

Port had started on fire, forcing Flint into their own half, closing them down quickly and setting up some slick passing moves.

The midfield quartet of Iwan Lewis, Ifan Emlyn, Dan Dascalu and Rob Evans were totally running the show, and they were rewarded with the opener on 16 minutes.

A Port counter-attack saw Shaun Cavanagh break down the left and use his pace to get behind the high defensive line but, as he cut into the box, he was felled and ref Arthur Smallman pointed to the spot.

Shaun Cavanagh himself took responsibilty, driving his spot kick low to Aaron Jones’ right and, though the Flint keeper got a touch, he could not keep it out.

Cavanagh, following another neat Port move, lifted another shot over the bar, but Porthmadog soon doubled their lead.

Rob Evans drove a low cross into the penalty box where Iwan Lewis got a touch, and Cavanagh was on hand to score an opportunist goal from close range.

Rob Evans had an opportunity following an Ifan Emlyn corner, but sliced his shot wide, and Flint were able to hold the score at 2-0 - knowing that an early second-half goal would put them back into the game.

Within two minutes of the second half, Flint had forced a couple of corners, where the tall figures of Richie Foulkes and Andy Brown made their presence felt.

Then, 10 minutes into the half, new signing Gerard Kinsella met the Burrows’ corner to head home past Paul Pritchard.

It was game on now and as the visitors had upped their tempo, Porthmadog were under real pressure, with Ceri James having to make a spectacular clearance, while Andy Brown fired into the side-netting.

Port lost the services of their skipper Iddon Price when he pulled up suddenly in a foot race deep into his own half.

It was no surprise really when the equaliser came on 76 minutes, as former Marine midfielder Kinsella scored his second goal, driving low from the edge of the box, with the deflection beating Pritchard.

Both teams threw caution to wind, and in the latter stages Ifan Emlyn pulled his drive wide, whilst Flint’s Richie Foulkes thundered an attempted clearance against his own crossbar, and a Sion Edwards’ cross to the far post was only inches beyond the reach of Julian Williams.

After six minutes of added time, however, both teams had to be satisfied the final scoreline finishing equal between them - for the second time this season.

PORTHMADOG: P Pritchard, T Emlyn, C James, I Price (S Edwards 61 minutes), G J Williams, D Dascalu, I Lewis, I Emlyn, R Evans (J Davies 67’), S Cavanagh, J Williams. Unused subs: S Parry, Il ap Gareth, C Papirnyk.

FLINT: A Jones, J Hampson, J Welsh, G Kinsella, I Hewitt, A Brown, B Burrows, R Foulkes, L Blondel (J Higgins 82’), M Cadwallader (R Smith 67’), K Smyth. Unused: J Hill. Att: 246.