PORTHMADOG produced a much-improved second half performance to see off the challenge of plucky visitors Penrhyncoch by 4-2, and maintain second place in the Cymru Alliance table.

Julian Williams had made the breakthrough midway through the first half, but Penrhyn got themselves back on level terms through Sion James a minute before the interval.

After the break, Ifan Emlyn and Gruff Williams had Porthmadog ahead and, despite a late Jonathan Evans penalty on 88 minutes, the home side made sure of the points when sub Shaun Cavanagh bagged a fourth goal in injury time, for his 10th goal of the campaign.

Porthmadog boss Craig Papirnyk was pleased to take the three points, to leave them in good heart for the visit of fourth-placed Flint Town United this weekend.

“It was a proper battle today at the Traeth,” said Papirnyk.

“Penrhyncoch made a real game out of it and they will feel unlucky not to have got anything from it, I’m sure.

“It was a good win for us that keeps us second in the league table, and we have a big game to prepare for this weekend at home against Flint.”

The Roosters threatened early on after getting into some promising positions, with Liam Doherty firing over, and Sion James heading a Jonathan Evans free kick across goal and wide.

A Ieuan Brooks header also forced a save from the outstretched hand of keeper Paul Pritchard, but at the other end Julian Williams saw his header fly wide.

It was Port who broke the deadlock on 21 minutes when good build up down the right, involving Gruff John and Iwan Lewis saw Rob Evans drive a quality low ball towards the back post, which Julian Williams turned in from close range.

Port’s Iddon Price then met a Sion Edwards corner, but headed straight at keeper Lee Jenkins, but as half-time approached the visitors pushed for an equaliser and Pritchard saved from Foligno, from a free kick.

With a minute of the half remaining the equaliser came as Cledan Davies sent a deep free kick into the box, and the ball fell to Sion James, who rifled home.

The visitors could have been ahead on 57 minutes but Antonio Corbisiero was denied by a superb low reaction save from Pritchard.

At the other end Shaun Cavanagh fired wide, and just past the hour mark Port went ahead again, with a good move started and finished by Ifan Emlyn, with Sion Edwards and Rob Evans also being involved.

Twice Edwards created gilt-edged chances, but both Julian Williams and Rob Evans fired over, before their third goal arrived.

From a set-piece, sub Shaun Cavanagh placed a low ball perfectly into the path of Gruff John who steered his shot beyond goalkeeper Jenkins for 3-1.

With time running out, referee Mark James threw the Roosters a lifeline when awarding a penalty against Sion Edwards for a foul just inside the box, and the spot kick was confidently converted by Jonathan Evans.

In added time, however, Port made it 4-2 when Cavanagh got in behind a defence appealing loudly for offside, and despite carrying the ball wide, he scored from the tightest of angles.

The defeat extended Penrhyn’s winless run to 11 matches, and keeps them second-from-bottom in the table, and six points adrift of safety - on a day when all six basement sides lost.

Manager Gari Lewis could at least take heart from a spirited showing from his charges, who will now face another testing assignment at home against fifth-placed Rhyl on Friday evening.

“We were the better side in the first half, and could have been ahead, but unfortunately we gave away some sloppy goals in the second half,” Lewis said.

“Again I was proud of the lads, but we need to turn our efforts into points.”

PORTHMADOG: P Pritchard, GJ Williams, C James, I Price, D Dascalu (T Emlyn 87’), I Emlyn, I Lewis, R Evans, J Williams, S Parry (S Cavanagh 46’), S Edwards. Not used: B Williams, Roberts, Henshaw.

PENRHYNCOCH: L Jenkins, L Lewis (R Murfet 78), C Davies, S James, J Foligno, L Sherbon, J Evans, J Shaw, L Doherty, I Brooks (Florin Bucea 62), A Corbisiero. Substitutes not used: G Lewis, A Thomas.