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Thursday, November 20, 2008, 09:02
Despite scoring goals for fun manager Peter Nicholas must be concerned at the number being conceded which has now risen to 21, with the Reds last league clean sheet coming at Newi Cefn Druids in late September.
The absence of influential midfield trio, Antonio Corbisiero, Chris Holloway and Stephen Evans is also not helping matters, but their imminent return should soon boost the side's defensive capabilities.
A goal within five minutes gave the visitors the perfect start, as a Craig Jones through ball sent Jordan Follows on a run, and his squared a pass was turned in by Rhys Griffiths.
Craig Morris did well to keep out a fierce shot by Chris Jones as Porthmadog hit back, but he was beaten in the 11th minute when a quickly taken free kick on halfway caught the Reds defence napping, leading to Rhys Roberts firing across Morris into the bottom corner.
The visitors just survived another scare when Steven Kehoe delivered a ball into the box that Jones met only to see it strike the base of the post and rebound to safety.
Porthmadog had better luck on 19 minutes when they edged in front following a Mike Foster free kick which Roberts headed across goal for prolific striker, Marc Lloyd-Williams to turn past Morris.
Seven minutes later, the Reds were back on level terms following a glancing header by Follows past goalkeeper Richard Harvey from a Mark Pritchard cross.
A rising shot from Richard Owen sailed narrowly over the visitors goal, while Craig Jones went close at the other end with a thirty yard attempt with Harvey at full stretch.
Morris punched clear from Kehoe and then safely grasped a Foster shot, but there was no denying the home side who took the lead again four minutes from the break with Lloyd-Williams grabbing his second.
The Reds had it all to do in the second period and proved they were still in the contest, with both Pritchard and Andrew Mumford having on-target strikes deflected for corner kicks.
But it was their opponents who could well have extended their lead with Lloyd-Williams directing his header straight into the arms of Morris when Foster found him in the middle.
Jason Bowen was introduced instead of Craig Jones on the hour mark, but his first contribution was to lose possession allowing Owen to make a run on goal.
Fortunately Stuart Jones was alert to the danger and snuffed it out.
Morris clung on safely to a well struck near post attempt by Jones, before Porthmadog were given a golden chance to put the result beyond doubt when they were awarded a penalty on 74 minutes.
Stuart Jones was adjudged to have handled a ball in the box, but Lloyd-Williams, who had missed from the spot in the two previous matches, screwed his shot well off target and let the Reds off the hook.
He almost made amends for this error when he was put clear, but Morris came off his line and did enough to distract the striker, who fired wide of an open goal.
A Wyn Thomas free kick was helped on its way toward the net by Bowen with Harvey out of position, but Ryan Davies cleared it in the nick of time.
With the game in its 90th minute and the Reds seemingly heading for defeat, Andy Legg sent a trademark long throw into a crowded area.
There Grifiths reacted quickest to drive the ball past Harvey and secure his side a share of the points.
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