Porthmadog have made an outstanding start to the 2018-19 Huws Gray Alliance season with three wins from three fixtures.
Bangor City are the leaders on nine points, while Porthmadog and Airbus Broughton are both on the same total with two games in hand.
Porthmadog won 2-1 against Bangor City at Nantporth thanks to goals from Jay Gibbs (13 mins) and Swan Lewis 68). Jacob Farleigh pulled a goal back with five minutes left, but Port held on for the win.
Both teams were keen to play flowing football and the difference between the teams was Porthmadog’s resilience in defence.
Bangor started strongly with wingers Alex Boss and Farleigh prominent.
Gibbs, though, struck first when he fired into the corner after good work by Sion Edwards and Ryan Taylor.
Ifan Emlyn and Iwan Lewis closed down Bangor’s midfield players, while Gibbs was directing operations with his array of passes.
Julian Williams and Rob Evans combined on the right to set up Portnmadog’s second goal and Lewis was able to squeeze his shot past goalkeeper Chris Bullock.
Farleigh scored after Sameroon Dool’s cross from the left, but it proved too little too late.
More than 730 spectators were at Nantporth to watch an exciting match.
Porthmadog: Paul Pritchard, Gruff J Williams, Ceri James, Iddon Price, Ryan Taylor, Iwan Lewis, Ifan Emlyn (Dan Dascalu 91), Jay Gibbs, Sion Edwards (Shaun Cavanagh 69) Joe Chaplin (Rob Evans 55), Julian Williams. Subs not used: Warren Duckett, Josh Banks.
Bangor City: Chris Mullock, Lee Owens, Phil Baker (Andy Jones 82), Jake Phillips, Tom field, Les Davies, Jacob Farleigh, Alex Darlington, Alex Boss (Steve Hewitt 64), Sam Barnes, Sameron Dool. Subs not used: Andy Coughlin(gk), Yalany Baio, Sam Jones.
Referee: Kevin Parry
Attendance: 739.
Gruff John Williams (38 mins) and Joe Chaplin (58) scored for Porthmadog in a 2-0 win against Prestatyn Town, keeping a second successive clean sheet after beating CPD Penrhyncoch 2-0 thanks to an own goal after half an hour and a Julian Williams strike three minutes later.
Airbus have started their season in style, winning their first three matches.
Their latest success was a 3-1 win against Llanrhaeadr at Treflan, Llansantffraid.
The Wingmakers’ quality was evident from the start and Lewis Buckley sent a 25-yarder just wide before Brady McGilloway forced an excellent save from home ‘keeper Connor Lee.
Airbus took the lead when Kristian Platt’s fierce free-kick was parried by Lee and Asa Hamilton was on hand to force the ball home from close range.
Tom Evans went close to an equaliser on 33 minutes when his shot rebounded off a post before Airbus doubled their lead. The ball broke to an unmarked Steve Tomassen, who lashed a superb shot past Lee from the edge of the penalty area.
Iwan Matthews scored following a penalty after 88 minutes to give Llanrhaeadr hope. His spot-kick was saved, but Matthew was able to score from the rebound.
Llan pushed for an equaliser and were caught on the break when James Hooper provided the pass for Ryan Edwards to complete a 3-1 win.
Penrhyncoch earned all three points in the mid-Wales derby when they defeated Guilsfield 3-0.
Craig Williams (2) and Josh Shaw score for Penrhyn.
More than 650 spectators watched Rhyl and Prestatyn draw 1-1. Matthew Worrall fired Rhyl ahead with Alex Jones earning Prestatyn their first point of the season when he equalised.
Flint Town shared four goals in a a 2-2 home draw against neighbours Holywell Town. Mark Cadwallader opened the scoring after 25 minutes to put Flint ahead, while Damian Ketley made it 1-1 seven minutes into the second half.
Holywell went ahead thanks to a Matthew Kedrick goal before Cadwallader took his goals tally for the season to five and earn Flint a point.
Conwy Borough earned their first win, beating Holyhead Hotspur thanks to a Corrig McGonigle penalty netted after 55 minutes.
Huws Gray Alliance results:
August
Friday 24: Denbigh Town 3, Bangor City 2; Rhyl 3, Penrhyncoch 1; Guilsfield 1, Gresford Athletic 0.
Wednesday 22: Conwy Borough 1, Holyhead Hotspur 0; Flint Town United 2, Holywell Town Town 2.
Tuesday 21: Bangor City 1, Porthmadog 2; Penrhyncoch 3, Guilsfield 0; Buckley Town 3, Gresford Athletic 0; Llanrhaeadr YM 1, Airbus Broughton 1; Prestatyn Town 1, Rhyl 1; Ruthin Town 2, Denbigh Town 1.
Saturday 18: Airbus Broughton 1, Conwy Borough 0; Buckley Town 1, Llanrhaeadr YM 2; Denbigh Town 1, Flint Town United 3; Guilsfield 1, Bangor City 3; Holyhead Hotspur 1, Gresford Athletic 2; Holywell Town 2, Penrhyncoch 3; Porthmadog 2, Prestatyn Town 0; Ruthin Town 2, Rhyl 3.
Tuesday 14: Ruthin Town 1, Bangor City 2.
Saturday 11: Bangor City 5, Buckley Town 1; Conwy Borough 1, Guilsfield 2; Flint Town United 5, Holyhead Hotspur 2; Llanrhaeadr YM 1, Rhyl 0; Penrhyncoch 0, Porthmadog 2; Prestatyn Town 0, Airbus Broughton 2.
Friday 10: Denbigh Town 1, Gresford Athletic 3; Holywell Town 0, Ruthin Town 3.
Fixtures:
Saturday 25: Airbus Broughton v Ruthin Town, Buckley Town v Conwy Borough, Flint Town United v Porthmadog, Holyhead Hotspur v Llanrhaeadr YM, Holywell Town v Prestatyn Town.
Friday 31: Bangor City v Holyhead Hotspur, Conwy Borough v Denbigh Town.
HUWS GRAY ALLIANCE 2018/19
| Teams | Pl | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | ||
| 1 | Bangor City | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 9 | |
| 2 | Airbus Broughton | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 9 | |
| 3 | Porthmadog | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 9 | |
| 4 | Flint Town United | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 7 | |
| 5 | Rhyl | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 7 | |
| 6 | Ruthin Town | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 6 | |
| 7 | Penrhyncoch | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 | |
| 8 | Llanrhaeadr YM | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 | |
| 9 | Gresford Athletic | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 6 | |
| 10 | Guilsfield | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 6 | |
| 11 | Conwy Borough | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 | |
| 12 | Buckley Town | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 3 | |
| 13 | Denbigh Town | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 10 | -4 | 3 | |
| 14 | Holywell Town | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 1 | |
| 15 | Prestatyn Town | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 1 | |
| 16 | Holyhead Hotspur | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 0 |