PORTHMADOG closed the gap on Huws Gray Alliance leaders Airbus Broughton with a 2-0 win at Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochant.

The in-form side produced a professional display against the newly promoted outfit to come away with three points, and they received further good news as the Wingmakers’ perfect start to the season ended with defeat at the hands of Flint Town United.

Craig Papirnyk’s men are now ten points behind the long-time pacesetters ahead of their next league outing when they welcome Bangor City for a pivotal Boxing Day encounter (2.30pm).

The visitors came out on the front foot and almost went ahead on five minutes when a fierce strike from Shaun Cavanagh came back off the post, with the home side almost getting in at the other end soon after but for a superb last-ditch tackle from Ceri James.

Rob Evans and Julian Williams were the next to go close for Port midway through the half, but the hosts were threatening on the counter-attack with player-manager Marc Griffiths forced keeper Paul Pritchard into a smart stop after 25 minutes.

After the break saw Port resume their dominance in possession and they finally got the breakthrough on 48 minutes when Josh Banks’ powerful header from an Ifan Emlyn corner found its way into the net.

Things almost got even better shortly following the goal when Gruff John failed to convert from another set-piece, but Port did manage to double their tally with 74 on the clock when Cavanagh continued his superb recent form in front of goal with a sweet strike from just inside the area after good work from Iwan Lewis.

The home side were given a lifeline late on when they were awarded a penalty after James was adjudged to have brought down Iwan Matthews, but Pritchard managed to keep out Iain Edmunds’ spot kick to seal their fifth consecutive victory and fourth clean sheet in the last five games.