A GOAL in each half from Shaun Cavanagh earned Porthmadog a well-deserved 2-0 win over Ruthin Town, to lift them into third place in the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance table.

The solid 2-0 win also marked Paul Pritchard’s sixth clean sheet in the last eight games, despite the visitors showing far more aggression in the second period.

Manager Craig Papirnyk opted for pace at the front, with Tomos Emlyn and Ryan Taylor in the wide positions and Shaun Cavanagh in the middle, and they responded with strong performances.

Ceri James tested keeper Ryan Gouldston from 18 yards, following a corner, and Ryan Taylor controlled Tomos Emlyn’s crossfield ball, and fired across goal.

Jay Gibbs and Gruff John also combined well to put Cavanagh through on goal, but a good defensive block denied him.

When Ruthin counter-attacked, Craig Wilkinson’s angled shot curled wide of keeper Pritchard’s far post - but on 27 minutes Port took a well deserved lead.

A Ceri James assist found Cavanagh in behind the Ruthin defence, and although the advancing Gouldston got a partial block, he drilled home from 15 yards.

Jay Gibbs saw a low shot go narrowly wide, but at the other end Ilan Hughes hit a free kick across goal and wide, and Port were deservedly 1-0 ahead at the interval.

The visitors came out strongly in the second half, with some beefy tackles producing yellow cards, but Pritchard was only threatened by shots from distance.

Gwion Owen’s 18 yard strike flew over, as did an Ilan Hughes effort, but late on it required a good clearing header from Gruff John to keep the visitors at bay, after a good run from Craig Wilkinson.

The introduction of Sion Edwards, just before the hour mark, impacted on the game in Port’s favour, and on 70 minutes Port finally gained a breathing space.

Iwan Lewis burst through on the right and his cross was headed back across goal by Ryan Taylor, and Cavanagh finished off the move with a close range header.

Sub Dan Dascalu forced Gouldston into another good save, and on 87 minutes Port could have made it 3-0 when Dascalu was brought down in the penalty box.

Gouldston, however, pulled off a great save to deny Gruff John from 12 yards, and John also saw a late goal-bound header cleared off the line - but two goals were more than enough to claim victory.

PORTHMADOG: Paul Pritchard, Gruff J Williams, Ceri James ( Sion Edwards 59’), Iddon Price, Josh Banks, Tomos Emlyn, Jay Gibbs, Ifan Emlyn, Ryan Taylor (Dan Dascalu 71’), Iwan Lewis.Shaun Cavanagh ( Dale Davies 85’) Unused subs: Rob Evans, Dewi Thomas. Yellow: Ifan Emlyn 44’, Ryan Taylor 57, Iddon Price 64’.

RUTHIN: Ryan Gouldston, Craig Wilkinson, Cai Davies, Matthew Evans, Kevin Evans, Ilan Hughes, Lewys Turner, Osian Davies, Llyr Morris, Gwion Owen (Ryan Jones 77’), Gwydion Ifan (Wil Owen 55’). Unused subs: Rhys Rowlands, Tom Sharples. Yellow: Ilan Hughes 33’, Osian Davies 87’). Referee: Mark James. Attendance: 243.