PORTHMADOG produced a controlled, efficient performance in extremely difficult conditions to notch their fifth straight win in a 2-0 triumph at Llanrhaeadr - and as a bonus, Craig Papirnyk’s men made it four clean sheets in those five matches.

They were made to work hard by their well-organised hosts, but two well-taken second half goals from Josh Banks and Shaun Cavanagh were enough to earn the visitors a well-deserved three points.

Port started on the front foot with top scorer Shaun Cavanagh seeing an angled shot thud against the foot of the post.

Llanrhaeadr looked to hit them on the break, but Port controlled possession, with Ifan Emlyn directing operations.

Rob Evans came close with a back-post header, Julian Williams had a shot well saved by Jimmy Haynes and another effort from the same player went just wide.

In driving rain and difficult underfoot conditions, a Rob Evans cross went screaming across the face of goal, but at the other end a home break down the right saw Marc Griffiths meet a good cross, but his header flew over the bar.

With half-time approaching, Porthmadog pushed on and keeper Haynes saved well from Dan Dascalu and, when Rob Evans set up Julian Williams, the forward was unlucky to see his shot deflected for a corner, as the first half ended goalless.

Just three minutes into the second period, however, Port won a corner down the right and Ifan Emlyn lifted the ball to the back post, where Haynes was unable to keep out Josh Banks’ close-range header.

It needed another good save to keep out a Gruff John effort when he met another Ifan Emlyn corner, and as weather conditions worsened still Iwan Matthews struck a good effort which went across goal and narrowly wide of the far post.

Port sealed the three points on 74 minutes when good work by Iwan Lewis down the right resulted in a cross into the area, and the ball came back out to Shaun Cavanagh - who struck hard and low from 18 yards into the corner of the net.

When Shaun Cavanagh was put through on goal, he turned badly on his ankle and had to be helped off the field.

Llanrhaeadr kept going and forced a couple of corners, before Iwan Matthews broke into the box and was adjudged to have been brought down by Ceri James.

Referee Dave Wright pointed to the spot, but Pritchard went down to his right to keep out Iain Edmunds’ penalty.

Sub Sion Parry came close for Port late on, but the three points were safe and a 10th win of the season had been achieved.

The half-way point in the season has been reached - with Port in second spot.

PORTHMADOG: P Pritchard, GJ Williams, C James, I Price, J Banks, I Emlyn, D Dascalu, I Lewis, J Williams, S Cavanagh (S Parry 83 minutes), R Evans (T Emlyn 79 minutes). Unused substitutes: C Henshaw, R Hughes.

LLANRHAEADR: J Haynes, K Wytton, I Edmunds, D Kelly, M Evans, T Bailey, T Evans, J Vaughan, M Griffiths, L Green, I Matthews, Subs: D Graham, H France, D France, H Lloyd. Ref: D Wright. Att: 94 .