Caersws 0 Porthmadog 5
CAERSWS saw their promotion hopes dashed as Rhys Williams inspired Porthmadog to an emphatic play-off final win at Barmouth.
More than 1,300 people crammed into the beautiful Wern Mynach ground but the omens were not good for the Bluebirds even before kick-off.
The village side made the trip without their famous blue and white kit and were forced to don the black and white stripes of the host club.
Porthmadog dictated the early proceedings with their vocal support creating almost a home atmosphere on a warm day on the west coast.
Caersws goalkeeper Steffan Harri Jones was called into action after 10 minutes to deny Marcus Banks in the first chance of the game and four minutes later Neil Mitchell forced Port stopper Paul Pritchard into a close range save.
The chance would prove a rarity for the out of sorts villagers who struggled to get into the game as Porthmadog became increasingly dominant.
Porthmadog celebrate promotion to the Cymru North after the LockStock Ardal Leagues Northern Play-Off Final at Wern Mynach, Barmouth
Rhys Williams would prove key with the attack and looked threatening whenever he was in possession with Caersws forced to drop increasingly deep to soak up the growing pressure.
Dewi Thomas saw a shot blocked in a crowded goalmouth before Rhys Williams fired over from 20 yards after half an hour.
Williams opened the scoring after 38 minutes after racing onto a throughball from Banks to lift over an advancing Jones to the delight of the Port faithful.
Caersws were still reeling when Williams added his second from close range after Jones could only parry a low drive from Gareth Jones-Evans on the stroke of half-time.
Williams was denied his hat-trick as Jones kept the Bluebirds in the game early in the second-half.
Porthmadog players and management celebrate. Picture: Barcud-Coch Photography.
However with Caersws still struggling to retain possession and Porthmadog now in the ascendancy, it was no surprise when Williams completed his hat-trick from the edge of the area on the hour.
A comeback never looked likely and Porthmadog could have increased their tally with Stuart Rogers testing Jones with a rasping effort before Jamie McDaid was also left frustrated by the villagers' last line of defence.
However Porthmadog put the game to bed with two goals in as many minutes as Caersws' heads dropped late on.
John Littlemore sensationally drilled home from 25 yards before Paul Lewis added a fifth to hammer the final nail in the Bluebirds' promotion dreams which were left tattered on the pristine Wern Mynach pitch.
👏🏆 Llongyfarchiadau i @CPDPorthmadogFC
— Sgorio ⚽️ (@sgorio) May 28, 2022
Porthmadog yn curo Caersws 5-0 yn rownd derfynol y gemau ail gyfle ac yn hawlio eu lle yn y JD Cymru North 🏴 pic.twitter.com/TJ7coi41Rk
Porthmadog celebrated an emphatic and deserved victory to seal their promotion to JD Cymru North in style and leave Caersws to be consoled by their league cup silverware.
CAERSWS: S Jones, Harries, Matthee, M Mumford, Davies, Evans, Mitchell, Probert, W Evans, Coney, L Mumford. Subs: Thomas, Marks, Sillitoe, Gordon, D Jones.
PORTHMADOG: Pritchard, Jones-Evans (Littlemore 82), J Banks, E Roberts, Price, I Jones, Thomas (Rogers 64), M Banks (McDaid 64), R Williams (M Jones 82), Parry (Fisher 67), Lewis.
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