PRESTATYN TOWN V PORT TALBOT TOWN 2-1 WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE
With an increasing interest in Welsh football Prestatyn had been on the radar for a while following visits to Airbus, Buckley and Connahs Quay it was time to move further down the alphabet and the North Wales coast too.
The fluid movements of the national rail system had dropped me in Prestatyn with a fantastic 3 hours to spend in the North Wales resort town and having read a fellow bloggers comments that a trip up 'Hillside' to a superb viewing point over Prestatyn, Rhyl and the North sea wind farms.
With good speed out of the High St and up Ffordlas and towards Hillside the steepest of climbs I think I have ever made, certainly recently, would have tested the fittest of athletes. Having arrived at the summit and gathered my breath I thank the previous blogger on this clear and sunny day the most remarkable views were on display. With Snowdon to the left dropping down to the nearby coastal town of Rhyl and then my ultimate destination Bastion Gardens home of Prestatyn Town. Out into the North Sea the wind farm sites could be viewed along with a selection of ships. All in all though this was a superb experience and when I had gathered myself to make the journey back down the incline, definitely easier than the climb, but somewhat difficult in stopping the walk becoming a run its that steep!
With time approaching kick off a quick sea front visit was undertaken before paying my £7 to enter Bastion Gardens and purchasing a couple of match day programmes from the club shop that was immediately in front of you as you came through the turnstile.
As usual a full circuit was made of the ground and although its not one of the smartest its full of character and of course the selection of cabins and building from toilet block, to office, to a large bar community area are present. Having obtained a picture of the team sheet from a friendly official, something I have to day was evident throughout my visit here, it was time to take up a position to view the game from. With the Port Talbot ultras in full voice and beating drum they were too add to the atmosphere of this game.
While wanting to take some pictures and the sun being very bright headlong into the stand I opted for behind the far goal and along the dug outs standing area.
Port Talbot started at a sharp pace and took the lead after three minutes and it looked like they may run away with the game but to prestatyn's credit they hold on and got back on level terms. Then just before half time Leigh De Vulgt was dismissed by Referee Nick Pratt something that would probably level the game up. So it turned out with the home side taking a lead early in the second half and while relying on that narrow lead until the 90 minutes were up it was a morale boosting victory for the second bottom club in The WPL. The young guns of Prestatyn had worked their socks off and hung on for their third victory of the season with the help of a passionate and it has to be said a superbly encouraging crowd of 187.
This was a visit much planned and now finally undertaken, a game and visit to town and club that was a pleasure I look forward to revisiting soon and will follow Prestatyn's result with interest.
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