Bala Town 1, Bangor City 2

The Lakesiders were hoping to bounce back from two defeats on the bounce, where they lost 4-2 at home to Llanelli, and 4-0 at Neath.

​The first chance of the game came in the 6th minute, as Bala’s Mark Connolly struck a free kick 25 yards from goal, which went over the wall, and wad heading for the bottom corner of the net, but Lee Idzi was at full stretch as he tipped the ball wide.

​Bangor’s Les Davies opened the scoring in the 10th minute, after a scramble in the Bala box, where John Irving attempted to clear the ball, only to see Davies collect the ball on the 6 yard line, and fired the ball home.

​The hosts came agonisingly close to getting a penalty, after Les Davies fouled John Irving a yard outside the box. From the resulting free kick Mark Connolly sent his shot narrowly wide of the post.

​Mark Smyth came close to doubling City’s advantage, as he was able to get round Bala keeper Terry McCormick, only to his shot cleared off the line. Smyth came close to scoring again shortly afterwards in spectacular fashion, as he unleashed a ferocious 25 yard shot, which left McCormick rooted to his line, as the shot which appeared to be heading for the top corner went narrowly wide.

​Fourth official Bryn Markham-Jones indicated that there would be a minimum of two additional minutes, and fifteen seconds over the allotted two minutes referee Dean John pointed to the penalty spot, as James Brewerton brought down Lee Hunt in the penalty area, to the dismay of the Bangor players, who felt that Mr John should have already blown for half time. Hunt sent Idzi the wrong way to level the scores just before the interval.

​The Lakesiders had the first real chance of the second half, as Chris Mason hit a curling shot on the turn in mid air, but saw Idzi make a save, which allowed Bangor to hit Bala on the break, which ended with Alan Bull hitting his shot across the face of the goal narrowly wide.

​Just before the hour mark the Citizens re-took the lead, as Mark Smyth collected a long ball down the left wing, and he drove the ball home into the far corner of the net. Two minutes later Les Davies had the opportunity to make the score 3-1, as Bangor hit Bala on the counter attack, but Davies sent his shot over from close range.

​In the closing stages of the match Michael Byron sent a long range free kick into the Bangor box, which was collected easily by Idzi. The ball would only have required a slight deflection to potentially wrong foot the keeper.

​Les Davies had the opportunity to double his tally with the last kick of the game, as the hosts committed men forward, allowing him to find space in the Bala half of the pitch, which enabled him to get one-on-one with McCormick, but he sent his close range effort over the crossbar as the keeper ran off his line to challenge him.

Match Photos courtesy of Evan L. Dobson

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