Bala Town 2, Port Talbot 0

​The Lakesiders went into the fixture top of the league, and they were hoping to extend their run without conceding a goal, which stood at an amazing 357 minutes since Matty Williams gave TNS the lead in the 3rd minute of Bala’s 1-1 draw in their opening game of the season.

​The match was played in the pouring rain, which fell so heavily in the first half that referee Kevin Parry threatened to abandon the game if the lines were not remarked over the half time interval, due to the rain washing the lines away.

Lee Hunt had a chance to score his 3rd goal in two games as early as the first minute, as he ran on to the end of a Mark Jones ball to get one-on-one with keeper Kristian Rogers, but he put his shot over the crossbar.

​The visitors had their first chance of the game in the 5th minute, as Martin Rose got his head on to the end of a long Paul Keddle ball, which pulled out a great save from Terry McCormick.

​The deadlock was broken by Chris Mason in the 16th minute, as some good build up play ended up with Lee Hunt flicking the ball on for Chris Mason, who unleashed a powerful shot past the helpless Rogers.

​Hunt had the opportunity double Bala’s lead 10 minutes later, as he ran on to the end of a Chris Mason cross, but he slipped before he could get his shot away.

​Mason was able to double his tally in the 63rd minute, as he beat the offside trap to collect a Lee Hunt pass, and found himself one-on-one with Rogers, who dived at Mason’s feet, but failed to collect the ball, allowing Mason to run around him, and slot the ball into an empty net.

​Shortly afterwards Mason had the chance to claim the match ball, as he was played in by Lee Hunt, and went on a solo run, before blasting over the cross bar, with Hunt and teammate Peter Doran both screaming at Mason to pass the ball.

​Substitute Chris Hartland did his best to find the visitors a foothold back into the game, as he took on Mark Connolly, and after he got past him he shot at McCormick, but the shot was a weak one, and hit straight at the Bala keeper, who dealt with it easily.

​In the closing stages Bala were given a second opportunity to feature on Soccer AM’s 3rd eye (the previous time was when a spectator behind the car park side goal was struck on the head with the ball as it went wide of the goal against Newtown last season), as the linesman accidentally threw his flag away when signalling for a Port Talbot throw in.

Sgorio Highlights

Port Talbot Match Photos courtesy of Evan L. Dobson

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