Buckley Town 2, Bala Town 4

Bala Town went into this match with numerous selection issues. Matthew Boswell was signed as goalkeeper for the match as suspensions, ineligabilities and injuries decimated the visitors squad.

As well as both goal-keepers being unavailable, Sheridan, Collins and Sharples were cup-tied and injury ruled out Doran and Brown and Danny Williams also far from fit it was a threadbare squad that manager Colin Caton was able to choose from.

The hosts came out in a determined mood and bossed the first ten minutes - once Bala had weathered this early storm they began to impose themselves on the match and for the next half an hour they were in comfortable charge of the match.

They took the lead on the quarter hour mark when Lee Hunt scored from the penalty spot and doubled their lead after half an hour when Chris Mason ran onto a Hunt flicked header and scored low into the right hand side of the goal from a tight angle. Bala were now looking to go into half-time with a good lead, however in the 40th minute a Boswell clearing kick was charged down by Anthony Williams who was able to walk the ball into the net. 2-1 therefore at the interval with the home side finishing the half stongly.

This goal put Bala on the backfoot and Buckley into the ascendancy and it was the hosts who were now shading the game early in the second half. Their equaliser was again courtesy of the spot when Mark Connolly was adjudged to have fouled an opponent in the box and Mike Burke gave Boswell no chance.

Chances were coming thick and fast for both sides with some glaring misses and outstanding saves - in fact a good old fashioned proper cup-tie. Both sides could have won it in the dying minutes but both keepers pulled off a couple of exceptional saves.

And so onto extra time - and the spectre of penalties looming if a result could not be found. Thankfully for us, penalties were not required as a Lee Hunt brace in the first period of extra time put the result out of Buckley´s reach. As soon as his deft header went in after 93 minutes the home side´s endeavour seemed to drop and when he converted Stef Edwards´ excellent cross on 103 minutes the result then was never in doubt.

Bala comfortably saw out the second period of extra time and could have extended their lead further but for some last ditch tackles.

Therefore Bala´s record continues at Globe Way of being unbeaten under the tenure of Colin Caton´s management and we now look forward to welcoming reigning Welsh Cup holders, Llanelli to Maes Tegid in the quarter final - the tie to be played on the last weekend in February.

Thanks go to Buckley Town for their warm welcome as always and we wish them all the best for the rest of the season.

Attendance: 185 (headcount)

Match photos courtesy of Gareth Jones of Buckley Town F.C. ©

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