Caernarfon Town FC V Bala Town FC
Tuesday 29 August, 19:45
Caernarfon Unlucky Not to Gain Victory.
Caernarfon 1 – 1 Bala Town.
The Cofis’ unbeaten start to the new season continued on Tuesday evening with another excellent performance in a rip-roaring encounter against Bala at the Oval.
The Lakesiders had won the last five encounters between the sides and so whilst a point may seem a good one for Richard Davies’ men they will feel disappointed they could not manage to make their superiority count to gain all three.
The visitors began brightly and a dangerous looking effort from Osebi Abadaki was deflected over the woodwork by Ryan Austin. The big defender was on hand to save his side again in the sixth minute when he headed a Nathan Peate effort two meters off his goal line.
Caernarfon’s Darren Thomas hit his effort from twenty yards wide of the target in the tenth minute and Zack Clarke was disappointed not to have done much better five minutes later when he hit the ball directly at keeper Kelland Absalom.
Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the Match Sion Bradley was causing plenty of problems in the final third of the pitch with his silky running skills and, half way through the first period he dribbled past two men on his way into the Bala box before forcing an excellent full stretch save from Absalom, and Clarke could not convert from the rebound.
It was then the turn of Town keeper Lewis Webb to show his talents, when he tipped over an effort from Iwan Roberts.
Clarke was finding himself in plenty of space in and around the Bala box, and another effort of his failed to find the target after Darren Thomas has put him through.
Louis Lloyd went close to opening the scoring two minutes from the break but Absalom was again on hand to save the visitors.
Bala dominated the opening ten minutes of the second period, as they kept the ball well and forced Caernarfon to chase shadows.
A thunderous Ben Wynne effort sailed an inch over the bar ten minutes into the second period and this was Town’s final opportunity to go ahead before Naim Arsan played a one two in the hosts’ area and coolly slotted the ball past the diving Webb to give Bala the lead.
This meant that Caernarfon were behind in a league match for the first time this season but, far from being disheartened, the setback galvanised them and they set about getting back on level terms.
Thomas and Bradley both went close in a matter of matter of minutes and it seemed a matter of time before the visitors’ defence would crack, as they scrambled to block and deflect efforts.
An excellent move involving Danny Gosset, Marc Williams and Louis Lloyd gave Clarke the opportunity to level the score and he did just that with a first time effort that gave the standing Absalom no chance.
The final fifteen minutes of the action were dominated by Caernarfon as they put pressure on a creaking Bala defence. Bradley, Clarke and Adam Davies all threatened the winner but, despite the efforts, the match ended one goal apiece.
Caernarfon return to the Oval this Friday evening with another tough fixture, this time against Connahs Quay Nomads.
Tyn Lon Volvo Garage an of the Match: Sion Bradley.
Team: Lewis Webb, Iwan Cartwright, Phil Mooney, Ryan Austin, Danny Gosset, Marc Williams, Sion Bradley, Louis Lloyd, Zack Clarke, Darren Thomas, Ben Wynne. Subs (used): Dion Donoghue, Ben Maher, Adam Davies. Not used: Tom Pritchard, Joe Faux, Harri Jones.