Bala Town FC V Caernarfon Town FC
Saturday 11 January, 12:00
Following an abandonment and two postponements, Caernarfon’s match with Bala was moved to Llandudno’s Go Goodwins Stadium and the Cofis put on an excellent performance to win all three points, courtesy of a dominant 2-0 victory.
It was a quiet start to the action as the sides seeked to impose themselves on the match and it was Caernarfon who settled first as they dominated the first half. Zack Clarke was first to test Bala keeper Joel Torrance when he tried his luck from an acute angle in the twelfth minute but his effort was hit directly at the stopper.
Louis Lloyd was put through by Mendes six minutes later but his effort was blocked by White. From the resulting corner the ball fell to debutant Josh Lock who saw his shot saved by Torrance at his near post.
Torrance was again on hand to save Bala in the twenty fourth minute after Lloyd had left his marker on the touchline before crossing into the box for Adam Davies, whose first time effort was smartly saved by the stopper, who got his right hand to the ball.
Caernarfon’s midfield of Mendes and Gosset were on top and pushing the team forward and the latter had a log range effort sail over the bar in the thirty fifth minute, following what had seemed a foul on Morgan Owen on the edge of the Bala area.
The Lakesiders were working hard to keep themselves in the match but Caernarfon final took the lead two minutes from the break. Torrance saved Clarke’s low shot and the ball fell to Lock who’s effort was cleared off the line. However, the ball found its way to Morgan Owen on the edge of the area, and the defender struck powerfully through a crowded box and into the onion bag. It was the least the Cofis deserved for an excellent first half performance.
Bala saw marginally more of the ball after the break than they did before it but really, it was still Caernarfon who dominated possession and created the better opportunities.
Adam Davies twice went close to doubling the lead in the opening seven minutes of the half whist Newell thought he had equalised for Bala in the fifty third minute when Owen failed to deal with a cross into the Caernarfon box, but the defender made amends with a terrific block to deny Newell.
Town’s debutante keeper, Ben Smith, had little to do all match but, in the eighty third minute he could thank the right upright for keeping the Cofis ahead after Lloyd’s attempt had deflected off Phil Mooney and bounced off the post to safety.
Caernarfon finally sealed the win in the eighty ninth minute as they broke from defence, with Sam Downey finding Matty Hill on the left flank. Hill sped into the Bala area and saw his shot blocked, however the ball bounced back to him and he set up Adam Davies, whose first time effort from the edge of the area was too hot for Torrance who could only parry the ball into his own net.
It had been an impressive performance from Caernarfon who leapfrogged Bala into fifth place in the league and they know that a win over Flint at the Carling Oval on Tuesday will guarantee them a top six berth for the second phase of the season.
Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the Match: Josh Lock.
Team: Ben Hughes, Morgan Owen, Gruff John, Ryan Sears, Phil Mooney, Danny Gosset, Paulo Mendes, Josh Lock, Louis Lloyd, Zack Clarke, Adam Davies.
Subs (used): Sam Downey, Blaine Hudson, Matty Hill, Joe Faux. Not used: Hari Thomas, Darren Thomas.