Caernarfon Town V Bala Town
Monday 26 August, 14:30
Stalemate at the Carling Oval.
Caernarfon 0 – 0 Bala.
Last season Caernarfon and Bala drew all four matches they played in the Cymru Premier League and so the odds were very much in favour of another one at the Carling Oval on Monday. An excellent Bank Holiday crowd of 959 walked through the turnstiles and they witnessed a typically hard fought match between the sides.
The visitors started the strongest and they enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the opening thirty five minutes without really testing Caernarfon’s defence, although Osebi Abadaki will have been disappointed with his effort when trying to lob goalkeeper Stephen McMullan from fourteen yards.
The Cofis began taking control from around the half hour mark, and they were frustrated not to see referee Marck Petch awarding a penalty in the thirty fifth minute when Alex Downes seemed to bring down Morgan Owen in the box as the defender cut in from the right flank.
Owen was in the thick of the action again two minutes later when he crossed the ball to Adam Davies and the big striker was unfortunate to see his effort deflected for a corner.
The hosts’ final opportunity of the half came from a corner on forty minutes but the excellent Paulo Mendes could not quite manage a clean contact on the ball and the visitors cleared to safety.
Caernarfon continued on the front foot in the second half and just past the hour mark Mendes could not quite make the most of a cross from Joe Faux as he headed the ball directly into the arms of a grateful Joel Torrance.
Torrance pulled of a smart save to deny Louis Lloyd in the seventy fourth minute after Clarke had put the winger through on goal.
With seven minutes left on the clock Caernarfon appealed for a penalty as Torrance fumbled the ball and Marc Williams seemed to be brought down two yards from goal by a defender but Mr Petch kept his whistle in his hand and waved play on.
Matty Hill and Mendes both went close to a late winner but Bala held on for a point.
Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the Match: Paulo Mendes.
Team: Stephen McMullen, Gruff John, Morgan Owen, Matty Jones, Joe Faux, Phil Mooney, Marc Williams, Paulo Mendes, Adam Davies, Darren Thomas, Sam Downey, .
Subs (used): Gruff John, Matty Hill, Zack Clarke, Louis Lloyd. Not used: Hari Thomas, Osian Evans, Stefan Edwards.