HYDE UNITED 0

BALA TOWN 2

THERE were four seasons in one day as Bala Town continued their good pre-season run at Hyde United on Saturday afternoon.

Starting in the driving rain and thunder, there was quite a high tempo start to proceedings, with Bala seeing plenty of the ball in the early stages.

However, it was United's Heathcote who has the first real chance of the game when he saw his effort being blocked by Stuart J Jones after 13 minutes.

Town’s quick play was causing issues for the Hyde backline, with Steven Tames having two efforts in two minutes - one was sliced wide from around 18 yards out and he then lobbed the keeper, but the ball sailed over the crossbar.

Down the other end, Chilaka was denied by a fantastic Ashley Morris save, with the Bala number one pushed the ball away and the follow-up shot was scooped away by the Lakesiders.

The deadlock was broken on 29 minutes, with Andy Mangan opening his Town goal tally.

A defence splitting ball from new signing Henry Jones carved open picked out Mangan, who beat his man and lobbed the keeper from outside the area to make it 1-0.

Jones and Mangan combines again minutes later, but the forward fired into the side netting from around 10 yards out.

Ian Sheridan then went on a break on the right, crossing the ball first time to Tames, but Crook came out to collect.

The Lakesiders were having a great spell of possession and they were looking a threat with every attack.

Henry Jones went close when his powerful long-range strike fizzed inches over the bar.

Six minutes before half-time and Bala doubled their lead.

Mangan’s excellent ball to Sheridan saw him shake off his marker and coolly slot the ball into the net to make it 2-0 at the interval.

The second half wasn’t as entertaining, but Bala looked sharp and they kept playing tidy quick football while keeping Hyde at bay.

Tames had a golden opportunity when he broke free, but his shot was directed straight at the keeper, before Mangan whipped a ball inches wide from an acute angle.

Ashley Morris who had a quiet game on the whole in the Bala net, but he did make another fantastic save as he palmed a goalbound effort from 20 yards against the post and Sean Smith cleared.

As the game reached the final 10 minutes, Hyde tried to hit back, but Town were comfortable and they were looking the more likely to score.

Chris Venables saw his effort go out for a goal-kick and then Stuart Jones’ ball was laid off by Venables into the path of Tames.

As he went to shoot with only the keeper to beat, he was clipped and the ball crept wide from six yards.

Town delivered another solid team display and thoroughly deserved the win to continue their unbeaten pre-season record to date. Defensively, they look like a unit, while in midfield and up front they look like a constant attacking threat.