BALA TOWN 1

BANGOR CITY 2

THERE just had to be a dramatic end to what was a hugely eventful 24 hours in the JD Welsh Premier League.

A day after being demoted from the league, Bangor City ended their troubled week on a high by claiming an injury time winner to consign Gwynedd rivals Bala Town to a sixth successive defeat.

On Thursday, Bangor were informed that their appeal over a failure to gain the FAW domestic licence had failed.

As a result, they will be relegated from top flight, despite finishing as runners-up in the league.

Friday’s game had an air of deja-vu about it.

City were the first WPL opponents for the Lakesiders back in 2009 at Maes Tegid and it would be at Bala that would bring an end to Bangor’s 26-year stint in the league.

Amongst all the talk and gossip off the pitch, the real action was on the field of play, with Town doing well from the outset and they found themselves dominating the first period.

Chances for Nathan Burke, Kieran Smith, Mike Hayes and Chris Venables went wide of the post, over the upright or were saved by goalkeeper Matthew Hall.

Bala’s lack of clinical finishing came back to haunt them no matter how hard they tried.

A header from Stuart J Jones soared over the bar, before Bangor City had their first opportunity after half-an-hour, with Luke Wall testing Ashley Morris in the Town net.

Bala were applying heaps of pressure in what was one of the most one-sided halves of the season.

However, the failure to take their chances cost them dear when the visitors went in front after 37 minutes.

A slick Bangor move culminated in Steven Hewitt slotting home to give the visitors an interval lead.

Things were similar in the second half, with Bala creating plenty of chances, but in the main they were unable to find that little bit of luck they needed.

Chris Venables headed over from close range, before firing into the side netting minutes later.

In a further glimpse of goal, John Disney’s goalbound effort was cleared off the line and Mike Hayes’ follow-up attempt rattled the base of the post.

Eventually, Town got their deserved goal after 71 minutes.

When a delivery went into the box, Ian Sheridan volleyed into the net to tie up the score.

Not content to rest on their laurels, the Bala chances continued, with Stuart Jones seeing his header being well saved by Hall.

Mike Hayes’ low strike was saved, before Dean Rittenberg drove wide down the other end.

With the injury board showing three additional minutes, Bala were dealt a late blow.

George Harry broke down the left and superbly curled home into the top corner of the net, meaning City sealed all three points.