BALA TOWN 1

CARDIFF MET 2

DESPITE initially holding the advantage, Bala Town lost out during their home clash with Cardiff Met.

As the September sunshine shone down over Maes Tegid, the Lakesiders started well and they can be very happy with their first half performance.

Town’s first clearcut effort came when Henry Jones’ free kick was curled into the box and found Anthony Stephens, who just failed to make a clean connection and his attempt went wide.

Alex Lang pushed out Lassana Mendes’ delivery into the box, before a series of corners led to Stephens flicking the ball goalwards for the waiting Chris Venables, but Joel Edwards cleared off the line with 19 minutes played.

The visitors had a golden opportunity to take the lead when they broke quickly on the counter attack.

Will Evans fired low, but Ashley Morris made a solid save with his feet to keep it at 0-0.

A couple of minutes later another counter attack from Met saw Charlie Corsby pull his shot wide of the post.

Bala finished the half strongly, with Louis Robles and Kieran Smith combining well and getting crosses into the area.

Robles headed over from a Jones free kick prior to a massive opportunity for the Lakesiders to go ahead.

Venables and Robles had their strikes blocked by Woolridge and Thomas, before the loose ball arrived to Mendes, who lobbed Lang but his effort landed on the roof of the net.

The second half started in the best way possible for the Lakesiders.

A Bala corner was cleared and arrived to Henry Jones on the edge of the 18-yard box.

He drilled a shot towards the goal and saw it fly into the far corner of the net to make it 1-0.

However, this lead was to be short lived.

From the restart, Cardiff Met were awarded a penalty for an alleged handball, which Eliot Evans slotted coolly into the net.

Town continued to press with Kieran Smith rattling the crossbar from around eight yards out, while Smith headed over the crossbar on 74 minutes from Andy Burns’ cross.

With 10 minutes left to play, Met added a second goal.

Some awful defending from the Lakesiders allowed substitute Dion Phillips to prod the ball in.

Bala tried to hit back in the closing stages and they almost did when Mike Hayes curled the ball narrowly wide of the far upright.