My first visit to Maes Tegid, which is located in the centre of Bala. Take
the narrow turning up a one way street at the traffic lights and straight
across the junction will bring you into the ample car park. Admission was £3
which included a full colour programme that must be a contender for Welsh
Football magazine's 'Programme of the Year'.

On route to Bala, we wondered if this game was going ahead because of the
overnight conditions and this was re-enforced when it started raining.
However when we arrived it had stopped and although the pitch was heavy, the
game was on. Apparently a few Bala players thought the same and after
yesterday's opening display they may enjoy adding the Friday night session
to the pre-game routine.

Before this game Bala were lying joint third with Flint in 8th place.

Straight from the kick-off Bala put pressure of the Flint defence. They were
quickly rewarded when Dave Sweet scored in the 3rd minute with a long range
effort. A minute later Bala hit the crossbar when Gary Roberts tried to chip
Flint keeper Andy Hughes from just outside the penalty box. Things got worse
for Flint after a defender mis-directed his header towards the feet of
Roberts who took the ball into the penalty area and with just the keeper to
beat, passed inside for Gethin Lloyd to easily score. Bala two up with only
ten minutes gone. Flint first real attack occurred in the 14th minute,
Darren Edwards shooting wide. Bala continued to make full use of the wings
with fast counter attacks which stretched the Flint defence to its limits.
Roberts had another shot saved on the 21st min before Flint's John Hazeldine
shot wide a minute later. Bala's third goal started from another Flint
defensive mistake, keeper Hughes had to scramble away a poor pass back from
colleague Lee Jones. From the throw-in Gethin scored his second after his
initial shot hit the post. The half hour mark and Gethin nearly had a
hat-trick when his attempt was cleared off the line by Lee Taylor. However
it was Dave Sweet who scored the hosts fourth a minute later. Flint's Scott
Beck failed to cut out a cross to Paul Connolly who set up Sweet to score
his second. This first half was summed up on the 34th minute and resulted in
the fifth Bala goal. A quick break away on the right wing and good one touch
football between Roberts and Robbie Chesters set up the attack. Roberts sped
down the wing and despite having four defenders between him and Chesters,
picked out his unmarked colleague who slotted home close to the penalty
mark. Finally half-time came for Flint who all trooped off heads bowed and
leaving manager Dai Beck with a difficult job in the changing rooms.

It was a different Flint side who came out in the second half. Mr Beck
changed things around and got his players going again and this was reflected
in their general play. They started to pick up the Bala midfield and closed
down a lot better. However the full-backs were still having a hard time and
again good Bala left wing play resulted in Chesters shooting wide at the
back post on the 59th minute. A flurry of substitutions on both sides in the
first 25 minutes didn't help the entertainment value of the second half but
allowed those players a run out. On the 75 minute a Flint appeal for a
penalty was turned down by referee Paul Morgan after it appeared the ball
struck Scott Beck on the arm. Two minutes later and Bala scored their sixth
when after a penalty box scramble, young sub Eilir Edwards blasted home.
Bala keeper Paul Evans then got into the show at the very end when he dived
high to his left and held a header on the line. And I'm sure he smiled for
the camera on the way down.

My MoM: Bala's centre half Llion Roberts. Controlled his defence throughout
the game and was the main reason Flint went away with nothing.

Bala Town: Paul Evans, Paul Connolly, Owain Roberts, Dave Sweet, Llion
Roberts, Chris Williams, Iwan Roberts, Huw Price (Capt), Gethin Lloyd,
Robbie Chesters, Gary Roberts. Subs: Michael Jackson, Roy Cardus, Eilir
Edwards

Flint Town Utd: Andy Hughes, Scott Beck, Darren Williams, Kevin Thomas, Lee
Jones, John Hazeldine, Lee Taylor, Stuart Hughes (Capt), Darren Edwards,
Shaun Beck, Darren Peters. Subs: Ian Taylor, Ben Shaddlow, Gary Burns.

Officials: Ref - P Morgan, Assistants - J.W. Davies, G.E.Jones

Est att: 85

This is the second time I have watched Bala this season and like the last
time (a gritty 3-0 win at Penrhyncoch) they were impressive. Their first
half performance was the best I have seen in the Cymru Alliance this season
and with the enthusiasm of the committee should be around the Cymru Alliance
for some time. No idea if they have thoughts of Welsh Premier but they have
plenty of ground to work with. The one major problem could be retaining the
services of manager Colin Caton, who was Cymru Alliance November 2004
Manager of the month. After taking over at the start of the 2003/04 season
with the club in the lower end of the Welsh National League Premier
Division, Colin won both the League Championship and NEWFA Challenge Cup in
his first season. As noted in the programme Bala have only lost six times
since Oct 18th 2003 and are currently unbeaten in their last 8. In the
meantime I am sure that Bala are enjoying life in the upper half of the
Cymru Alliance and like the match sponsors (Bala Town Everton Supporters
Club), they have raised a few eyebrows this season.

Finally I recommend a half-time sausage roll (50p).

Ali Nicoll

http://www.midwalesfootball.co.uk


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