Our last game before Christmas delivered a cracker for the fans as Bala were victorious in an entertaining 5-3 clash with Cefn Druids.
The Ancients led for the opening forty minutes having taken the lead through a brilliant Josef Faux goal from distance. Before Will Evans and Chris Venables turned around proceedings to give us the half-time lead.
Ollie Shannon then scored a minute after the break to start off an action-packed half as two opposition players were sent off in a scuffle a few minutes later. Following that, Dave Edwards scored a brace, while Druids grabbed two consolation goals to bring an end to an entertaining encounter.
Faux stunner stuns Bala
Druids took us by surprise in the opening five minutes when Faux gave his side the best start possible, as he opened the scoring with a stunning strike from 25 yards out. The hosts then piled men in front of their goal to protect their lead in hope of pulling off a shock result. The longer the game went on the more likely the potential of this shock happening looked. This caused the Lakesiders to grow frustrated with half-chances not going our way and Druids clinging onto their lead with half-time approaching.
Evans equalises with a stunner of his own
With Michael Jones still yet to have been tested in the opposition’s net, Evans took matters into his own hands as he looked to catch the keeper off guard from distance. This is exactly what he managed when his effort beat the goalkeeper for power and pace to bring us level.
Venables then completes the quick turnaround
A quick turnaround was then complete only a minute later when Bala quickly got the ball into the opposition area with Venables left free to receive and slot home a Paul Rutherford assist. Despite desperate calls for offside by the Ancients, the referee awarded the goal. Just like that, two quick-fire goals had seen the Lakesiders take the lead heading into half-time.
Shannon sends us on our way to victory
Following the break, Bala began where we left off as moments from kick-off Shannon found the top corner. A fantastic finish by the midfielder who was composed as he took the chance in the area to double our advantage.
Disaster for Druids as they are down to nine-men
It went from badtoworse for the hosts just before the hour mark when two of their players were sent-off following a scuffle on the touchline. Both Yalany Baio and Stefan Edwards were given their marching orders by the referee for apparent violent conduct.
Dangerous Dave gives us daylight
Shortly after the mayhem, Edwards joined in on the action to give us a three-goal advantage as he rose highest to head home another Rutherford assist. It appeared at this point that the hosts had given up hope of providing anything short of remarkable with the two sending offs leaving them little to no chance. However, Liam Buckley did give his side hope of pulling off the impossible when the Bala backline appeared to switch off when a cross was delivered which Buckley was on the end of to drill home.
Walker-Rice or Edwards? Who cares, Bala hit five to seal victory
Danny Walker-Rice was off the bench not long after Druids scored their second and delivered the knockout blow when his delivery into the area found the back of the net. His cross flying past Edwards and the goalkeeper, with a question as to whether the former Welsh international had made contact to collect a brace. But it was Walker-Rice’s delivery that had brought about the goal and no real worries to whose goal it actually was.
Again, the Ancients refused to be on the end of a hammering at The Rock as they cut the deficit a final time in the last minute. Somehow, Druids scoring another consolation goal with nine-menwhen Mitchell Williams, off the bench, found the back of the net. The 18-year-old appearing to run into Alex Ramsay before collecting the ball and placing it into the empty net to complete an eight-goal thriller at The Rock.
Most definitely not a standout result or performance for Colin Caton’s men having conceded three goals to bottom of the table Cefn Druids who had nine-men for the last third of match. But a win is a win in the Cymru Premier and the players will be pleased to get back to winning ways before derby day arrives at Maes Tegid.
Boxing Day will host our next match as it’s our Gwynedd Rivals at Maes Tegid with Caernarfon visiting to take on the Lakesiders with kick-off set for 13:00.
Match Stats: Bala Town - Alex Ramsay, Oliver Southern, Anthony Stephens, Nathan Peate, Sean Smith, Antony Kay, Ollie Shannon, Will Evans, Paul Rutherford, Dave Edwards, Chris Venables
Cefn Druids – Michael Jones, Liam Buckley, Stefan Edwards, Niall Flint, Yalany Baio, Josef Faux, Harry Farnsworth, Tyler Garratt, Emmanuel Agyemang, Daniel Cabral, Charley Edge
Substitutions:
Bala Town – Lassana Mendes > Ollie Shannon (68), Danny Walker-Rice > Will Evans (78), Steve Leslie > Paul Rutherford (88)
Cefn Druids – Mitchell Williams > Josef Faux (81), Ben Wynne > Emmanuel Agyemang (86)
Comments