Lakesiders held at home by Cefn Druids in stalemate
It was a disappointing day for the Lakesiders at Maes Tegid as Cefn Druids held Bala to a shock draw.
Bala Town were facing a Cefn Druids side which have struggled all season and had yet to pick up a single point before the encounter. While the Lakesiders entered the match with real momentum on the back of last week’s comeback victory against Flint Town.
Dave Edwards goes close early on
Bala were on the attack from minute one, with Dave Edwards almost giving us the perfect start when he had an opportunity from close range, but he couldn’t keep his shot down from a headed Chris Venables pass.
The visitors then went straight down the other end from the resulting goal kick and nearly took the lead themselves, Emmanuel Agyemang breaking through Bala defence, driving the ball towards goal and flashing his shot just wide of the far post.
This time Edwards doesn’t miss!
It was the combination of Venables and Edwards again which set up our next opportunity, with the captain assisting our top goalscorer with another chance from close range, Edwards tucking the ball home this time and giving us the lead!
Entering half-time with a narrow lead
With the first-half having little to report on for both sides bar Bala’s goal, it was the Lakesiders who entered the break with a less than comfortable lead. Cefn Druids remained in the game entering the second-half and having struggled defensively this season they would have been pleased with their first-half showing.
The Ancients shock Bala on the counter as they grab an equaliser
The Lakesiders were punished for keeping their lead a slender one when Cefn Druids caught us out on the counter-attack early in the second-half. The goalscorer Edwards giving away the ball to Agyemang, who unleashed Charley Edge to setup a 2 vs 1 situation with Edge squaring the ball to Niall Flint to level the scores.
Bala grow frustrated as they can’t solve the puzzle
Having obtained the leveller they were looking for, the Ancients looked settled to hold on to what could be their first point of the season. Bala became more frustrated as time went on and reality started to settle in that they could potentially drop two vital points in the title race.
Lassana Mendes was one change Colin Caton made looking to change the game and help inspire the Lakesiders to retake the lead. It seemed to have worked with Mendes working tirelessly in the midfield attempting to bring his side back from adversity.
It was another substitution’s cross that nearly found the solution to Bala’s problems as Sean Smith’s driven ball into the box came off Brad Bauress and flew agonisingly wide of the Druids’ goal.
Edwards strikes the upright!
Edwards looked to take matters into his own hands, just as he did last week at the Essity Stadium, as he tried an ambitious effort from range which came off the upright!
The game continued to be open for either side to find the winner, with the Lakesiderslooking the side most likely to find the clincherwhile the visitors continued to cause danger on the counter-attack.
Chris Venables’ bicycle kick hits the woodwork!
Not even the captain himself could find the answer as he tried an acrobatic effort in his hopes of grabbing the winner, with his bicycle kick striking the bar!
And that was that,two points dropped for the Lakesiders as the Ancients shocked us in taking their first point of the season and holding us to a draw.
We remain 2nd in the league and unbeaten this campaign despite the disappointing draw as Colin Caton will certainly look at this as two points dropped.
Next for the Lakesiders will be a top of the table clash, as we head to Park Hall to face TNS on Tuesday night, with a kick-off time of 19:45.
Match Stats:
Bala Town –Harri Lloyd, Oliver Southern, Nathan Peate, Calum Woods, Brad Bauress, Ollie Shannon,Kieran Smith, Steve Leslie, Paul Rutherford, Dave Edwards, Chris Venables.
Cefn Druids – Ryan Neild, Liam Buckley, Stefan Edwards, Phillip Mooney, Niall Flint, Yalany Baio, Harry Farnsworth, Joe Faux, Emmanuel Agyemang, Daniel Carbal, Charley Edge.
Substitutes: Bala Town – Lassana Mendes > Steve Leslie (56), Sean Smith > Ollie Shannon (56), Chris Sang > Calum Woods (66)
Cefn Druids – Pavel Vieira > Yalany Baio (72), George Harry > Josef Faux (79)
