It's Friday Night Football under the lights for the Lakesiders this evening, as the league leaders The New Saints are in Town for Matchday Two of Phase Two at Maes Tegid!
Despite a late penalty shout for the Town in our last outing against Cardiff Met, both sides would settle for a point in a 1-1 draw to kick off Phase One, as George Newell poked home his saved penalty to draw the game level in the final 10 minutes of the match.
The New Saints would get their Phase Two underway on Tuesday evening against Newtown at Park Hall, following their involvement in the SPFL Trust Trophy. There would be no Semi Final hangover for the Saints as a brace from Declan McManus and a goal from Ben Clark would secure a 3-0 win to edge ever closer to another league title.
The Match
Bala Town vs The New Saints
JD Cymru Premier Phase Two MD2
Maes Tegid, Castle St, LL23 7UY
Friday 9th of February, 7:45pm kick-off
Admission: Adults - £7 / Concessions - £4 / Under 16's - £1
Programmes: A digital version of our Matchday Programme is available for free HERE
Insight into our opponents
Form: (Domestic Only)
(H) Newtown 3-0 - JD Cymru Premier MD23
(A) Falkirk 0-1 - SPFL Trust Trophy Semi Final
(Neutral) Swansea City U21's 5-1 victory to TNS - Nathaniel MG Cup Final
(H) Newtown 3-1 - JD Cymru Premier MD22
(A) Guilsfield 0-2 - Nathaniel MG Cup Semi Final
(H) Cardiff Met 8-0 - JD Cymru Premier MD21
Danger Man
Declan McManus - Despite being sidelined with an injury for around four months of Phase One, McManus has returned and is back amongst the goals, having netted four goals in his last five appearances in all competitions. The Scotsman may not retain his 'Golden Boot' award in the league this season, but his goals look to have helped the Saints to another JD Cymru Premier title with a very healthy lead on 2nd placed Connah's Quay Nomads. The Saints are also in contention to pick up four trophies this season, with the Nathaniel MG Cup already wrapped up, a place in the Final of the SPFL Trust Trophy, into the Quarter Finals of the JD Welsh Cup and an inevitable JD Cymru Premier league triumph, therefore the 29 year old Forward will be licking his lips at the prospect of picking up four trophies come end of the season and will be hungry to add to his goals tally.
Previous Meetings
It's been a winless run of 18 matches against the New Saints in all competitions, with our last victory against the Oswestry outfit coming in the way of a 3-1 win at Maes Tegid in 2019. Phase One of this season's JD Cymru Premier saw a feisty first affair of the season between the two Clubs, as the referee brandished four red cards with Ollie Shannon and Adrian Cieslewicz leaving the field, along with Ryan Valentine and Craig Harrison being dismissed from their respective benches, with the game ending in a 0-0 draw. The last meeting between the two sides was a 2-0 victory for the Saints, as goals from Ben Clark and Ryan Brobbel in the final few minutes of the first half would be enough for the victory.
Match Officials
Referee: Iwan Arwel Griffith
Assistant Referee: Connor Eoin Fowler
Assistant Referee: Harvey Smallman
Fourth Official: Richard Lee Wright
Referee Observer: Stephen Christopher Hames
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