It was penalty heartache for the Lakesiders on Friday evening, as we attempted to progress to the Final of the JD Welsh Cup for only the second time in the club's history, however it wasn't to be on the night, as Penybont claimed a penalty shoot-out victory at Aberystwyth's Park Avenue Stadium.
The match was a close encounter throughout the 90 minutes, but neither team could make a breakthrough, despite the Lakesiders having the ball in the Penybont net in the second half.
Chances at both ends
Both sides had their chances in the opening exchanges, and it was the Lakesiders who came the closest on two occassions, as Will Evans and Chris Venables tried their luck from inside the Penybont box, but saw their efforts head wide of the goal.
Kane Owen came close for his side early on, with a powerful effort towards goal which had to be blocked well by Calum Woods.
Rambo to the rescue
Penybont really should have taken the lead on 35 minutes as Sam Snaith was given too much space inside the Bala box to get on the end of a cross, but Alex Ramsay pulled off a stunning point blank range save to tip the ball onto the crossbar.
After an evenly contested half of football, the referee brought the half to an end with the game scoreless.
Morris keeps it level
After Ramsay's heroics at the same end in the first half, Ashley Morris pulled off a stunning save of his own to keep his side from going a goal down. Chris Venables was teed up by Paul Rutherford on the edge of the box, but Morris got down well to his left hand side and pushed the ball away from goal.
No Handball?
A controversial moment came with quarter of an hour left to go of normal time, as it looked like Ashley Morris grabbed the ball outside the box as he was chased down by Dean Ebbe, yet neither official deemed to have seen it.
Penalties to decide the tie!
After 90 minutes without any goals, the tie headed straight to penalties to decide who would make the JD Welsh Cup Final.
Unfortunately for the Lakesiders, Penybont made no mistakes and netted all five penalties, but the Lakesiders were only able to net three of their penalties, to send us out of the Cup.
Penalties
Penybont Penalties Scored:
Mael Davies
Sam Snaith
Nathan Wood
Kane Owen
Shaun Macdonald
Bala Town Penalties Scored:
Chris Venables
Dave Edwards
Antony Kay
Bala Town Penalties Missed:
Bradley Bauress
Line-ups
Penybont: Ashley Morris, Kane Owen, Dan Jefferies, Mael Davies, Ben Ahmun, Nathan Wood, Kai Whitmore, Sam Snaith, Billy Borge, Lewis Clutton, Shaun Macdonald
Bala Town: Alex Ramsay, Calum Woods, Sean Smith, Nathan Peate, Will Evans, Dean Ebbe, Kieran Smith, Antony Kay, Paul Rutherford, Dave Edwards, Chris Venables
Substitutions
Penybont: Liam Walsh > Ben Ahmun (62), Ashley Evans > Kai Whitmore (90+2)
Bala Town: Oliver Southern > Calum Woods (78), Lassana Mendes > Paul Rutherford (82), Bradley Bauress > Sean Smith (90+3)
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