The Lakesiders would return to league action on Saturday afternoon (14th of August) with Penybont being the visitors to Maes Tegid. We would start our Cymru Premier campaign with the same fixture we ended our home league campaign last season, with Penybont being the visitors.
Summer signings; Dave Edwards, Calum Woods, Chris Sang and Oliver Southern all made their league debut for the club, with Danny Walker-Rice and Brad Bauress on the bench. Paul Rutherford was unavailable for this match through suspension.
Visitors land the first punch early on
A fast start saw both teams go close to taking the lead, with Will Evans having the better chance, as he received the ball down the right with one defender to beat, but he took the shot on early and curled his effort round the post. Jonny Spittle also picked up an early yellow card for quite a hefty challenge to break up play.
However it was Penybont who landed the first punch, with Sam Snaith heading into the net from a Nathan Wood cross just after 10 minutes played.
Stroke of luck gives us the equaliser!
It didn't take too long for a response off the Lakesiders, despite a stroke of luck in the equaliser! On 25 minutes, Calum Woods sent a free kick into the box which was met by Antony Kay who sent his header back across goal, where Dave Edwards bundled the ball onto the post only for a Penybont player to try and clear the ball from danger, however Will Evans was waiting to pounce on the clearance and managed to direct his block into the net! A goal is a goal, and the equaliser was ours!
A minute of added time was announced at the end of the first half, and we almost went into the break with a 2-1 lead! Lassana Mendes receieved the ball inside the box, and took a shot on goal which looked to have been going in, but his shot cannoned off the head of Sang and went out for a goal kick to take us in level at half-time.
Early second half goal gives us the lead, but...
It took five second half minutes for either team to take the lead, and luckily it was Bala's turn to be in the lead! Kieran Smith made his way to the byline and put the ball across the box where Dave Edwards dashed onto it with his left foot, and put the ball past the keeper to give us a 2-1 lead.
However our lead did not last long, as Calum Woods and Lewis Clutton collided in the Bala box and a penalty was awared to Penybont. Kane Owen then stepped up to take the penalty, and converted his kick into the net, bringing the score to 2-2.
Controversy in the Penybont box!
On 65 minutes, there were huge shouts for a penalty from the Bala players and bench, with Ollie Shannon being bundled to the floor inside the box, but nothing was given!
Both teams fought for a winner right until the very end, however with just 3 minutes remaining of normal time, Chris Venables was sent off for violent conduct as he tussled with Dan Jefferies, reducing us to 10 men for the final few minutes.
Five minutes of added time was announced, and it still looked like either team could snatch a win, however it wasn't to be for either team, as the final whistle brought the match to a close.
The Lakesiders now face Barry Town at Jenner Park in a live game on Sgorio next Saturday 21st of August, with kick off at 5:00pm.
Match Stats:
Bala Town - Alex Ramsay, Calum Woods, Antony Kay, Jonny Spittle, Oliver Southern, Kieran Smith, Lassana Mendes, Dave Edwards, Will Evans, Chris Sang, Chris Venables
Penybont - Ashley Morris, Kane Owen, Ashley Evans, Dan Jefferies, Mael Davies, Lewis Harling, Nathan Wood, James Waite, Sam Snaith, Brad Borge, Lewis Clutton
Goals - Sam Snaith (11) Will Evans (25) Dave Edwards (50) Kane Owen (pen 56)
Substitutes:
Bala Town - Ollie Shannon > Will Evans (51), Danny Walker-Rice > Oliver Southern (74)
Penybont - Keane Watts > Nathan Wood (71), Ryan Reynolds > Lewis Clutton (81)
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