Venables double denies Canaries to boost Bala
CHRIS Venables was the hero for Bala Town as he marked his 450th Cymru Premier appearance with both goals in a 2-1 win for the Lakesiders at Caernarfon Town, writes Rob Griffiths.
Bala remain firmly in the hunt at the top of the standings after sealing a come from behind win at the Oval.
The Lakesiders enjoyed a bright start yet it was Josh Tibbetts who was called into action first as he denied Sion Bradley with a solid low save from 18 yards out, while the visitors should have found the break though soon after, Venables firing high and wide from the penalty spot after he had been felled by former Wrexham youngster Leo Smith.
Venables, Lassana Mendes and Shaun Kelly were all off target with efforts before the home side edged into the lead little after the half hour mark.
Picking up possession on the halfway line, Smith’s crossfield ball found Darren Thomas who laid it off to Noah Edwards to drill home into the bottom left hand corner from the edge of the box.
Alex Ramsey kept the Canaries ahead with a wonderful save to deny Henry Jones’ goalbound volley, while Venables flicked a header narrowly wide shortly before the interval.
Venables was again wayward with an attempt as he reached Mendes’ delivery before the Lakesiders’ forward did eventually find the break through for the visitors, Steven Leslie finding Venables in space to calmly finish.
Bala were applying pressure as they hunted for their winner with Leslie setting up Louis Robles but his delivery was cleared before Sion Bradley headed wide from Edwards’ cross at the other end.
But Bala were not to be denied and sealed the win inside the final 10 minutes, Venables heading home late on.
● Connah’s Quay Nomads took advantage of The New Saints slip at home to Newtown to move to within a point of the Cymru Premier leaders after sealing a 1-0 win over Barry Town at Jenner Park.
Boosted after claiming the first silverware of the domestic season the previous week following victory over STM Sports in the Nathaniel MG Cup final, and news of manager Andy Morrison’s contract extension, Nomads needed just three minutes to find a lead they would not relinquish to ensure all three points.
Michael Wilde opened the scoring early on as a Declan Poole run and cross caused mayhem for the Barry backline, the Nomads striker turning home a low Michael Bakare strike from the edge of the box as the ball was only half cleared by the home side.
Craig Curran, on his full Nomads debut, tested Barry keeper Mike Lewis with a long range effort and fired a volley over the top, while George Horan headed a Bakare free kick over the bar as the visitors went close to extending their advantage.
Horan cannoned an effort off the bar as he reached another Bakare delivery, while Poole was just off target as he linked up with Jamie Insall to find space to let fly.
Barry’s task was made even harder just before the interval as Kayne McLaggon was shown a straight red card by referee Iwan Griffith for a challenge on Poole.
Curran was off target again after the break before Lewis Brass needed to be alert to push away a free kick from former Wales international and new signing David Cotterill, who then sent a second effort narrowly wide moments later as Nomads held out for the win.
● TNS saw their lead at the top of the standings cut to a solitary point after a 2-1 loss at home on Friday night to Newtown.
Alex Fletcher fired the visitors into the lead on six minutes before former Wrexham winger Adrian Cieslewicz replied 10 minutes later.
However, TNS were level for only five minutes as Lifumpa Mwandwe ensured the win for the Robins.
● Airbus UK remain bottom of the Cymru Premier Play-off Conference after Jamie Reed’s brace inspired Cefn Druids to a hard fought 3-2 victory at the Airfields.
● Aberystwyth Town went down to a 3-1 defeat at Cardiff Met to kick off the second half of their campaign. Town were given hope after Touray Sisay cancelled out Eliot Evans’ opener, but a 76th minute penalty from the Met forward and a further effort from Will Evans ensured the win for the home side.
● A third minute Lewis Harling strike was not enough for Penybont as they went down to a 2-1 loss at home to Carmarthen Town, Elliot Scotcher and Kalilo Djalo Embalo firing second-half efforts for the Old Gold.