Bala beat Nomads in shootout for Cup
BALA Town boss Colin Caton wasn’t happy when his team decided to put in some penalty practice last Tuesday ahead of their Nathaniel MG Cup final.
But in the end, practice made perfect.
The Lakesiders picked up their first silverware in six years as they won a shootout against Connah’s Quay Nomads to lift the trophy for the first time.
“It’s fantastic and I feel great,” said Caton. “It’s nice to win a penalty shootout because we lost one to Sligo in Europe at the start of the season.
“We practised them on Tuesday, which I didn’t agree with, but the penalties were great.
“I think we deserved it and I don’t think they had a shot on target in the second half when we were down to 10 men.
“Great desire and great to win a cup we have never won before.
“Our back four was tremendous and we didn’t sit back.”
After a goalless 90 minutes during which neither side really looked like scoring, the Lakesiders triumphed to finally get their hands on some silverware.
Michael Wilde, the Nomads’ veteran striker who has scored more than 200 league goals and scooped 21 major trophies in Welsh football during his incredible career, was the player whose penalty miss finally allowed Bala to take the cup at The Rock.
The 39-year-old had to score to keep his side in the shootout, which took place after a tight contest in which both teams ended with 10 men.
Bala lost Lassana Mendes to a straight red card in the second minute of added time at the end of the first half after an altercation with Ryan Harrington.
Then the Nomads went down to 10 men in the 87th minute when George Horan saw red for a lunge at David Edwards as the defender carried the ball out of defence and over halfway.
The Nomads were unable to take advantage of their extra man for 42 minutes in the second half and there wasn’t enough time for Bala to make anything of being back on level terms on the field. That sent the game to penalties and Chris Venables got Bala off to a great start with an emphatic opening strike. Callum Morris’ precision effort levelled things up before Edwards stepped up and struck the left-hand post. Harry Franklin had the chance to give the Nomads the lead, but his shot was well saved to his left by Bala keeper Alex Ramsay. Adam Roscrow made it 2-1, Jon Disney replied and then Anthony
Kay and Joe Malkin hammered home two more goals to make it 3-3.
Paul Rutherford then made it 4-4, putting the pressure on Wilde.
His tame shot was comfortably saved by Ramsay and man of the match Kieran Smith was able to go up and claim the trophy from Kevin Ratcliffe and Scott Young.
“We always knew it was going to be a tight game and as soon as we went down to 10 men it was a case of backs to the wall,” admitted Smith afterwards.
“We almost played better in the second half with a man down and we got our just rewards with the penalty shootout win.
“I remember the last time we won a trophy and it means a lot to everyone and we are all delighted.”
Llanberis and Nantlle Vale both narrowly failed to progress to the FAW Trophy quarter-finals, Llanberis exiting 1-0 at Baglan Dragons and Nantlle Vale going out on penalties after a 2-2 draw with Cardiff Corinthians.