Bala step closer to Cup double dream

BALA Town will have a cup double in mind after reaching the final of the JD Welsh Cup for the first time since 2017.

The Lakesiders will face The New Saints in a repeat of the final six years ago, when Bala won 2-1 for their first Welsh Cup victory.

TNS beat Penybont 2-0 to join Bala – who were 3-2 conquerors of Connah’s Quay Nomads – in the final and remain on course for another league and cup double.

The omens for the day didn’t look good when the TNS bus broke down on the way to the game in Carmarthen.

The players had to take taxis from Swansea, but they booked their ticket for the final in comfortable style after that bumpy start.

Josh Daniels capitalised on a mistake by Dean Jefferies before easily beating goalkeeper Kelland Absalom for the opener on 32 minutes. And the former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international made the most of an Absalom error to double the lead in first-half stoppage time.

Saints, who won the cup last season, will be aiming to lift the trophy for a ninth time when they face Bala on April 30.

“Penybont are a tough team to play against,” said TNS goal hero Daniels. “I haven’t scored many goals this year as I’ve been playing right-back, but the gaffer told me to shoot more.

“I’m glad we got through.

“It will be my first Welsh Cup final, so hopefully I can get some silverware at the end of it.”

Colin Caton’s Bala side secured their progress on Friday night in a dramatic five-goal thriller where skipper Chris Venables netted a late winner at Flint Town’s Essity Stadium.

The Lakesiders beat the Nomads on penalties in the final of the Nathaniel MG Cup final at the end of January and this was another close contest.

Harry Franklin put Connah’s Quay ahead after just 40 seconds, but Nathan Peate responded for Bala seven minutes into the second half and they took the lead through George Newell.

Jack Kenny drew the Nomads level on the hour, but Bala talisman Chris Venables had the final say, scoring with four minutes left on the clock to send his side into the final.

Venables said: “It was a disastrous start, but I thought we played really well for the remainder of the game.

“Emotions now are very high obviously.

“Any goal is a good goal, especially when it’s late on like that. “It’s a very, very nice feeling.”

● Holyhead Hotspur and Penrhyncoch drew 1-1 in the battle of the bottom two.

Geoff Kellaway gave the visitors the lead just after half time, but Chris Jones levelled three minutes later and that’s how it stayed for a result that will suit neither. Hotspur are eight points from safety with just six games remaining.

● Bangor 1876 kept up the pressure in the Ardal North-west league with a 3-0 win at Brickfield Rangers to stay third but with games in hand on Rhyl 1879 and Flint Mountain 1876’s remaining fixtures include promotion six-pointers against both clubs.