Bala bow out of Cup in shootout

Canaries down Flint to rise to fourth in Prem

BALA Town’s Welsh Cup final dream fell at the final hurdle at the weekend. Friday’s semi-final against Penybont at Aberystwyth ended goalless and went to a penalty shootout.

Ashley Morris saved Bala’s third penalty from Bala sub Brad Bauress, then former Wales international Shaun MacDonald kept his cool to fire home the winning penalty to make it 5-3 and put Penybont into their first Welsh Cup final.

Double-chasing TNS will face Penybont in that final after a narrow 1-0 semi-final defeat of Colwyn Bay.

Danny Davies’ 15th minute goal proved decisive at Rhyl’s Belle Vue despite suggestions the ball hit the Saints man’s arm as he challenged for a corner.

It means Welsh Premier League champions TNS head to their 12th Welsh Cup final.

Steve Evans, manager of Cymru North side Bay who came on up front in added time in a bid to find an equaliser, told the club’s website: “I thought it was a pretty even game and credit to the lads.

“We had a game plan, we stuck to it and TNS didn’t cause us too many problems.

“I’m gutted for the lads because I thought we deserved a draw and a go at the penalties, but that’s football.”

Caernarfon Town may have only been granted a place in the JD Cymru Championship Conference when Connah’s Quay Nomads were hit with a points deduction, but they are making the most of their good fortune.

A 2-1 win over Flint Town United last Tuesday night made it two wins out of three in the second phase of the competition and put them in the race for the second automatic European place as they moved up to fourth.

Sion Bradley gave the home side the lead in the seventh minute, but 10 minutes later Michael Wilde levelled matters.

Dan Gosset then regained the lead just before the break and they hung on from there.

The Canaries travel to Bala for another clash with a lot more than bragging rights at stake on Friday (KO 7.45).

The Nomads got into their stride in the Play-Off Conference with a 5-0 thrashing of Cefn Druids.

There was a hat-trick for the former Bangor City star Giacomo Mello Corbellini and contributions from Byron Harrison and Declan Poole.

Haverfordwest went one better at Aberystwyth Town where Alhagi Touray Sisay scored three times and Jordan Davies, Corey Shepherd and Henry Jones joined him on the scoresheet. That took the Bluebirds to within a single point of table-topping Cardiff Met, who were held to a 1-1 home draw with Barry.

Jason Eyre had a day to remember as he scored twice and then got sent off as JD Cymru North leaders Airbus UK Broughton battled to a 4-1 win over Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant.

Holyhead Hotspur put a serious dent in second-placed Llandudno’s pursuit of Airbus, holding them to a 1-1 draw: both goals came just before the interval, Marc Williams putting Llandudno ahead but Dean Garmey quickly levelling for Hotspur.

In the Ardal North-West, Porthmadog kept up their pursuit of leaders Mold Alex in fine style with a merciless 10-0 thrashing of Brymbo (see full report below). Llanuwchllyn’s fine season continued with a 3-0 defeat of Llay Welfare that moved them four points clear of the visitors in fifth spot.

A 5-0 loss at Llanrwst confirmed relegation for basement team Blaenau