Bala revenged on Penybont but TNS out-finish Canaries
BALA Town put a serious dent in Penybont’s push for European football next season with a 5-0 thrashing.
If it was ample revenge for the Lakesiders for their penalty shootout exit in the semi-finals of the JD Welsh Cup, it was also a major blow to the home team’s chances of clinching the runnersup spot in the Championship Conference.
Bala scored three times in the opening half-an-hour to take a grip on proceedings.
Will Evans scored twice in three minutes before Chris Venables made it 3-0 to leave the home side reeling.
Evans completed his hat-trick with a 57th-minute penalty and Dean Ebbe added a fifth.
It puts the Lakesiders six points clear of Penybont in the race for second place, while Newtown’s 2-1 home win over Flint kept them in the running.
Aaron Williams gave Newtown a first-half lead and added a penalty on the stroke of half-time. Mark Cadwallader gave Flint some hope
with a goal six minutes into the second half.
Caernarfon Town were left to rue missed chances in a fine first-half showing as they went down 3-0 at home to The New Saints, who showed no sign of letting up despite having the title in the bag.
Louis Robles got TNS off to a flyer after 20 minutes.
Ryan Astles got on the scoresheet before Robles netted again in the dying moments.
Both Gwynedd sides were in action again last night after the Herald went to press.
Caernarfon Town were at Flint, whom they trailed by one point, and with the Cofis nine points behind Bala Town as the games begin to run out it was effectively a must-win match for both to keep their European dreams alive.
With just one win in their last nine games, Neil Gibson’s gang have faltered after such an impressive performance in the first phase of the season.
Caernarfon Town were thrown a lifeline when they benefitted from Connah’s Quay’s point deduction, but after getting a pass into the Top Six it’s possible that the Canaries aren’t fully prepared for European football this year.
Before last night, since Flint Town United’s promotion in 2020 these two clubs have met on five occasions with the Cofis victorious in four of those matches and the Silkmen winning just once.
Bala Town were hosting The New Saints: Colin Caton’s crew were two points clear in second place and eager for another European adventure. The Lakesiders have only lost once in their last 12 league matches, but that was their previous meeting with The New Saints last month (TNS 2-1 Bala).
By winning the title, The New Saints have already secured their place in Europe and in the Scottish Challenge Cup, but as the Caernarfon result showed, the Oswestry outfit will want to end the campaign strongly ahead of the Welsh Cup final.
Anthony Limbrick’s squad have lost only one of their last 19 league games away from home, and the champions are unbeaten in their last nine meetings with Bala Town (won six, drawn three).
In the Play-Off Conference, Cardiff Met moved back to the top thanks to their 3-2 home win over Haverfordwest County.
Harry Owen gave the students the lead in the first half, but Jack Williams levelled in the 71st minute. Eliot Evans edged the students back in front and Lewis Rees made it 3-1. The Bluebirds hit back again with an Alaric Jones goal.
Rhys Abbruzzese scored the goal that ended Barry Town United’s wait for a home win. He netted in the second half to give them a 1-0 win over Cefn Druids.
Porthmadog stayed top of the Ardal North West league with a 3-0 defeat of Rhydymwyn (see full report below) but Mold Alexandra are level on points with two games in hand and showed no sign of faltering in their 6-1 win at Blaenau Ffestiniog.