ROBINS ROCKIN’ INTO THE BIG FINAL

THE MISERABLE second half to Bala Town’s season came to a crashing end as they were beaten 4-2 by Newtown in the JD Cymru Premier play-off semi-final to dash any hopes of another foray into the Europa League this summer.

It was a ninth game in a row without a win for the Lakesiders and came five days after they were beaten 6-0 in the JD Welsh Cup final. They conceded 22 goals in those nine games and scored a mere eight in return.

They played 20 games in all competitions this year and managed a mere five wins, one of those on penalties against Connah’s Quay Nomads in the final of the Nathaniel MG Cup final. Having twice beaten Newtown in their previous four league outings this season it was anyone’s game to win.

But once again ‘Lady Luck’ failed to shine on Bala who saw a penalty save converted into a goal, another shot hit the post and go in off their goalkeeper and the fourth take a big deflection.

Two goals each from Aaron Williams and Albanian striker Zeli Ismail took Newtown to a victory that means they are now one win away from qualifying for a third season of European football. They will meet the winners of the second semi-final between Cardiff Met and Haverfordwest County, which was being played last night as The NLP was going to press.

Cardiff Met were last in Europe in 2019 and attained their highest finishing position in the league of fourth. Haverfordwest reached the play-offs by topping the Phase 2 Play-Off Conference.

Williams made it 18 goals for the season in all-competitions with his double, although his first only came after Bala goalkeeper Harri Lloyd had saved his penalty in the 15th minute. Williams followed up to tap home.

Bala hit back with a George Newell goal in the 37th minute following a mix-up in the Newtown defence. Ismail then edged the visitors back in front on the stroke of halftime with a flicked effort that hit the post before going into the net off Lloyd.

Williams extended the lead eight minutes into the second half as he turned in a Louis Robles cross.

Newell’s second goal, heading home a Ross White cross in the 71st minute, gave Bala a chance of turning the tide. It wasn’t to be, though, as Ismail’s shot cruelly deflected off team-mate Henry Cowans 10 minutes later to regain the two goal lead for Newtown.