A freak goal from Will Evans keeps Cardiff Met’s playoff hopes alive with a win over Bala.
In a game where keepers were forced into minimal action, the misjudged flight of Will Evans’ cross in the blistery conditions from Josh Tibbets proved costly.
The wind played a part throughout the match with both sides finding it difficult to compete in.
Met take Newtown to the final day as they made the most of the defeats of the Cefn Druids and Newtown.
Evans’ late goal ensured a league double over the Lakesiders.
Bala had put early pressure on Met but a counter-attack could have brought the first goal. Mael Davies opted to shoot rather than run the ball further, seeing his chipped effort sail wide.
The conditions were playing a part when attackers put their crosses in and Steven Leslie was almost fortunate when his effort went just over Fuller’s bar.
Met were forced to deal with a handful of corner-kicks in which Fuller dealt with by punching them away. The end result from Bala’s series of corners was Nathan Burke shot going over the bar.
Lassana Mendes’ cross hit the chest of Emlyn Lewis but Bala had claimed for a penalty for a handball.
Bala – troublesome on the attack through their set pieces – had Steven Leslie curl a free-kick over the bar.
A yellow card for a stamp from Chris Venables was the last meaningful thing to happen in the first half.
Straight out of the blocks, Met gave hope of a more entertaining second-half when they created a good opportunity for themselves.
Jordan Lam fed the ball to Mael Davies after working the ball down the line but Davies shot over.
Eliot Evans’ searching free-kick then almost found Lewis as the Met looked for the opener.
Henry Jones forced Fuller to punch from his far-sided free-kick as Bala continued to challenge from set-pieces.
Chris Venables sliced a shot at Will Fuller in his only real attacking contribution to Bala.
Bala had put the ball in the net after Lee Molyneux’s free-kick was headed in by Anthony Stephens but the Met goalkeeper was impeded during the attack.
Into the final minute of stoppage time, Will Evans’ cross was taken in by the wind, sparking jubilant scenes for the Met, celebrating in astonishment after the fortune of their goal.
Cardiff Metropolitan: Will Fuller, Dylan Rees, Bradley Woolridge (C), Emlyn Lewis, Mael Davies, Eliot Evans, Chris Baker, Will Evans, Charlie Corsby, Jordan Lam, Joe Evans.
Goals: Will Evans 92′
Bala Town: Josh Tibbetts, Andrew Burns, Sean Smith, Anthony Stephens, Jonny Spittle, Nathan Burke, Henry Jones (Lee Molyneux 86), Steven Leslie (Kieran Smith 62), Louis Robles, Lassana Mendes, Chris Venables.
See how Met defeated Bala here:
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell and Matthew Lofthouse)
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