The New Saints 0-0 Bala Town: Points shared in entertaining goalless draw

A stalemate at Park Hall as The New Saints and Bala Town failed to break each other down in first match for both sides since the restart.

The result means TNS are now just a point clear of Connah’s Quay who defeated Newtown 2-1 earlier on in the day with the Nomads having a game in hand of the league leaders.

Meanwhile for Bala Town they remain in third, eight points behind Andy Morrison’s team and nine ahead of fourth place Barry Town.

Louis Robles had the first shot of the game in the third minute for Scott Ruscoe’s team that Alex Ramsey managed to gather.

At the quarter hour mark of the game Simon Spender delivered a terrific through ball to Leo Smith who had a shot inside the box as Ramsay made a fingertip save.

The Lakesiders had a go chance moments later with Raul Correia having a head at goal that Paul Harrison gathered.

TNS thought they scored through Spender getting the ball into the net but the Saints defender was offside.

New signing Adam Roscrow had a chance not long after when he managed to release a shot from just outside the penalty area, however the chance went blazing over the crossbar.

Towards the end of the half Correia had another attempt for Bala within six yards that Harrison palmed away for the final chance of the first-half.

At the hour mark, new recruit Adam Roscrow passed the ball across the Bala goal to Spender who had a shot that staright at Ramsey that kept the game goalless.

Colin Caton’s team had an opportunity up the other of the field just a couple of minutes later as Will Evans had a shot from distance that skyed over the goal.

Centre back Ryan Astles managed to head the ball at goal from a corner in the 72^nd minute but went straight into Ramsay’s gloves.

Three minutes after, Adrian Cieslewicz had an attempt on target forcing Ramsay into a save.

A minute later, Nathan Pryce had a headed attempt from a corner, just going wide of the post.

Cieslewicz had the last big chanced of the game in stoppage time as he headed at goal from a corner that Ramsey saved once again.

TNS will travel to Haverfordwest County next week while Bala are also away at Cefn Druids.

The New Saints: Paul Harrison, Simon Spender, Chris Marriott, Jon Routledge, Danny Redmond (Dean Ebbe, 88), Adrian Cieslewicz, Blaine Hudson, Ryan Astles, Louis Robles (Jamie Mullan,65) , Adam Roscrow (Greg Draper,65), Leo Smith (Ben Clark,78).

Yellow Cards: Jon Routledge (91), Chris Marriott (92).

Bala Town: Alex Ramsay, Sean Smith, Nathan Peate, Jonathan Spittle, Will Evans, Raul Correia, Anthony Kay, Kieran Smith, Ryan Pryce, Chris Venables, Oliver Shannon.

Yellow Cards: Oliver Shannon (37) Kieran Smith (59), Will Evans (71).

You can see how the game unfolded in the live blog:

(Featured Image: John Smith/FAW)