Bala Town put five past Caernarfon Town in a seven goal thriller in the Gwynedd Derby at Maes Tegid.
In a game full of controversy and action, it was Bala Town who took the lead early through Chris Venables.
Jake Bickerstaff leveled the scoring before Mike Hayes won and converted a penalty just before half-time to give Caernarfon Town the lead at the break.
Following half-time, Johnny Spittle equalised from a corner before a mix-up at the back by the visitors put the hosts back in the lead when Will Evans tapped the ball home from close range.
Bala Town looked comfortable in their lead before Venables added a fourth before added time to ensure the Lakesiders were victorious in the Gwynedd Derby. Not before Evans inflicted further damaged when he added a fifth deep into added time.
Both teams looked motivated for the Gwynedd Derby with a high tempo set right from the first whistle.
The first opportunity and goal came in the 20th minute when Venables struck home his 20th goal of the season as he gave the Lakesiders the lead when headed home the ball from close range.
Lassana Mendes was at the heart of every Bala attack as the Lakesiders looked far from settled with a one goal advantage approaching the half an hour mark.
However, against the run of play Caernarfon Town scored with their first opportunity of the game when Bickerstaff showed composure and skill to cut inside the area and drill an effort into the right hand top corner of the net to draw the visitors level.
Bala Town responded well by pinning the Cofis into their own area, as they looked to take the lead for a second time.
With seconds to go until half-time, Hayes went down in the area and was awarded a soft penalty, much to the discontent of the Bala players who were furious with the referee’s decision.
The former Bala Town striker stepped up to take and dispatch the penalty to give Caernarfon Town a 2-1 lead heading into the break.
Colin Caton looked to switch things up at half-time, having gone a whole half with very little chances his for his side. Jack Mackreth and Henry Jones replaced Raul Correia and Steve Leslie in an attempt to cause more problems for the Cofis’ defence.
It looked to have worked brilliantly as Bala Town had the visitors on the back foot following the break and appeared to have taken the lead when an effort cannoned off the inside of the bar, appearing to cross the line. However, the referee saw differently as a goal wasn’t given and the Lakesiders continued to trail at Maes Tegid.
Minutes later, the referee was in the firing line once again by the Bala Town players as he refused to award the home side a penalty after Spittle went down in the area.
Spittle then took the initiative to equalise himself as he fumbled the ball into the back of the net from a corner to draw the home side level.
Ten minutes later, a calamitous defensive error at the back between Cofis’ keeper Tyler French and Edwards ended in Evans poking home the ball from close range to edge Bala Town in front.
Hayes had the chance to hit a brace against his former side and draw the scores level once again when he was played in towards goal yet his strike was straight at Alex Ramsay.
Bala Town looked comfortable in the lead despite leading by just one goal. Up until Venables gave his side a safety net when Henry Jones set up the captain to slot home a fourth.
Further damage was inflicted when Evans scrambled the ball home deep into added time to make it five for Bala Town as they walked away comfortable winners in the end in a dramatic and action-packed Gwynedd Derby.
Up next for Bala Town will be Connah’s Quay Nomads at the Deeside Stadium next Tuesday night.
While for Caernarfon Town, Huw Griffiths will be looking for a response against the league leader’s TNS at The Oval in midweek.
Bala Town: Alex Ramsay, Sean Smith, Anthon Stephens, Jonny Spittle, Will Evans, Raul Correia (Jack Mackreth 45′), Steven Leslie (Henry Jones 45′), Anthony Kay, Lassana Mendes (Daniel Gosset 90′), Ryan Pryce, Chris Venables (C)
Yellow cards: Johnny Spittle, Chris Venables, Anthony Kay, Will Evans, Alex Ramsay
Caernarfon Town: Tyler French, Gruffydd John, Gareth Edwards (C), Paulo Mendes, Mike Hayes, Noah Edwards (Darren Thomas 75′), Ryan Williams, Cai Jones (Sean Bradley 62′), Mike Parker, Jake Bickerstaff, Max Cleworth
Yellow cards: Gareth Edwards, Max Cleworth
See how the Gwynedd Derby unfolded here:
(Featured Image: Chwarae Sports Design)
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