Bala Town got back to winning ways with a narrow 1-0 victory over Barry Town United at Maes Tegid this afternoon.
Lassana Mendes smashed home from an outside of the boot cross from Henry Jones in the 56th minute for Bala. The only goal in a narrow victory for Bala, means that Barry are now without a win in their last four matches.
The Lakesiders dominated large parts of the match. The game was mostly battled in midfield, with Bala getting some clear chances, and Barry getting hardly any. A deserved victory for the hosts, as they continue to push to claim third place in the Cymru Premier.
Following this result, Bala remain in third place in the table, with Barry dropping down from fourth to fifth. Penybont’s victory over Caernarfon means that they sit in fourth, nine points behind the Lakesiders.
Bala’s first opportunity came straight away, in the first minute. Henry Jones curled a cross into the box, where Nathan Peate couldn’t produce enough power in his header to trouble Mike Lewis. An easy catch for the visitors’ goalkeeper in the end.
Raul Correia had a chance in the 11th minute, but Lewis came running out to punch the ball clear. Not only did Lewis punch the ball, but he collided with Correia in the process. This forced both players to have treatment for an injury, but they both continued.
Peate had another chance to score in the 19th minute, but couldn’t capitalise. Jones’ corner found Chris Venables at the back post, who’s header back into the box found Peate, but his volleyed effort went well wide of the mark.
Barry were certain that they should’ve had a penalty after a foul on Rhys Kavanagh in the 28th minute. The forward was sent in on goal, but then a challenge from Anthony Stephens saw Kavanagh fall to the ground. The referee saw no wrong-doing, so play continued, much to the dismay of the Barry Town contingent at Maes Tegid.
Jonny Spittle had a chance to give the hosts the lead with a header in the 41st minute. Jones’ corner found the defender, but Spittle’s glancing header went well wide of the post.
Mendes almost gave the Lakesiders some breathing space just before half time, but his effort from the edge of the box went just wide of the post.
Three consecutive corners for the hosts came in the 51st and 52nd minute, but Barry held on. The second corner was the most threatening, as Peate forced Lewis into tipping over the bar with a strong header.
Only four minutes later, Mendes broke the deadlock, and gave the hosts the lead. Evans’ throw-in found Venables, who’s flick-on sent Jones in down the left, and his outside of the foot cross found Mendes at the back post, who made no mistake in smashing past Lewis.
Clear chances were rare for the remainder of the second half, but Evans almost doubled the hosts’ lead in the 77th minute. The ball came to Evans on the left and he cut inside and shot from outside the box, forcing Lewis into tipping over for a corner.
Jemmett-Hutson had a rare Barry effort on goal in the 85th minute. His long rang effort from the outside of the box was no trouble for Alex Ramsay, who held the ball easily.
Bala Town: Alex Ramsay (GK), Nathan Peate, Anthony Stephens, Jonny Spittle, Will Evans, Raul Correia (Jack Mackreth 73’), Henry Jones (Danny Gosset 86’), Kieran Smith, Lassana Mendes (Liam Davies 75’), Chris Venables (C), Oliver Shannon
Goals: Lassana Mendes 56’
Yellow cards: Jones 32’, Spittle 90+2’
Barry Town United: Mike Lewis (GK), Luke Cooper (C), Robbie Patten (Evan Press 60’), Nat Jarvis, David Cotterill, Luke Cummings, Rhys Abbruzzese, Rhys Kavanagh. (Jemmett-Hutson 60’), Kyle Patten, Clayton Green, Jamie Bird (The Wharton 60’)
Yellow cards: Clayton Green 29’
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