Bala Town took one step closer to Europa Conference League qualification after they defeated league leaders Connah’s Quay 2-1 at Maes Tegid.
An own goal from visiting skipper, George Horan gave the Lakesiders a 1-0 half-time lead, which was doubled by Henry Jones before Nathan Peate saw red for handling in the box. Callum Morris converted the spot-kick to set up a tense finish.
The three points all but assures Bala of third place in the league as they now lead fourth placed Penybont by nine points with four games to play. With no Welsh Cup this season, third place circumvents the play offs and earns a spot in the First Qualifying Round of the new Europa Conference.
Defeat for Connah’s Quay keeps them top of the league by two points, but they were unable to capitalise on TNS’s home draw with Caernarfon Town the previous evening. The two sides meet at Deeside Stadium on Saturday with the title race still wide open.
Bala made three changes from their 1-0 over Barry Town on the weekend. Goalscorer Lassana Mendes was absent from the squad, alongside Raul Correias and Jonathan Spittle. Coming into the starting line up were Sean Smith, Tony Kay and Jack McKreth.
Andy Morrison made two amendments to his starting eleven. Jamie Insall, who scored their fourth goal against TNS dropped to the bench, while Daniel Davies was missing from the squad. Their spots in the lineup went to Daniel Harrison and Aeron Edwards.
It was a slow start to the game with neither side looking too interested in competing. Bala shaded the attacking possession, with a number of free kicks midway inside the Nomads’ half that came to nothing.
Aeron Edwards appeared to injure his left ankle trying to reach an early cross and, after a valiant attempt to continue, was forced to make way for Jamie Insall with only a quarter hour on the clock.
The game sprang briefly to life on when Bala’s Henry Jones released Sean Smith down the left-hand side, whose cross landed on the forehead of Will Evans. The former Cardiff Met man’s point-blank effort was well saved by Oliver Byrne in the Nomads goal but the rebound hit the legs of George Horan and diverted into the net to give the home team the lead.
The goal prompted a reaction of sorts from Connah’s Quay as minutes later they found themselves with a free kick in shooting range after Mike Wilde was felled by Nathan Peate. Kris Owens elected to cross rather than shoot, with his delivery finding Jamie Insall, whose header narrowly missed the target.
It wasn’t a sign of things to come as the half proceeded in lackluster fashion. It wasn’t until just before the break that Connah’s Quay recorded their first shot on target. Again Wilde was fouled in an identical spot as before, but this time Owens went from goal, though his tame effort was easily collected by Alex Ramsay in the Bala net.
That proved to be the last meaningful action of the half and Bala went into the break with a deserved lead and Connah’s Quay not looking like a side who had the league title within their sights.
Quay boss, Andy Morrison, rang the changes at halftime, throwing on Johnny Hunt and Craig Curran in the places of Daniel Harrison and Neil Danns. This earned instant dividends with the visitors starting the second period with a great deal more urgency than they’d shown in the entire first 45 minutes. Much of their creativity came through the battling substitute, Hunt.
Bala stopper, Alex Ramsay can consider himself fortunate as his misjudged a high ball only for the referee to blow for an apparent foul on him by Hunt.
Hunt then tested the keeper with a cross cum shot, which Ramsay held and he was called up shortly after to punch away Hunt’s corner from under his cross bar.
Despite the Nomads’ resurgence, Bala twice came close to doubling their lead around the hour mark. First, Will Evans was again supplied with a heading opportunity by Sean Smith, and Byrne was forced to tip it over the bar. From the resulting corner, Golden Boot leader Chris Venables’ header rebounded off the post.
Five minutes later, John Hunt had the Bala goal at his mercy before a last ditch block forced his shot behind for a corner kick.
Mike Wilde got his first real sniff at goal when he flicked Insall’s forward ball goalwards, but a back-peddling Ramsay gathered the high ball.
A long ball forward from keeper, Byrne had the Bala backline in a middle. The ball eventually dropped for Curran, who sent the ball agonisingly wide of the goal.
Having weathered the storm, Bala doubled their lead. Oliver Shannon dribbled into the box on the right-hand side before executing an inch-perfect low cross to Henry Jones on the edge of the six-yard box. The Bala number 10 made no mistake from close range and the ball was nestled in the Nomad’s net.
The game was far from over as six minutes later, referee Robert Jenkins pointed to the spot, having seen Nathan Peate handling the ball on the floor. In the protests that followed, Ramsay saw yellow and Peate was given his marching orders.
After the short delay, Callum Morris stepped up to dispatch the spot kick, driving it down the middle of the goal as Ramsay dived to his left.
With ten minutes remaining and now facing ten men, the Nomads went in search of an equaliser. Mike Wilde had a half-chance when the ball dropped to him in the six-yard box. With his back to goal, he tried to divert an effort on target but it flew wide of the post.
Bala defended resolutely and made late substitutions to eat up as much of the five additional minutes as possible.
There was very late drama as Byrne’s long ball forward was met by Jamie Insall, but his shot clipped the crossbar and went over.
That proved to be the last kick of the match as the league leaders suffered a first defeat in five matches and Bala celebrated a valuable three points.
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