Flint Town United 1-2 Bala Town: Edwards’ injury time strike seals win for Lakesiders
OSWESTRY, ENGLAND - 08 JULY 2021: Former Wales international David Edwards prior to the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round fixture between Cymru premier’s, Bala Town FC & Northern Irelands, Larne FC at Park Hall, Oswestry, England (Pic by John Smith/FAW)
Bala Town continued their unbeaten run on Friday evening as Dave Edwards’ 91st minute powerful strike sealed the three points for the Lakesiders.
Second took on third at the Essisity Stadium on Friday evening with the league’s top goalscorer Mike Wilde giving the hosts a 1-0 lead at the break with Bala scoring twice in the second half thanks to Chris Venables and David Edwards to take home the points.
After an initial bright start from Neil Gibson’s men, it was Bala who dominated the opening fifteen minutes of play with their tidy, quick passing football along the floor. Paul Rutherford and Kieran Smith were pulling the strings in the heart of midfield for the visitors.
Successive corner kicks were taken by Bala but Flint’s strong backline denied Rutherford and Steve Leslie’s various efforts with the Lakesiders lacking a clinical edge in the final third early on.
After riding out the pressure, Flint’s Mike Wilde headed inches wide of the near post after a cross from the right prior to Jack Kenny’s superb cross picking out Sam Hart but his powerful header was kept out by Harri Lloyd.
Hart found an unmarked Wilde in the 22nd minute but he tamely placed his header the far side of the near upright after some excellent play from the home side.
On the half hour, Flint took the lead after a fantastic build up move. A deep left sided ball from Hart perfectly arrived to Wilde who outjumped the Bala defence to head the ball into the top right hand corner leaving Lloyd a sheer spectator.
The hosts were finishing the half strongly and almost doubled their tally when a break down the left hand side led to Mike Wilde rattling the base of the post with his forceful shot.
The second period saw things crank up a notch with Flint wanting to add to their advantage and Bala wanting to get back on level terms.
After five minutes, Callum Woods blazed over a 40 yard strike in a wasted opportunity for the visitors prior to Bala’s best chance of the game when Rutherford setting up Bradley Bauress who crossed the ball first time towards David Edwards but his final touch was pushed around the post by Jon Rushton in the Flint net.
Down the other end, Ben Maher’s freekick was struck wide of the post from 20 yards out before Kenny put Peate under pressure in a one-on-one situation but the Bala centre half was able to recover and clear.
Bauress picked out Peate on the hour mark but Rushton saved low to his right with the game opening up.
Flint should’ve made it 2-0 in the 65th minute when Maher’s cross was met by Kenny but the forward’s free header whizzed inches wide of the far post.
Substitutions saw Sean Smith and Lassana Mendes introduced for the Lakesiders with Connor Harwood and Callum Bratley coming on for the Silkmen.
Mendes made an instant impact when his pinpoint whipped cross from the touchline carved open the Flint defence allowing Chris Venables to head the ball home from two yards and opening his goal tally for the season and bringing Bala back level.
Flint almost restored their lead quarter of an hour before the end when Jake Phillips’ shot wide of the post after a lapse of concentration by the Bala backline.
A series of Bala corners in their late pressure saw Peate’s header go begging whilst Rushton pushed out another with less than ten minutes left to play
There was late drama to be when Bala substitute who was introduced in the 89th minute making his mark as he shook off his marker to distribute an exceptional ball from the right flank into the path of David Edwards’ who fired into the net from six yards to seal a dramatic late win for the Lakesiders who now jump up to second in the JD Cymru Premier table.
Flint Town United: 1. Jon Rushton, 2. Jake Phillips, 3. Sam Hart, 4. Ben Maher ©, 6. Kai Edwards, 7. Jack Kenny (16. Connor Harwood 71’), 9. Mike Wilde, 10. Mark Cadwallader, 12. Daniel Roberts, 15. Ross Weaver (11. Callum Bratley 82’), 20. Danny Harrison.
Subs: 14. Telor Williams, 17. Thomas Weir, 19. Oliver Nugent, 23. Jack Brindley
Yellow Cards: Weaver 73’, Kenny 67’, Cadwallader 60’, Edwards 53’
Goal: Mike Wilde 31’
Bala Town: 30. Harri Lloyd, 2. Callum Woods, 4. Nathan Peate, 11. Kieran Smith, 14. Steve Leslie (7. Lassana Mendes 71’), 18. Paul Rutherford (9. Chris Sang 89’), 19. David Edwards, 20. Bradley Bauress, 21. Oliver Southern, 25. Chris Venables, 29. Ollie Shannon (3. Sean Smith 67’)
Subs: 1. Alex Ramsay, 10. Danny Walker-Rice
Yellow Cards: Edwards 74’
Goals: Chris Venables 74’, David Edwards 90+2’
(Featured Image: Bala Town FC)
