Bala Town 1-2 Sligo Rovers: Ten-man Sligo claim first leg victory
OSWESTRY, ENGLAND 07 July 2022: UEFA Europa Conference League First qualifying round fixture between Bala Town & Sligo Rovers, Park Hall, Oswestry, England, 7 July. (Pic By Will Cheshire/FAW)
Bala Town will travel to The Showgrounds with a first-leg deficit after falling to a 2-1 defeat to the ten men of Sligo Rovers.
The Lakesiders had taken an early lead through Lassana Mendes but Aidan Keena responded just before the half-hour mark. Max Mata then gave the League of Ireland outfit the lead but with they were made to defend it with a man light after Nando Pijnaker’s red card 11 minutes from time.
Colin Caton’s side have only ever progressed once in seven attempts and will have to repeat their heroics against Valletta from their 2020/21 campaign if they are to move to the next stage.
The lakesiders started the game positively and they had a chance in the third minute to open the scoring when Kieran Smith collected the ball from a corner on the edge of the penalty box and had a shot but it was blocked well and cleared by the sligo defence.
Bala’s positive start was rewarded in the 5th minute however when Paul Rutherford hit the ball into the box from the right hand side and found Lassana Mendes who then hit a well timed left footed half volley past Edward Mcginty in the Sligo goal.
The visitors responded well to this and nearly had an equaliser 8 minutes later when full back Patrick Kirk made a good run on the wing who proceeded to cut inside on to his strong foot and hit a powerful shot at goal but it was saved well by Alex Ramsay.
Bala defended well for the first 20 minutes and restricted their opponents to shots from outside the box.
The visitors proceeded to have a couple of half chances with the most notable being Aidan Keena’s shot from distance but that could only go wide of the goal.
Sligo then proceeded to try a different approach and came close on the 25th minute when Patrick Kirk hit a great cross into the box and found Max Mata who headed goal wards but was well saved by Ramsay in the Bala goal.
The Bit O’Reds were rewarded with their pressure on 28 minutes when Aidan Keena was found by Karl Sullivan on the right hand side and composed himself to loft the ball over Bala goalkeeper Alex Ramsay to square the game.
There weren’t too many chances as the half drew out the most noticeable was Chris Venables’s Effort on 34 minutes when he hit an acrobatic effort but it was well saved by Edward Mcginty in the sligo goal.
The first half ended all square.
Sligo started the 2nd half the strongest of the two teams and had a chance to take the lead on 47 minutes when Nial Morahan made a great run from midfield and found New Zealand international Max Mata who proceeded to hit a low drive but again was saved by Alex Ramsay.
The visitors continued to be the stronger team and benefited from their early 2nd half pressure with a goal when Max Mata was found from a left hand side corner and squeezed a shot past Alex Ramsey to give Sligo the lead.
The next 25 minutes of play there weren’t any real chances as both sides cancelled out each other and defended well. The two only of note was Chris Venables and Aidan Keena long range efforts for their respective sides.
Sligo were the next side to have a chance on the 71st minute when Nando Pjanker found club top goal scorer this season Aidan Keena who hit a low effort but Alex Ramsay got down low well to save.
Bala had a chance to equalise on the 75th minute when right back Ross white found Chris Venable on the edge of the 6 yard box with a ball in which proceeded with the striker heading goalwards but it went just wide
The Bit O’Reds were reduced to ten men when Nando Pijanker was sent off on 79 mins when he brought down Chris Venables with a last man challenge.
Bala may feel that they should have had a penalty in the 85th minute when winger Lassana Mendes was brought down in the box but the referee waved away the protests.
The last 10 minutes bala looked to try and start attacks but their opponents defended well and managed the game well to seal the 2-1 victory and a goal advantage going into the 2nd leg next week at The Showgrounds.
Bala won’t be too disheartened from this defeat as there were positives from this game especially in the first half as they defended really well.
Bala Town : Alex Ramsay, Chris Venables, Nathan Peate, Calum Woods ( Oliver Southern 66 mins) , Paul Rutherford (James Davies 74 mins ), Anthony Kay, Kieran Smith, Oliver Shannon ( Bradley Bauress 81 mins) , Ross White, David Edwards.
Goal: Lassana Mendes – 6′
Yellow Cards: Anthony Kay – 85′
Sligo Rovers: Edward McGinty, Patrick Kirk, Nando Pijnaker, Shane Blaney ( Max Byrne 90+1) , Colm Horgan, Max Mata ( Lewis Banks 82 mins ), Adam McDonnell © ( David Cawley 90+2), Niall Morahan, Karl O’Sullivan ( Frank Liivak 69 mins) , Aidan Keena, William Fitzgerald.
Goals: Aidan Keena – 28 Minutes, Max Mata – 49′
Red Cards: Nando PIjnaker 79′
