BALA TOWN 2
BANGOR CITY 3
GWYNEDD bragging rights belong to Bangor after their small screen derby day success at Maes Tegid.
Three goals in the space of 27 first-half minutes did the trick for Nev Powell’s charges to record their second win in two games, but Bala can feel a little hard done by not to have secured a share of the spoils in front of the live Sgorio cameras.
What a journey it has been for Bala Town. Only eight years on from their Wrexham Area League history, Bala staged their first live televised match.
Fears of a reduced attendance for Bala’s most lucrative league fixture proved unfounded as more than 700 packed into Maes Tegid. What they saw was worthy of a television drama.
Bangor’s class was evidenced by the quality of their subs bench, with Jamie Reed, Les Davies and Eddie Jebb among the replacements, but it was Bala who took a sixth-minute lead.
New signing Chris Mason timed a perfect run in to the near post to head home John Irving’s right wing cross.
It was a great start and would have been of more value if Bala had not ended Craig Garside’s run into the box with a poor challenge from Mark Powell for a penalty.
Dave Morley is a dead-eyed spot specialist and easily netted an eighth minute equaliser.
Bangor were now pushing Bala back, with Sion Edwards proving hard to handle.
His cross of a slippy wet ball was squeezed up by Bala keeper Craig Vernon and the ball flew to the predatory Chris Jones who headed home from close-range in only the 11th minute.
Bala fought back, firstly with a corner which Danny Jellicoe headed powerfully but too close to Paul Smith and then Mark Jones latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the box but Smith saved again.
The hosts suffered a major setback on the half-hour when the excellent Mason pulled up with a hamstring injury and had to be replaced. However, Ross Jefferies had a great chance to level but put his chip too low and Smith saved.
Soon after Michael Thompson ran down the left and his low cross found Jefferies who might have done better from eight yards.
A goal simply had to come and on 36 minutes it did, but at the other end!
After all of the Bala pressure a long kick from Smith was headed on by Morley and Alan Bull ran in to finish from the left.
Bala came out hungry for the second half and upped the tempo.
It paid off with an excellent 50th minute goal.
Mark Jones led a breakaway down the right and fed John Irving who beat two defenders and passed low to the back post to substitute Neil Fisher who slotted home.
Bala pressed for an equaliser and Thompson sent a left-footed curling effort just wide from 25 yards.
Welsh international Mark Jones was enjoying a fine second half and he shot wide from the edge of the box on the hour.
Bangor were struggling to get much possession at this stage and it was no surprise when they made a double change with Davies and Reed replacing Morley and Edwards.
The new pair were to prove a constant threat to the Bala back line, but the hosts continued to create opportunities at the other end.
Paul Smith had to be alert when Mark Jones’ superb 25-yard free kick looked destined for the top corner, but at full stretch the keeper punched it away for a corner.
Bangor had a rare chance in the 85th minute when Roberts’ long throw was headed by Davies for Reed to flick wide.
Bala Town: Vernon, Powell, Lloyd, Kelly, Jellicoe, Williams (Evans), Irving, M Jones, Jefferies, Mason (Fisher), Thompson
Bangor City: Smith, Hoy, Roberts, Morley (Davies), Brewerton, Johnston, Garside, C Jones, Bull (Jebb), Ward, Edwards (Reed)