Glantraeth’s misery continued as they went down to a second successive 6-1 home defeat to complete their worst start to a season in living memory, this time going out of the Welsh Cup at the first time of asking to Bala Town. There was no lack of fight from the home side and for much of the game Glan matched the league leaders except in the most important craft of all, putting the ball in the back of the net, a lack of fire power that has been apparent since day one that contrasted sharply with the title favourite’s lethal finishing.
The new management face a challenging task if they are to build up the strength of the squad before the transfer window closes on Sunday 28th September with one or two players clearly disaffected by stories that previous manager Kev Hughes was sacked when no such decision was ever taken by the club.
With assistant manager Dafydd Owen urging them on from the touchline Glan began the game promisingly, Barry Jones firing in an effort from twenty yards on 12 minutes that flew over then the home side came close to taking the lead four minutes later as Corey Sinnott put over a perfect cross and Kevin Robert’s powerful header was only inches wide. A minute later Kevin Roberts was again the danger as he turned and shot straight at keeper Leon Bimpson.
It was a sign of how things are presently going for the Anglesey side that that spell of pressure ended with Bimpson pumping the ball straight upfield where skipper Warren Gibbs in attempting to head the ball back to Gareth OJ Roberts caught Glan’s keeper coming off his line and the ball looped over him into the empty goal.
Three minutes later Craig Papirnyk should have scored for the visitors as he beat the offside trap but with only OJ Roberts to beat chipped the ball wide.
With over half-an-hour gone Glantraeth were playing well and there was little to choose between the sides with the visitors’ keeper doing well to cut out a dangerous cross from Barry Jones as another fine move down the right created danger.
Bala are a team currently brimming with confidence and that was clearly shown when they went two up on 36 minutes as with the minimum of back-lift Papirnyk hit a shot from 25 yards that travelled like a bullet giving OJ Roberts no chance. It was a marvellous strike and just what Glan didn’t need.
Four minutes before the break Kevin Roberts was again on target for the home side after being set up by Gerallt Jones only to again find Bimpson in the firing line to save.
It was poor reward for Glan’s first half efforts as with the half-time whistle beckoning Bala went three up when sloppy defending let Papirnyk in for an easy finish.
Another fine move came to nothing for the home side five minutes into the second period as a clever back heel from Sinnott gave Kevin Roberts an opening, his effort passing narrowly the wrong side of the post.
Again Bala’s finishing proved decisive on 55 minutes as despite shouts for a free kick from the home defence Gary Penlington’s overhead volley found the net following a cross from Papirnyk and the same player again went close two minutes later.
The introduction of some new blood from the bench gave the home side a lift with substitute David Alan Jones’s cross from the right on 71 minutes being met by Paul Rowlands only for his shot to drift over and it was game over on 81 minutes as Bala scored a fifth, substitute Osian Jones finishing off as the ball came in from Wes Brereton. With three minutes remaining and Glantraeth now a well beaten side Papirnyk completed his hat-trick from a penalty kick after Gareth Owen was adjudged to have brought down Marc Griffiths.
Glan gained a consolation goal in the second minute of added time as Gerallt Jones connected perfectly with a Paul Rowlands’ cross to drive the ball past Bimpson.
Glantraeth: Gareth OJ Roberts, Emyr Rowlands, Darren Jones, Barry Jones, Barry Jones, Gareth Owen, Warren Gibbs, Gerallt Jones, Chris Saxon, Kevin Roberts, Corey Sinnott, Chris Evans. Subs used: David Alan Jones, Paul Rowlands, Gafyn Lloyd Jones