It’s becoming a repetitive theme but once again the performance was better than the result as Glan went down to defeat at the league leaders although there was much to admire in this performance. After being under the cosh for the opening half-hour the visitors began to exert a measure of control and had much the better of the second period without getting the goal that might well have turned the game their way.
The management, the players and the spectators all know where the problem lies, you can’t argue with the statistics, but after the mass walkout of players in September it has been an achievement at times over recent weeks to even field a full team and as the FA of Wales in their infinite wisdom have imposed rules on the Cymru Alliance that were surely intended for the free-spending clubs of the full-time game it will be January before additions can be made to the squad.
Bala came out of the blocks first and were unlucky not to take the lead in the fifth minute as a shot from Warren Duckett came back off the foot of a post and within a minute the same player should have scored, flicking the ball over from only five yards out after confusion in the Glantraeth defence.
Emyr Rowlands fired in from 30 yards on 10 minutes for the visitors but Bala keeper Leon Bimpson was well positioned to save.
At the other end Marc Newbould raced out quickly to make a fine save from Gary Penlington as Bala continued to look the most likely scorers and the home pressure paid off on 22 minutes as Penlington found Craig Papirnyk in space and the big striker neatly slipped the ball passed Newbould. There was another scare for Glan for three minutes later as a free kick from the influential Dave Cunnah struck the far post then Andy Tower came to Glan’s rescue with a fine tackle as Gethin Lloyd threatened to make progress down the left.
As the half-hour mark approached things began to look more promising for the visitors with Corey Sinnott beating his marker on the right flank before swinging in a cross that Kevin Roberts almost met at the near post and in a follow-up attack Sinnott found Paul Rowlands in the area but the Glantraeth wide man was crowded out a he tried to manoeuvre for a shot on goal.
The game was more even now but Newbould again came to Glan’s rescue with a fine save, this time from Penlington after Cunnah broken quickly from midfield. Kevin Roberts got in a cross for the visitors three minutes before the break that Bala cleared under pressure and the last action of the half saw Glan skipper Gareth Owen pull off a great saving tackle as Gethin Lloyd shaped to score from only a yard out with an open goal beckoning.
Looking fired up after the half-time team talk Glan took the game to Bala. Chris Saxon had a chance to shoot in the opening minute but elected to pass to Gerallt Jones who laid the ball off to David Hughes who tried his luck with a shot that failed to trouble Bimpson then Darren Jones broke forward and let fly but his effort was well off target.
Glan were now playing some good stuff in the heavy conditions and came close to levelling on 55 minutes as Paul Rowlands’ powerful drive from the edge of the area saw Bimpson go full length to save, Kevin Roberts just failing to turn the rebound in.
Within a minute Glan had a tremendous escape as Penlington rounded the keeper and looked certain to score only for David Hughes to make a brilliant goalline clearance.
Free kicks from Gerallt Jones and Andy Tower put the home defence under pressure as the action continued to be mainly centred in the Bala half and one fine move on 67 minutes ended disappointingly as Darren Jones fired in a cross that passed harmlessly over with the home defence in some disarray.
Glantraeth’s second half performance deserved some reward but they almost paid the price for their attacking ambitions on 76 minutes as Paul Rowlands slipped as he took on
Mark Harris leaving Bala to break quickly, Andy Tower doing well to block Papirnyk as he closed in on goal and two minutes later Newbould was down quickly to save from the same player.
Emyr Rowlands, now playing some of his best football in a Glantraeth shirt, set up Corey Sinnott with ten minutes remaining and although his shot wasn’t lacking power it curled wide without testing Bimpson.
The points were effectively sealed for the home side a minute later as a ball in from the right found Penlington unmarked five yards out and although he failed to connect cleanly the ball slipped through Newbould’s hands and into the net for the softest of goals.
It had been a hard fought, fair, well officiated contest with both sides giving everything in difficult conditions and there didn’t deserve to be a loser. Unfortunately, it was Glantraeth again and although a late burst saw Kevin Roberts drill a low shot only inches wide and substitute David Alan Jones come close the visitors were again left to reflect on just what might have been.
Glantraeth: Marc Newbould, David Hughes, Darren Jones, Gareth Owen, Andy Tower, Emyr Rowlands, Corey Sinnott (David Alan Jones 86), Chris Saxon, Gerallt Jones (Tomos Wyn Roberts 86), Kevin Roberts, Paul Rowlands (Adam Jones 80).