BALA TOWN 1
AIRBUS UK BR’GHTON 0
A LATE own goal means that Bala Town can look forward to their highest ever Welsh Premier League finish.
Needing a Boxing Day point at home to Airbus UK Broughton to make sure they’re in the top-six when the mid-season split occurs, Bala benefited from a Mark Allen own goal to secure their ninth win of the campaign.
Colin Caton’s charges have finished 11th in both of their previous Welsh Premier campaigns, but the lowest they will finish this season is sixth.
Bala and Airbus are set to get to know each other very well, as this is the first of four meetings over the next month.
The Maes Tegid pitch was very heavy and along with muddy patches, this made playing good football very difficult.
Despite this the game got off to a very exciting start, as Airbus’s Danny Taylor brought down Peter Doran in the penalty area to give the Lakesiders a fourth minute spot kick.
However, Lee Hunt’s penalty struck the woodwork.
The Wingmakers went close to taking the lead in the ninth minute.
Ian Sheridan sent the ball across the face of the goal, but none of his teammates got the vital touch.
Eddie Hope had the visitors’ next chance a minute later, but the Bala keeper Terry McCormick did enough to put him off, as the winger sent the ball high and wide of the goal.
At the other end captain for the day Connall Murtagh forced a good save out of Niki Lee-Bulmer.
He chested down the ball 20 yards from goal, before unleashing a first time shot that was heading for the corner of the net, but the keeper was able to tip the ball over the bar.
John Irving went close to breaking the deadlock after an hour, as his 35-yard cross-cum-shot was heading for the roof of the net, but Lee-Bulmer was on hand again to tip the ball over.
Former Bala Town player Mike Hayes was presented with an opportunity to get on the scoresheet when Michael Byron made a mess of a clearance, however Hayes could only send his shot wide of the post.
Bala’s Lee Hunt must have thought that it really wasn’t his day when his shot at goal from just inside the box got stuck in the mud, allowing Lee-Bulmer to save easily.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes John Irving whipped a brilliant cross into the six-yard box, which Mark Allen attempted to clear, but he only ended up diverting the ball into his own net.
Irving nearly got another assist when he crossed into the path of Chris Mason, who headed over with his first touch of the game. Mason was in the centre of the action again as he passed to Mark Connolly inside the box, but his shot was tipped away by Lee-Bulmer.