BUCKLEY TOWN 2
BALA TOWN 4
(After extra time)
DETERMINED Bala Town went that extra mile to move to within just two more victories of an appearance in the Welsh Cup final.
Overcoming a whole host of pre-match problems before their Welsh Cup fourth round tussle at Cymru Alliance dangermen Buckley Town, Colin Caton’s side also had to hit back following a strong home comeback that took the tie into extra time.
Striker Lee Hunt was the star of the show for Bala, bagging a hat-trick to book a tasty last-eight meeting at home to Andy Legg’s Llanelli.
Bala’s main focus ahead of their reunion with Buckley was finding a goalkeeper.
Regular number one Terry McCormick was suspended after being red-carded during the recent League Cup loss at Airbus UK Broughton, while fellow keeper Mark Pullman was also out, having picked up a head injury earlier during the same game.
After a frantic spell in search of a custodian, team boss Caton managed to secure the services of Matthew Boswell, who made four Bala Town appearances during the 2009-2010 season.
As well as both goalkeepers being unavailable, Bala were unable to call on the services of Ian Sheridan, Ben Collins and Mike Sharples, who were all cup-tied, while injuries ruled out Peter Doran and Stephen Brown.
Turning back to the Buckley tie and the hosts came out in a determined mood, bossing things during the opening 10 minutes.
Mike Burke and Ant Williams both fired efforts across the Bala goal when the hosts had the upper hand.
However, once Bala had weathered this early storm, they began to impose themselves on the match.
It was the away side who managed to break the deadlock after a quarter-of-an-hour.
Buckley defender Gareth Edwards was penalised for a handball offence in the box and Lee Hunt sent Buckley keeper Gareth Rowland the wrong way from the spot.
One became two after half-an-hour of play.
This time, it was Hunt the provider as he headed on for Chris Mason to race clear and fire home low into the right hand side of the goal from a tight angle.
Bala were now looking to go into half-time with a good lead, but the tie was back in the balance in the 40th minute.
Boswell’s clearing kick was charged down by Anthony Williams, who was able to walk the ball into the net to halve the deficit at the interval.
This goal put Bala on the back foot and Buckley into the ascendancy, and understandably it was the hosts who shaded the game early in the second half.
Bala always looked a threat on the break, though, and both sides missed several chances.
The next goal was likely to be a crucial one and it went Buckley’s way.
Mark Connolly was penalised for a push on Matty Hughes in the penalty area and from the resulting spot kick, Mike Burke fired home.
Sensing an upset Buckley, continued to take the game to Bala and both Mike Burke and Anthony Lipson had chances to win the tie in the last 10 minutes.
It was by no means all one-way traffic and at the other end, Gareth Rowland also pulled off a couple of saves as Bala looked for another goal.
However, 90 minutes arrived with no further goals, which meant that extra time was required.
Thankfully for Bala, penalties were not required as a Lee Hunt brace in the first period of extra time put the game beyond Buckley´s reach.
He handed Bala the lead once again after 93 minutes courtesy of a deft header and 10 minutes later, Hunt completed his hat-trick when he diverted home an excellent Stef Edwards cross.
There was to be no way back for Buckley following this double Hunt blow and Bala could well have extended their lead further but for some last-ditch tackles during the second period of extra time.