Football

Bala Town make history

Welsh Cup Quarter-Final

Bala Town 2

Afan Lido 0 (aet)

BALA Town will face Port Talbot Town in the Maes Tegid club’s first ever Welsh Cup semi-final, after Colin Caton’s side held their nerve to beat plucky Welsh League opponents Afan Lido after extra-time.
The Lakesiders had to wait until 98 minutes before they finally broke the goalless deadlock through an Osian Jones strike, and fellow sub Neil Fisher secured victory by scoring with the last kick of the match.
Lido were always going to be a tough test for Bala, and the 2007 finalists boasted a rich run of form in the Welsh League, having also knocked out Welsh Premier side gap Connah’s Quay in the fourth round.
Bala, however, looked the most dangerous side from the outset, with Ricky Evans forcing visiting keeper Michael Lewis to save low to his near post from a free kick.
Ten minutes later, midfielder Evans found space edge of the penalty box, but his chipped effort went narrowly wide.
Lido were pressed back as the hosts remain in control, and when Evans played in John Toner the striker failed to capitalise on the chance, and the keeper cleared.
Warren Duckett also fired wide when well-placed, after a good cross from Owain Roberts, but Lido threatened on the break as Nathan White played in Mark Jones, who shot straight at the home keeper.
With half-time approaching, it needed a good save from Lewis to keep out Evans’ headers, and he then pulled off a fine save to keep out the rebound as Lido held on.
Carl Payne threatened for the visitors after the break, but a brilliant last-ditch tackle from Danny Jellicoe ensured the shot went wide, and Gavin Jones also fired wide as Lido started the second half strongly.
However, Bala regained control and Jellicoe went close to breaking the deadlock as he headed straight at Lewis from a corner.
The hosts continued to push forward, and Duckett played in substitute Ross Jefferies, only to denied by another fantastic save.
Lido’s backs were to the wall in the closing stages as Bala’s fitness showed and Evans sent his header from a John Irving cross straight at Lewis, and Duckett headed wide from a Danny Williams cross.
However, the visitors might have stole victory when Nathan White released Gavin Jones on the counter-attack, but he fired over, as did Mark Jones in injury time.
Extra time followed, and finally the breakthrough arrived in the 98th minute when Ross Jefferies latched onto a long pass from Evans and played a cross in to Osian Jones, who fired home with his very first touch.
Lido began to open up at the back and further chances fell to Ross Jefferies and substitute Neil Fisher, who both failed to capitalise after running through on goal.
At the other end Luke Borrelli sent his long range shot straight at Bimpson, and Mark Jones saw his strike go well over.
However, Bala made sure of their semi-final ticket in the last seconds as Fisher found space to steer his strike in to the bottom corner, with Lido’s defence exposed.

BALA: Bimpson, Irving, S Fisher, Powell, Jellicoe, Williams, Roberts (Jones 96), Duckett, Toner (Jefferies 46), Evans (N Fisher 105), Lloyd.

Pictured above: Bala's Ross Jefferies wins the ball against Afan Lido. Pic: Evan Dobson.