Cefn Druids 3

Bala Town 5

Jd Cymru Premier

BALA’S last game before Christmas delivered a cracker for the fans as the Lakesiders ran out 5-3 winners in an entertaining clash at Cefn Druids.

The Ancients took an early lead when Josef Faux fired a stunning 25-yarder past keeper Alex Ramsay and then went into defensive mode to try to hang on to what they had.

Piling men in front of goal to protect their lead in the hope of pulling off a shock result, they kept Bala at bay and the longer the game went on the more frustrated the visitors grew.

The tactic seemed to be working with Michael Jones still yet to have been tested in the hosts’ goal, until Will Evans took matters into his own hands, with a powerful long-range drive that flew into the back of the net.

And barely a minute later, Colin Caton’s men took the lead, with Chris Venables left free to receive and slot home a Paul Rutherford assist.

Despite desperate calls for offside by the Ancients, the referee awarded the goal.

Following the break, Bala began where they left off as moments from kick-off Ollie Shannon found the top corner. A fantastic finish by the midfielder who was composed as he took the chance in the area to double his side’s advantage.

It went from bad to worse for the hosts just before the hour mark when two of their players were sent-off following a scuffle on the touchline.

Both Yalany Baio and Stefan Edwards were given their marching orders by the referee for apparent violent conduct.

Shortly after the mayhem, Dave Edwards joined in on the action to give Bala a three-goal advantage as he rose highest to head home another Rutherford assist.

It appeared at this point that the hosts had given up hope of providing anything short of remarkable with the two sending offs leaving them little to no chance.

However, Liam Buckley did give his side hope of pulling off the impossible when the Bala backline appeared to switch off when a cross was delivered which Buckley was on the end of to drill home.

Danny Walker-Rice was off the bench not long after Druids scored their second and delivered the knockout blow when his delivery into the area found the back of the net.

His cross flew past Edwards and the goalkeeper, with a question as to whether the former Welsh international had made contact to collect a brace.

But it was Walker-Rice’s delivery that had brought about the goal and no real worries to whose goal it actually was.

Again, the Ancients refused to be on the end of a hammering at The Rock as they cut the deficit a final time in the last minute.

Somehow, Druids scored another consolation goal with nine-men when Mitchell Williams, off the bench, found the back of the net.

The 18-year-old appeared to run into Ramsay before collecting the ball and placing it into the empty net to complete an eight-goal thriller at The Rock.

Most definitely not a standout result or performance for Caton’s men having conceded three goals to bottom of the table Cefn Druids who had nine-men for the last third of match.

But a win is a win in the Cymru Premier and the players will be pleased to get back to winning ways before derby day arrives at Maes Tegid.

Boxing Day sees Gwynedd rivals Caernarfon Town at Maes Tegid with kick-off set for 1pm.