Bala dominate as Abadaki settles tight contest against Penrhyncoch

BALA Town returned to winning ways with a hard-fought victory over a resilient Penrhyncoch side at Cae Baker on Tuesday evening.

The Lakesiders arrived looking to bounce back from their disappointing defeat at Denbigh, but once again their preparations were hampered by injuries.

Six players were unavailable and, although Tomas Jones escaped injury after being involved in a car accident on his way to the match, Bala were left with just three substitutes.

Playing down the slope in the first half, Bala dominated possession and territory but found chances difficult to come by against a well-drilled Penrhyncoch defence. The visitors thought they had taken the lead when Mike Hayes found the net, only for his effort to be ruled out by a controversial offside decision.

The pattern continued after the break, with Bala controlling the game while Penrhyncoch defended stubbornly and refused to buckle under sustained pressure. The visitors were denied by the woodwork on three occasions as frustration began to grow.

Seeking a breakthrough, Bala introduced Tom Kelly and later Okera Simmonds from the bench.

The decisive moment arrived in the 78th minute, just moments after Simmonds entered the action. Producing an excellent pass with the outside of his right foot, he released Osebi Abadaki, who rifled a superb finish into the far corner to finally break the deadlock.

It was a goal Bala's dominance deserved, but Penrhyncoch could take plenty of credit for the way they limited opportunities and kept themselves in contention throughout the contest.

After taking the lead, Bala managed the closing stages comfortably and protected their advantage with little alarm. Goalkeeper La-trell Jones was not required to make a save all evening.

Bala are next in league action against Mold at Maes Tegid on Saturday, 26 September.