Bala Town frustrated as leaders Brickfield snatch point

BALA Town travelled to Clywedog Park on Saturday to face the challenge from table topping Brickfield Rangers and returned with a well deserved point which so easily could have been all three.

The Lakesiders have now gone five games without a win including three draws and a defeat in the league and a loss in the FAW Welsh Cup against Holyhead Hotspur.

Brickfield, on the other hand, are on a fine run with only with 12 wins in 16 outings in all competitions this season, suffering three defeats and being held to Saturday’s draw.

The Wrexham-based side are making history by competing at their highest-ever level and mounting an impressive title challenge.

Some early pressure from the home side saw Bala keeper Rhys Williams make a fine save with a header flying just wide.

In reply Naim Arsan had a shot tipped over and a Craig Lindfield header flashed wide of the mark.

The Lakesiders took the lead at the end of the half when a free kick on the edge of the box saw the ball slipped through to Okera Simmonds who fired home from close range.

The home side had an impressive start to the second half and pressurised the Bala goal.

There was however little in the way of clear cut chances created until Brickfield equalised on 75 minutes with a hotly contested goal.

The whole Bala defence shouted for an offside decision against Andy Vale who tapped home from only a yard out.

The appeals fell on deaf ears yet video footage clearly shows the striker was offside for this contentious equaliser

Bala then applied significant pressure on the home defence but despite a number of half chances failed to make the breakthrough and the match ended in a well contested draw.

The Bala performance was a significant improvement, helped by the return of another two injured players.

They must try to back up this new belief with an important home fixture versus Guilsfield at Maes Tegid this Friday evening, kick off 7.45pm.

Results: Holyhead Hotspur 3 Penrhyncoch 1; Caersws 1 Bangor 1876 1; Guilsfield 2 Porthmadog 2; Brickfield Rangers 1 Bala Town 1; Llanuwchllyn 3 Denbigh Town 4; Gresford Athletic 1 Ruthin Town 2; Mold Alexandra 2 Rhyl 1879 1; Newtown 2 Buckley Town 0

Fixtures, Friday, 6 November - Bangot 1876 v Gresford Athletic; Bala Town v Guilsfield; Denbigh Town v Mold Alexandra; Penrhyncoch v Caersws; Ruthin Town v Newtown. Saturday, 7 November - Buckley Town v Brickfield Rangers; Rhyl 1879 v Holyhead Hotspur; Porthmadog v Llanuwchllyn.