BALA Town were in seventh heaven as they kicked-off the new season with an emphatic 7-0 win over Gresford Athletic in the Nathaniel MG Cars Cup.

The dominant Lakesiders had set the standard from the start, with Louis Robles firing wide, and Steve Leslie testing keeper Ben Jones, before the breakthrough came on 22 minutes.

Leslie fired into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, and then five minutes later Sean Smith’s break down the left saw the ball fall to Robles, who fired home.

Lee Molyneux, Lassana Mendes, Chris Venables and Leslie dominated possession, and straight after the interval Robles fired his second goal from the edge of the box. It then became 4-0 on 50 minutes when Venables smashed home from 12 yards out, after good counter attacking play.

Anthony Stephens then had a strike pushed away, and Stuart Jones’ header from a corner was saved, before Andy Burns and Molyneux saw opportunities go over.

A debut hat-trick for Robles was secured when he powered the ball in from 13 yards, and a minute later Molyneux fired a low 30 yard drive into the bottom corner for 6-0.

Jake Eyre hit the base of the post for Gresford, but following Leslie’s disallowed strike, substitute Henry Jones was brought down in the box for a penalty, which he dispatched into the top corner.

Flint Town United 5 Porthmadog 1

It was not the start to the new season that Porthmadog manager Sion Eifion had been looking for, as his team were blown away by Flint in their Nathaniel MG Cup tie.

In very blustery conditions, Flint had the wind at their backs in the first half, and within three minutes Nathan Brown cut in and fired into the bottom corner of the net.

Port’s goal remained under pressure, with Paul Pritchard saving at his near post from Richie Foulkes, and Andy Brown firing across the goal.

Rob Evans’ shot was diverted for a corner at the other end, and following the corner kick Rhys Alun fired an angled shot inches over the bar.

This provided only a brief respite, however, and on 23 minutes Alex Titchiner took advantage of defensive dithering to score from close in.

The same player was then on hand to intercept a Ceri James crossfield ball and race unopposed to notch his second, and make the score 3-0.

Pritchard saved well from Mark Cadwallader, before Port’s Ilan ap Gareth broke on the right, and his cross into the box found Rob Evans, who lifted his shot over.

Port introduced John Littlemore for the second half, but it was Flint who came closest to scoring an early goal as Cadwallader’s header flew just inches over the bar.

A Littlemore header had to be headed off the line, whilst Rhys Alun saw two efforts well-saved by keeper Aaron Jones, and a free kick from Ceri James went over the bar.

With the game entering into its final 20 minutes, however, the hosts pushed on again and Andy Brown made it 4-0 with a tremendous volley.

Porthmadog, however, did respond with a goal from Sion Parry, immediately after coming on as a substitute.

He raced on to a Rob Evans through ball - and with only the keeper to beat, he finished coolly to make it 4-1.

Nevertheless, Flint had the last word on a highly disappointing day for Port, as they failed to defend Nathan Brown’s left wing corner and Mark Cadwallader was on hand to turn it into the net.