Penybont 2 Bala Town 3

FULL TIME

BALA survived a tense finish after twice taking two-goal leads against Penybont to clinch a vital win.

Going into the break a goal to the good after dominating the first half and adding an early second goal after the turnaround, Bala fans were expecting a comfortable win in their second Championship Conference game.

After Antony Kay capped a strong first half performance with a 40th minute goal, the Lakesiders doubled their advantage on 48 minutes, the same man on the scoresheet again after latching on to a corner.

But Penybont pulled one back moments later, Kostya Georgievsky’s looping header hitting the post and creeping in before keeper Alex Ramsay could punch it out.

Bala had a very strong penalty shout waved away on 53 minutes when Raul Correia was brought down in the box but the referee waved away the protests.

But Penybont were applying all the pressure since the goal and playing with a spring in their step before Chris Venables nearly restored the Lakesiders two-goal lead on the hour mark, dragging his effort just wide.

It was very much game alive and the hosts went close again when Sam Snaith executed a perfectly-hit overhead kick which rattled the post.

Snaith then headed an effort over the bar as Bont continued their pressure.

Colin Caton’s men were withstanding a lot of pressure going into the last 10 minutes with Penybont fighting for an equaliser.

The result was seemingly put beyond doubt on 83 minutes, Steve Leslie with a finely-struck free kick curled around the wall and beyond keeper Ashley Morris.

But the hosts closed the gap again four minutes later, Lewis Clutton with a close range finish to set up a tense finish.

It proved too little too late though as Bala held out for a massive win.

The visitors had controlled a one-sided first half, their performance meriting more than their one-goal lead.

With Colin Caton making only one change to the side that faced TNS at the weekend, as Raul Correia came in for Jack Mackreth with Danny Gosset also making the bench having been out through injury, Bala made a bright start.

Raul Correia fired wide early on and had the ball in the back of the net on 11 minutes, but it was disallowed due to a foul in the build-up.

In a follow-up attack, Ryan Pryce fired a good ball into the box to Chris Venables who headed it back across but the hosts were able to clear.

The hosts had a penalty shout for handball waved away on 27 minutes but the Lakesiders were posing the greater attacking threat.

Will Evans put in a great cross which just evaded Venables; Correia made some space for himself to take on the shot, but his effort was well saved by Ashley Morris; and Will Evans was put through on goal to square the ball to Sean Smith with an empty goal to aim at, but the linesman flagged for offside.

Venables then received the ball on the edge of box, took a touch but powered his effort just wide.

The pressure was building and Penybont buckled on 40 minutes when a corner swung in by Steve Leslie was half cleared, only to Antony Kay who found a gap to hit home past Morris to give the visitors a deserved lead.

Bala: Alex Ramsay, Sean Smith, Jonny Spittle, Anthony Stephens, Ryan Pryce, Lassana Mendes, Antony Kay, Steve Leslie, Raul Correia, Will Evans, Chris Venables. Subs: Henry Jones, Nathan Peate, Jack Mackreth, Danny Gossett, Harry Lloyd