Penybont 0 Bala Town 1

HALF TIME

After their narrow 1-0 defeat in the first Championship Conference game at home to The New Saints on Saturday, Bala are playing a crunch match for that elusive European place tonight, with Penybont sitting just four points below them.

But it’s been a one-sided affair so far with the Lakesiders in control and a goal to the good at the break.

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 Morri; 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