Huwsi's view.......
United exit Welsh Cup to a Bala waaaaaander strike.........
We knew it was going to be a tough task at Bala, but Aled Owen and his men can feel very proud of their performance on Saturday against their Welsh Premier league opposition, who have had a very good start to their first season in the top division. The score line speaks volumes, I’m sure many people were expecting a similar score line to when Bala beat Borras Park in the second round, but as the game progressed it was becoming increasingly obvious that the tie would be settled by a wonder goal, and that’s how it panned out.
The travelling support was in abundance, and at half time I thought for a moment that I’d gate crashed an Headmaster’s and Senior Teachers convention being held by the Dressing Rooms, but no, they were all there to support United and enjoy a great game of football (not to mention the liquid refreshments afterwards!).
Absent for United were Rhys Roberts who had other commitments, Gethin Phillips and Andrew Williams were both red carded at Rhydymwyn and therefore suspended from proceedings, however Mathew Phillips made a welcomed return and there was a first start for Martin Owen in place of Gethin Phillips and Gavin Rogerson took over from Andy Williams.
Although at times Bala had free men in the area which the United players failed to pick up, United’s defence did a fine job throughout the 90 minutes, and just before half time Chris Joyce (or should I say Jooyce!) even had an effort at goal, well in the general direction of the goal, and only missed by a matter of inches (about 900 of them to be precise!), Stephen Jones would have been proud of him!
The opening minutes saw both sides make their intentions known, Mathew Phillips made a fine run towards the left flag and got a great cross in across the six yard line, however there was no one advanced enough to take advantage, which allowed Bala to break down the left and got a cross in and an headed effort brushed the top side of United’s bar. Within a couple of minutes, Bala were again in the danger area, a free-kick from the halfway line was floated in, and the header this time went a couple of feet over the bar.
Minutes later and Bala were back, a left side corner was cleared by Ceirion Williams to the halfway line where Gavin Rogerson stood firm and beat the defender to the ball and advanced up field with Mathew Phillips in support on the left side. Mathew got an identical cross into the area, but once again there was no-one there, which allowed Bala to counter, but again Ceirion was up to the task and cleared the danger for a throw-in. The thrower, John Irving got a return ball and delivered a fine cross into the six yard box, where Ross Jeffries met the ball with a strong head, which deflected off the head of Martin Owen and Dave Ball pulled off the save of the match when he instinctively stopped high with his right hand.
John Toner had a chance to give Bala the lead in the 13 th minute, he collected and controlled an over the top ball and took his effort from the 18 yard mark but his shot lacked any venom, and easily claimed by Dave Ball. Ball released David Noel Williams, who from the centre of the park, in turn released Mathew Phillips with an over the top ball, and Mathew advanced to the left side of the area, and with Bala’s goalie advancing quickly towards him maybe Mathew should have taken his chance with a chip as he entered the area, but he decided to round the keeper, but this made the angle too acute and he could only find the side netting.
The first 15 minutes or so was full of action, with both sides having chances to take an early lead but the next few minutes and the game had gone flat, which gave United the time for a breather, they were guilty of knocking long balls to the corner flags, which Usain Bolt wouldn’t be able to catch, and United were in danger of not lasting the distance. United had their first corner of the match after 32 minutes, and for a change it was taken short! No surprise therefore that nothing came of it, and once again allowed Bala to counter and saw John Irving struck the bar in the 34 th minute when Ricky Evans took a free kick some 35 yards out on the right flank, following Chris ‘Jooyce’s’ challenge on Owain Roberts, Joyce clearly got the ball, however Roberts’ dramatics and shouts of pain earned him a booking. Evans’ fine delivery into the six yard box was met by an Irving half volley and onto the woodwork.
Gareth Eifion Jones had a shot on goal deflected wide following a corner in the 38 th minute and Owain Roberts had half a chance in the 43 rd minute with a glancing header from the six yard box, however it was an easy stop for Dave Ball, which meant the first half ended as it stated, 0-0.
Bala started the second half the brightest with a number of chances in United’s area, but United’s rearguard stood strong and dealt very well with Bala’s advances. A free kick in the 53 rd minute on the halfway line was worked in to the right corner and a fine cross delivered in, but dealt with well by United’s defence. With 11 minutes played Owain Roberts had two or three chances in the six yard box, but again United’s defence got the better of him. Bala were continually advancing well into United’s third, and so Gavin Rogerson was dropping into defence and defending well throwing himself at crosses and gaining the advantage.
United were awarded a free-kick an the centre spot, which was floated by Ceirion Williams to Gavin on the left flank, and he in turn won a free-kick for hand ball. David Noel Williams drove the ball into the area which was headed clear for a corner, which Charlie took with a very fine delivery, it went over the extended hand of Bala’s keeper and bounced a yard short of the far post but advancing Gareth Eifion was inches away from connecting for United to take the lead.
Ricky Evans struck a free-kick a couple of feet over the bar from the edge of the area in the 64 th minute when Ceirion Williams was adjudged to be holding on to his opponent. Bala’s central defender was lucky to stay on the field in the 66 th minute when he pulled back Carl Griffiths who was through on goal some 20 yards out, but he only received a booking. If that would have been Jamie Carragher he would have been off! Charlie took the free-kick and went inches wide of the right upright.
Six minutes later and Bala took the lead with a thunderous, unstoppable strike from substitute Mark Harris, Eifion Williams had done all the hard work, defending well against Ricky Evans on the right hand side edge of the area, but his ‘shot hosan’ of a clearance after taking the ball from Evans fell kindly to Mark Harris, and with Dave Ball’s vision blocked by the numbers in front, Harris struck his 25 yard effort sweetly through the only gap in the United defence.
Despite the goal, United kept going and were advancing more than ever. Another free-kick some 25 yards out was awarded in the 73 rd minute, but Charlie went 2 or three yards over this time. Carl Griffiths found Gareth Eifion in Bala’s six yard box but he miss controlled, and he got a head to an Iwan Price throw in the 85 th minute but directed it a couple of yards wide.
Bala struck the bar again in the 2 nd minute of injury time with a Marc Griffiths header from a deep cross on the right side, but the final shot of the game came from David Noel Williams in the dying seconds, from the left flank his 35 yard effort was on target but Bala’s keeper held firm to stop the ball from creeping in passed the near post.
Full time and it wasn’t to be for United, Bala were through but they knew that they had to work hard for their rewards of a minimum of £2500.00 for progression to the 4 th round. United should be a little richer as well, with an entry fee of £6.00 with some 150 to 200 in attendance, half the gate will be very welcomed to boost the coffers!
Another hard game for United on Saturday when Llandudno Junction are the visitors at Eithin Duon, Junction are the only Welsh Allaince side through to the 4 th Round of the Welsh Cup, a first for the league – it could have so easily been two teams through!
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Carl Wayne Jones, David Noel Williams and Carl Griffiths of Llanrug United admiring the skills of Bala's Ricky Evans |
LLANRUG UNITED: Dave Ball, Martin Owen (Marvin Pritchard – 82 mins), Chris Joyce, Ceirion Williams (Gareth Griffiths – 89 mins), Eifion Williams, Carl Wayne Jones, Gavin Rogerson, David Noel Williams, Mathew Phillips (Iwan Price – 66 mins), Gareth Eifion Jones, Carl Griffiths.
SUBS (Not Used): Aled Owen
MAN OF THE MATCH: Gavin Rogerson
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2009/2010