Phase One ends in defeat to Bala

The Nomads’ Phase One campaign in the JD Cymru Premier ended in a 2-0 defeat to Bala Town at the Essity Stadium on Friday.

It was Rhys Hughes’ brace and Ben Nash’s header which put us three goals to the good on Tuesday when the fixture originally meant to be played. However, that match was abandoned after an hour played due to fog, which meant the encounter had to be rearranged for Friday.

The Nomads played some impressive football in the first half with Max Woodcock hitting the woodwork from close range.

However, it would be two clinical strikes from Osebi Abadaki and Nathan Burke which sealed victory for the Lakesiders, who confirmed their place in the Championship Conference.

Team News
Woodcock passed a late fitness test, which meant he was able to start up front. The only change came in defence as Dan Roberts replaced the absent Ben Nash. There was also a first ever place on the bench for academy star Shayan Dehy.

Bala manager Colin Caton made two changes from Tuesday’s abandoned match as Lassana Mendes and Osebi Abadaki replaced Kyle Harrison and former Nomad Joe Malkin.

First Half
There was an early yellow card shown to Dan Roberts for a late challenge in midfield. Bala showed early signs of pressure, but it was The Nomads who came closest to taking the lead as Rhys Hughes nearly found the top corner with a powerful effort from outside the area.

Bala were nearly gifted an opening goal on 17 minutes as George Ratcliffe’s loose pass fell straight to George Newell, who could only fire wide from close range. A last-ditch tackle from Noah Edwards just before Newell got his shot away may have also impacted the striker’s shot.

Woodcock came agonisingly close to opening his Nomads account midway through the first half, but his strike from Declan Poole’s deflected cross was denied by the near post.

The former Scottish U18 international had another sight of goal in the 34th minute, but an extremely tight angle made things difficult for the January signing, and he could only fire into the side-netting.

Bala probably should have taken the lead on the stroke of half time through Louis Robles. The attacker produced a deft touch to race through on goal and one-on-one with Ratcliffe, but the fierce effort swerved wide of the post, which came to Robles’ dismay.

Second Half
Both sides started the second half brightly, just like they did in the first. The Nomads were denied the breakthrough by fine margins again as Woodcock’s teasing low ball across the face of goal narrowly averted the feet of Poole, who slid into the box at full speed.

It would be the away side who drew first blood as a long ball was not well cleared, which allowed Abadaki to pick out the top corner with a powerful strike.

Billy Paynter turned to his bench in search of an equaliser as Michael Kedman came on for his home debut by replacing Aron Williams.

However, Bala doubled their advantage three minutes later as Lassana Mendes played a free-kick short to Nathan Burke, whose first-time shot from the edge of the area flew into the back of the net via the post.

Another change was soon made by Paynter as Ben Maher replaced Callum Bratley in midfield.

Kedman was given space to cause a threat down the right hand side, but as soon as the substitute cut inside onto his left foot, his curling attempt sailed over the bar.

A glorious opportunity to half the deficit arrived in the 81st minute as Rhys Hughes’ strike at the near post was parried out by Bala goalkeeper Joel Torrance, but only as far as John Disney, who looked destined to fire home, only for Torrance to pull off another save.

Torrance was called into action in the second minute of stoppage time as he got down low to tip away Hughes’ free-kick from distance.

A frustrating night at the Essity Stadium came to an end, and all focus now turns to Phase Two and the all-important seventh place, which secures a spot in the JD Cymru Premier Play-Offs.

Match Photos

Match Report by Adam Angerer