Starting Line up: Rhys Williams, Naim Arsan, Jon Owen, Kyle Harrison, Ozzy Abadaki, Nathan Burke, Henry Evans, Tomas Jones, Jamie Cumming, Tom Kelly, Craig Lindfield.
The Club made a long journey to play our last Pre-Season Friendly on Saturday against Atherton Collieries. The squad saw the return of a number of players missing from last Tuesday evening’s undeserved defeat at Vauxhall Motors and were looking to sign off on a winning note to lift the confidence before the big first league match against Bangor next Friday evening. However before the match Ross White failed a fitness test and Will Bell had to take a seat on the bench with a calf niggle. Dom McGiveron has not fully recovered from his illness and Charlie Fisher, Mike Hayes and Jake Phillips were all unavailable.
The first half was a balanced affair for the first 20 minutes but gradually Bala imposed themselves on the game and created a number of half chances including a tip over the bar by the home keeper. Rhys Williams was hurt in a bad challenge after 35 minutes but fortunately recovered. The home side put a bit of pressure on towards the end of the half but it remained goalless at half time. Kyle Harrison strained his back just before the interval and couldn’t take any further part. Trialist replaces Kyle with Burkey slotting into the back four.
4 minutes into second half and a huge deflection from an Atherton free kick saw the home side take a very fortunate lead. Emmanuel Osilaja replaces Tomas Jones after 55 minutes. Trialist replaces Craig Lindfield after 60 minutes. Despite the considerable effort there was no impression being made on the home side’s goal as Bala searched for an equaliser.
A huge penalty shout is turned down when Tom Kelly is flattened in the box on 83 minutes. A disappointing decision from the referee.
Despite every effort the visitors could not break down a stubborn home defence and the final score line somewhat flattered the hosts. The commitment and spirit of all the Bala team augurs well for the challenges ahead and we go into next Friday’s crucial first league fixture against Bangor with high expectations.
Teithiodd y Clwb daith hir i chwarae ein gêm gyfeillgar olaf ddydd Sadwrn yn erbyn Atherton Collieries. Gwelwyd dychweliad nifer o chwaraewyr i’r garfan ar ôl iddynt fethu’r golled annheg yn erbyn Vauxhall Motors nos Fawrth ddiwethaf, ac roedd y tîm yn awyddus i gloi’r ymgyrch baratoi gyda buddugoliaeth er mwyn codi hyder cyn y gêm gynghrair gyntaf bwysig yn erbyn Bangor nos Wener nesaf.
Fodd bynnag, cyn y gêm methodd Ross White brawf ffitrwydd, tra bu’n rhaid i Will Bell gymryd ei le ar y fainc oherwydd anaf bach i’w gyhyr. Doedd Dom McGiveron wedi gwella’n llwyr o’i salwch eto, ac nid oedd Charlie Fisher, Mike Hayes na Jake Phillips ar gael i chwarae.
Roedd yr hanner cyntaf yn gystadleuol ac yn gytbwys am yr ugain munud cyntaf, ond yn raddol dechreuodd Bala reoli’r chwarae a chreu nifer o hanner-gyfleoedd, gan gynnwys ergyd a gafodd ei thipio dros y trawst gan gôl-geidwad y tîm cartref. Anafwyd Rhys Williams mewn her wael ar ôl 35 munud, ond yn ffodus llwyddodd i wella a pharhau. Rhoddodd y tîm cartref ychydig o bwysau ar ddiwedd yr hanner, ond roedd y sgôr yn dal yn ddi-sgor ar yr egwyl.
Anafodd Kyle Harrison ei gefn ychydig cyn hanner amser ac ni allodd gymryd unrhyw ran bellach yn y gêm. Daeth chwaraewr prawf i’w le, gyda Nathan Burke yn symud i mewn i’r pedwar amddiffyn.
Dim ond pedwar munud i mewn i’r ail hanner, gwelwyd cic rydd gan Atherton yn cymryd gwyriad enfawr i fewn i’r rhwyd, gan roi mantais ffodus iawn i’r tîm cartref. Daeth Emmanuel Osilaja ymlaen yn lle Tomas Jones ar ôl 55 munud, ac ar ôl 60 munud newidwyd Craig Lindfield am chwaraewr prawf.
Er gwaethaf ymdrech aruthrol Bala, ni lwyddwyd i roi digon o bwysau ar gôl y tîm cartref wrth geisio dod o hyd i’r gôl gyfartal. Ar y 83ain munud gwrthodwyd apêl gref iawn am gic o’r smotyn wedi i Tom Kelly gael ei daro i lawr yn y cwrt cosbi – penderfyniad siomedig gan y dyfarnwr.
Er gwaethaf pob ymdrech, methodd yr ymwelwyr â thorri drwy amddiffyn cadarn y tîm cartref, ac roedd y sgôr derfynol yn fwy caredig i’r gwesteiwyr nag yr oedd perfformiad y gêm yn ei haeddu. Mae ymrwymiad ac ysbryd holl dîm Bala yn argoeli’n dda ar gyfer yr heriau sydd o’u blaenau, ac rydym yn mynd i mewn i gêm gynghrair gyntaf hollbwysig nos Wener nesaf yn erbyn Bangor gyda disgwyliadau uchel.
