Bala travelled to Porthmadog on Saturday to face another difficult away fixture on a pitch that had obviously suffered from the summer drought and still remained hard underfoot.
Once again the squad was severely depleted with 6 senior players unavailable through absence and injury and the 2 late transfer window signings were forced into immediate action. Within the first 10 minutes the situation worsened further when Jake Phillips had to be helped off with a worrying ankle injury and he was replaced by Charlie Fisher. New signing Aron Williams went to the right fullback position and the visitors settled well and dominated territory and possession.
The first real chance fell to Okera Simmonds when a whipped cross from Charlie Fisher was headed inches wide by the debutant. The opening goal followed soon after when an Ozzy Abadaki cross was met by Tom Kelly whose first attempt was saved by the home keeper but he hit home the rebound from close range.
Despite the away team’s dominance they couldn’t add to the scoreline and the home side had their first chance of the match when a free kick was headed narrowly wide in the last minute of the half. Bala did not take long to increase their lead in the second half when Charlie Fisher turned on a loose ball in the 6 yard box to rifle his shot home after 49 minutes.
The visitors then missed a golden opportunity to go 3 ahead but Charlie Fisher had his attempt well saved when clear through on goal. This miss was further compounded only 3 minutes later when Port pulled a goal back after a good run down the right and cross which found Luke Baum unmarked to fire a fierce shot into the Bala net.
The momentum of the match changed and the home side had wind in their sails. Okera Simmonds was replaced by Mike Hayes but created little impact against a rejuvenated Port team. Bala were hanging on to their slender lead and further substitutions were made on 83 minutes with Tomas Jones and James Farr replacing Tom Kelly and Ozzy Abadaki. Another golden opportunity was then missed by Bala to secure the points when Charlie Fisher hit wide with the goal at his mercy.
There were 5 minutes of added time to see out by the visitors and the home side piled the pressure on. A fierce strike from Morgan Owen was well saved by La’trell Jones and then in a chaotic end there were multiple blocked shots and a penalty appeal turned away.
Bala really should have put the game out of sight before allowing the home side to fight back with a spirited late challenge. Bala will be desperate to see the return of some of the squad for another difficult away fixture in Denbigh next Friday.
Teithiodd Y Bala i Borthmadog ddydd Sadwrn i wynebu gêm oddi cartref anodd arall, ar gae a oedd yn amlwg wedi dioddef oherwydd sychder yr haf ac a oedd yn dal yn galed dan draed.
Unwaith eto, roedd y garfan yn brin iawn o chwaraewyr, gyda chwe chwaraewr hŷn yn absennol oherwydd absenoldeb ac anafiadau, gan olygu bod y ddau arwyddo hwyr o ffenestr drosglwyddo wedi gorfod camu i’r adwy ar unwaith.
O fewn y 10 munud cyntaf, gwaethygodd y sefyllfa ymhellach pan fu’n rhaid helpu Jake Phillips oddi ar y cae gydag anaf pryderus i’w bigwrn. Cafodd Charlie Fisher ei gyflwyno yn ei le. Symudodd yr arwyddo newydd Aron Williams i safle cefnwr dde, ac ymgartrefodd y tîm ymwelwyr yn dda, gan ddominyddu’r diriogaeth a’r meddiant.
Daeth y cyfle go iawn cyntaf i Okera Simmonds, pan gafodd croesiad cryf gan Charlie Fisher ei beniad gan yr ymddangosiad cyntaf hwn, ond aeth y bêl ychydig fodfeddi heibio’r postyn.
Daeth y gôl agoriadol yn fuan wedyn, pan gafodd croesiad gan Ozzy Abadaki ei gyrraedd gan Tom Kelly. Cafodd ei ymgais gyntaf ei harbed gan gôl-geidwad y tîm cartref, ond fe ergydiodd y bêl adlam i’r rhwyd o bellter agos.
Er gwaethaf goruchafiaeth y tîm oddi cartref, ni allent ychwanegu at y sgôr, ac fe gafodd y tîm cartref eu cyfle cyntaf o’r gêm yn ystod munud olaf yr hanner, pan gafodd cic rydd ei pheniad ychydig yn llydan o’r targed.
Ni fu’n rhaid i Y Bala aros yn hir i ymestyn eu harweiniad yn yr ail hanner. Ar ôl 49 munud, trodd Charlie Fisher ar bêl rydd yn y cwrt chwe llath a thanio ergyd bwerus i’r rhwyd.
Yna collodd y tîm ymwelwyr gyfle euraidd i fynd dair gôl ar y blaen, ond cafodd ymgais Charlie Fisher ei harbed yn dda ar ôl iddo fynd yn glir drwy ar y gôl.
Gwaethygwyd y methiant hwn dim ond tair munud yn ddiweddarach pan dynnodd Port gôl yn ôl. Ar ôl rhediad da i lawr yr ochr dde a chroesiad, daeth y bêl o hyd i Luke Baum heb ei farcio, a thaniodd ergyd ffyrnig i rwyd Y Bala.
Newidiodd momentwm y gêm, ac roedd gan y tîm cartref wynt yn eu hwyliau. Cafodd Okera Simmonds ei ddisodli gan Mike Hayes, ond ychydig o effaith a gafodd yn erbyn tîm Port a oedd wedi adfywio.
Roedd Y Bala bellach yn glynu wrth eu harweiniad main, ac ar y 83ain munud gwnaed rhagor o newidiadau, gyda Tomas Jones a James Farr yn cymryd lle Tom Kelly ac Ozzy Abadaki.
Yna collodd Y Bala gyfle euraidd arall i sicrhau’r tri phwynt, pan ergydiodd Charlie Fisher yn llydan gyda’r gôl ar ei drugaredd.
Roedd pum munud o amser ychwanegol i’r tîm ymwelwyr oroesi, ac fe bentyrodd y tîm cartref y pwysau ymlaen. Cafodd ergyd ffyrnig gan Morgan Owen ei harbed yn dda gan La’trell Jones, ac yna, mewn diweddglo anhrefnus, cafwyd nifer o ergydion yn cael eu blocio ac apêl am gic gosb yn cael ei gwrthod.
Dylai Y Bala fod wedi rhoi’r gêm allan o gyrraedd ymhell cyn hynny, cyn caniatáu i’r tîm cartref godi eu gêm a chynnig her frwd yn y munudau olaf.
Bydd Y Bala yn daer am weld rhai o aelodau’r garfan yn dychwelyd ar gyfer gêm anodd arall oddi cartref yn Nhref Denbigh ddydd Gwener nesaf.
