NIGEL’S NOTES The difficult times remain and the immediate future seems as uncertain as ever. However there is light at the end of this very long tunnel but just how quickly the impact of the vaccine will take is open to conjecture. So we soldier on! The ever changing rules, regulations and guidelines make administration even more problematical and it is certainly a strain on each and every person who has the responsibility to ensure matches can be played in a safe environment. Please can I warmly welcome all who have travelled from Cardiff for the reverse of last Saturday’s fixture in the capital as we face another serious test on the pitch. It was a very competitive match last weekend and I have no doubt that this will be repeated today.
We have the added conďŹ dence of a good away win on Wednesday in Aberystwyth which in itself was a tough match and we also today count on the return of 2 suspended players which will boost our squad’s depth and strength. It is certainly going to be a different Christmas for us all and the lack of social gatherings means that there will be no Club get together over the festive period. Disappointing to say the least! I can therefore only wish you all a very Happy Christmas by way of these programme notes and hope to get the results which we need to continue our challenge at the top of the JD Cymru Premier. Nadolig Llawen Pawb. Nigel Aykroyd, Chief Executive
GWASANAETH PÊL-DROED DIGURO UNBEATABLE ON WELSH FOOTBALL CYNGHRAIR Y CENHEDLOEDD UEFA 2020 UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE 2020 CYMRU PREMIER JD CWPAN CYMRU JD JD WELSH CUP CWPAN NATHANIEL MG NATHANIEL MG CUP UWCH GYNGHRAIR MERCHED CYMRU WELSH PREMIER WOMEN’S LEAGUE
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OPPONENT - CARDIFF MET EST. 2000 HOME: THE FURNESS ARENA ABOUT CARDIFF MET Cardiff Metropolitan University Football Club are a Welsh football club, of the Athletic Union of Cardiff Metropolitan University, based in Cyncoed, Cardiff that plays in the Cymru Premier. The club badge features the bowman with the words 'I lwyddo, rhaid chwarae' which is translated as 'To succeed, [one] must play'. The team has gone through a series of name changes, mirroring the name changes of the institution it represented. The team was originally known as Cardiff College of Education F.C.. They became South Glamorgan Institute F.C. in 1979; Cardiff Institute of Higher Education F.C. in 1990 and UWIC in 1996. In 2000, Inter Cardiff F.C. merged with Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC) to form UWIC Inter Cardiff F.C reverting to simply UWIC in 2009. They changed their name again in the summer of 2012 to Cardiff Metropolitan University F.C.
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The 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons saw the club collect back-to-back championships and start the 2014–15 campaign in Welsh League Division 1. Looking for an unprecedented third successive promotion and a chance to play at the top level of Welsh football, the students came agonisingly close to realising that dream only to lose out cruelly on goal difference to Haverfordwest County, following the West Walians 5–0 defeat of Aberdare Town. The 2015–16 season began with the Archers as favourites to get promoted and despite being pushed all the way by both Barry and Goytre, promotion was sealed in late April with a 3–0 victory at Taff's Well to ensure Capital City representation in the Cymru Premier for the first time since the 2005–06 season. The 2016–17 campaign started badly for the students, picking up just one point from their first 6 matches with a goalless draw away to Cefn Druids. Whilst many doubted whether the students could stay in the division, a run of 3 consecutive victories within a week restored confidence and proved the catalyst to not only ensuring survival but qualifying for the end of season Europa League Play-offs with a 6th-place finish. Met faced Carmarthen Town and despite going a goal down early in the second half, a sumptuous lob from Adam Roscrow and an injury time diving header from Charlie Corsby was enough to see the club through to face Bangor City in the final. Sadly for Met, the dream was shattered when Dean Rittenburg drilled home from 12 yards for the Citizens to give Bangor a 1–0 victory and a passport into the Europa League Qualifying round.
ALEX RAMSAY
ANDREW BURNS
SEAN SMITH
NATHAN PEATE
ANTHONY STEPHENS
JONNY SPITTLE
LEE MOLYNEUX
WILL EVANS
HENRY JONES
KIERAN SMITH
STEVE LESLIE
DANIEL GOSSET
LLYR MORRIS
SHAUN KELLY
LASSANA MENDES
CHRIS VENABLES
OLIVER SHANNON
RAUL CORREIA
LIAM DAVIES
HARRI LLOYD
ANTONY KAY
PREVIOUS LEAGUE FIXTURE ABERYSTWYTH 1 BALA TOWN 2
Massive three points
The Lakesiders were back in action on Wednesday night (9/12/2020) with a trip to a wet and windy Park Avenue, to face Aberystwyth Town. Bala would come into this game on the back of a 1-1 draw away to Cardiff Met,
with an injury time equaliser from Henry Jones, salvaging a point for the Lakesiders. Despite a long unbeaten run, stretching to the start of October, results were lacking with three draws in their last five fixtures, while the front runners, The New Saints and Connah’s Quay Nomads continued to rack up the points, creating a gap between themselves and the Lakesiders. However a win at Park Avenue would be massive for the Lakesiders, heading into the the last two fixtures of the year. Three changes were made to the side that started against Cardiff Met on the weekend, with both Nathan Peate and the Captain Chris Venables unavailable due to suspension, and Raul Correia who was out due to an injury he sustained against Cardiff Met. Henry Jones, Jonny Spittle and Lassana Mendes would come into
the starting eleven, with Antony Kay being made captain for the night. Andrew Burns, Shaun Kelly and Llyr Morris returned to the bench having not been selected in previous fixtures. The game got underway at a wet and windy Park Avenue, with Bala on the front foot, as an early cross into the box from Pryce tested the handling of Aber keeper Connor Roberts. Minutes later, another great cross from Pryce into the danger area, as Will Evans misses the ball, it lands to Henry Jones who strikes towards goal, this time Connor Roberts gets down well to stop the shot, and then the rebound from Lassana Mendes is again saved from point blank range. It didn’t take long for the first goal, and it was the home side that got it. A free kick given away by Pryce on the left hand side was put into the middle of the area, where Rhys Davies leaped between all the bodies and headed the ball past Ramsay in goal. An unexpected goal, but one the Lakesiders would have to bounce back from! And bounce back they did! A penalty was awarded from the referee after Will Evans was tripped inside the box, despite the protests from the home side, the penalty was given! Gary Roberts would step up to take the spot kick in the absence of Chris Venables, and as cool as you like he placed it into the bottom left corner, despite the hand of Connor Roberts getting to the ball, to make it 1-1 after just 13 minutes! Also the first goal for Gary Roberts since returning to the Lakesiders! Just a minute later, the home side had shouts for a penalty of their own, as the ball looked to strike Anthony Stephens’ hand, yet the referee waved away the protests. The first caution of the game went to Aber’s Matthew George for a foul on Gary Roberts.
Just after the 20 minute mark came a nasty collision between Will Evans and Connor Roberts, as both players went for the ball in a 50/50 challenge, thankfully both were able to carry on. Henry Jones whipped in a brilliant ball into the box, however the ball was cleared from an Aber head, with Bala receiving a corner from the clearance. Just a minute later, and Bala took the lead! Another assist for Sean Smith, as his perfectly weighted ball into the box found Lassana Mendes with plenty of space, as he headed into the bottom right corner, out the reach of Connor Roberts and gave Bala a 2-1 lead after half an hour! Despite a frantic start to the game, the last 15 minutes of the half saw little action. The halftime whistle went, with the Lakesiders going into the dressing room with a 2-1 lead at the break. All in all, a good performance from the Lakesiders, after going behind early in the half, the response from the players was good, with a penalty from Gary Roberts and a header from Lassana Mendes giving the Town the lead after half an hour played. The second half got underway, with the wet and windy weather conditions worsening at Park Avenue. It took a while for either side to carve open an attack, however it was the Lakesiders who had the ďŹ rst chance of the half, as Will Evans’ point blank header was well saved by Connor Roberts, after a brilliant ball in from Henry Jones to ďŹ nd his team mate. Some brilliant defending from Antony Kay after 65 minutes, as he gets his head to a cross to divert it away from the initial danger, and out for a corner.
PREVIOUS LEAGUE FIXTURE ABERYSTWYTH 1 BALA TOWN 2
With 15 minutes left to play, Gary Roberts tried his luck from a tight angle, but his effort sailed over the bar. Will Evans had a good chance to finish the game off just minutes later, but the forward swiped at the ball, and the his effort went wide of the goal. Seconds after Will’s half chance, the home side almost levelled the game, as a ball over the top, caught the Bala defence out, but Marc Williams’ effort on goal was saved well down to Ramsay’s left. With 10 minutes to go, Llyr Morris was introduced into the game, as he replaced Gary Roberts. Immediately after coming on, Llyr Morris got onto the ball down the left, as he travelled into the box, but his ball across the box went into the goalkeeper’s hands. Llyr Morris would pick up a yellow card for a foul deep in the Aber half, with just a minute to go. Despite there being three minutes of added time, Bala saw the game out, in what was a much needed three points for the Lakesiders, after dropping points in recent fixtures. After going behind early in the game, a penalty from Gary Roberts and a header from Lassana Mendes would complete the comeback in the first half, which gave the Lakesiders all three points.
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FIXTURES
SEPTEMBER SUN 20 SUN 27 WED 30
CEFN DRUIDS PENYBONT FC THE NEW SAINTS
OCTOBER
2-1 W 1-5 W 2-2 D
NOVEMBER SAT 07 SAT 14 FRI 20 FRI 27
THE NEW SAINTS PENYBONT ABERYSTWYTH NEWTOWN
SAT 03 FRI 09 TUE 13 SAT 17 TUES 20 SAT 31
HAVERFORDWEST ABERYSTWYTH BARRY TOWN UTD NEWTOWN FLINT TOWN HAVERFORD WEST
1-2 L 5-2 W 4-0 W 0-2 W 1-2 W 1-1 D
DECEMBER 1-1 D 4-1 W PP 3-1 W
SAT 01 SAT 05 WED 09 SAT 12 SAT 26
CAERNARFON TOWN CARDIFF MET UNI ABERYSTWYTH CARDIFF MET CAERNARFON
1-1 D 1-1 D 1-2 W H H
JANUARY FRI 01 TUE 19 SAT 23 SAT 30
CONNAHS QUAY CEFN DRUIDS THE NEW SAINTS BARRY TOWN
H A A A
SPONSORS
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SMITHY GARAGE Bala Town are so grateful for the tremendous support which Smithy Garage of Dyffryn Ardudwy have given the Club over so many years. We are delighted that they continue to sponsor the Club's playing shorts and last year went a huge step further when they kindly agreed to sponsor our Academy's Head of Coaching car. This is so important for the development of our youth players and for the roll which he provides to our Community programmes. Smithy Garage offers a whole range of vehicle services and we would be delighted if our supporters could look them up whenever there is any vehicular requirements. Car/Van sales, MOT's, Servicing, Body Repair etc! Thank you most sincerely on behalf of us all at Maes Tegid. Long may our relationship together continue!
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PLAYER SPONSORS Player Sponsorship is on a first come first served basis. First team players £75.00 and at the end of the season, you will receive their match-worn shirt (home or away). Higher bids or offers will be accepted. Once the money has been paid, the sponsorship is sold and no further offers will be accepted. Andrew Burns – Emma Whitehouse Raul Correia – Gwyn & Jackie Penucha Colin Caton – Ado Vogt & Gee Gi, Liechtenstein Ffiona Evans – Arwel, Michelle, Hannah & Naomi Will Evans – Sion and John Roberts Stephen Fisher – Ado Vogt & Gee Gi, Liechtenstein Danny Gosset – Brian and Teresa Whitehouse
Henry Jones – Cigydd Bala Butcher – www.balabutcher.co.uk Steve Leslie – Evan Horwood Harri Lloyd – Felix Ospelt, Vaduz Lassana Mendes – Lee, George, Chris & Foxy Lee Molyneux – Ado Vogt & Gee Gi, Liechtenstein Nathan Peate – Kevin Swire Alex Ramsay – Cigydd Bala Butcher – www.balabutcher.co.uk Ollie Shannon – Ado Vogt & Gee Gi, Liechtenstein Kieran Smith – Jonah Armstrong Sean Smith – Peter Spitzmaul Jonny Spittle – Ado Vogt & Gee Gi, Liechtenstein Anthony Stephens – Katie & Matthew Spitzmaul Ryan Valentine – Top Personalised Gifts – www.toppersonalisedgifts.co.uk Chris Venables – Barry Yates & Stewart Venables Llyr Morris – Clwyd Williams, Family Butchers Llandyrnog Liam Davies – TBC Shaun Kelly – TBC Antony Kay – Marianne Taft
THANK YOU