Bala Town vs Gresford Athletic - Nathaniel MG Cup Quarter Final

BALA TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB OFFICIALS LIST

SWYDDOGION CLWB PEL-DROED TREF Y BALA

Director Of Football & Head Coach / Cyfarwyddwr Pel-Droed & Prif Hyfforddwr: Colin Caton

Assistant Head Coach / Prif Hyfforddwr Cynorthwyol: Stephen Fisher & Ryan Valentine

Goal Keeping Coach / Hyffordwr Gôl Geidwad: Harri Lloyd

Club Doctor / Meddyg y Clwb: Dr Christopher Jordan

Physios / Ffisios: Ffiona Evans

Strength & Conditioning / Cryfder a Chyflyru: Nicolas Jones

Academy Director / Cyfarwyddwr Academi: Carwyn Edwards

President / Llywydd: Joe Roberts

Chairman / Cadeirydd: Arwel Roberts

Chief Executive / Prif Weithredwr: Nigel Aykroyd

General Secretary, Finance Director & Licensing Officer / Ysgrifennydd Cyffredinol, Cyfarwyddwr Cyllidol a Swyddog Trwyddedu: Ruth Crump

Media Officer & Web-site / Swyddog Cyfryngau & Wefan: Joe Taft

Head of Security / Pennaeth Diogelwch: Sion Roberts

Commercial Director / Cyfarwyddwr Masnachol: Arwel Ll Jones

Supporters Liaison Officer / Swyddog Cyswllt y Cefnogwyr: Dion Williams

Disability Liaison Officer / Swyddog Cyswllt Anabledd: Gillian Evans

Safeguarding Officer / Swyddog Diogelu: Ceri Edwards

Covid Officer & 3G Manager / Swyddog Covid & Rheolwr y 3G: Gillian Evans

Sub Committees / Is-Bwyllgorau

Ruth Crump, Nigel Aykroyd, Ken Edwards, Don Lund, Gwyn Jones, Arwel Roberts, Carol Rowlands, Beryl Hanmer, R. F. Jones, Graham Martindale, Glyn Roberts, Arwel Lloyd Jones, Elwyn Rowlands, Gill Evans, Rob Davies, Ian Jones, Janet Blaszkiewicz, Barry Yates, Mark Watkins, Amanda Reed, John Roberts, Sion Roberts, Rhian Williams, Stuart Gardler, Ifan Edwards, Phil Shaw, Brian Parry.

Nigel

Town

It’s straight back to the action for the Lakesiders after their hugely disappointing result on Saturday against an excellent TNS outfit who basically destroyed us with quick incisive passing and clinical finishing. However tonight is another match but also significantly important for the Club.

The prize is a MG Nathaniel Cup Semi Final and all good cup runs breathe confidence into the team. We desperately want to challenge for this trophy and will be at full strength in our attempt to turn around the fortunes of last weekend.

We warmly welcome our visitors from Gresford to Maes Tegid this evening and hope you enjoy the challenge and the occasion. It seems a very long time since Gresford visited us but despite the difference in League positions it will be another fiercely competitive game this evening and one which we all look forward to.

We travel to Haverfordwest next Saturday for another crucial Premier League encounter and return to Maes Tegid on October 29th to host close rivals Penybont.

Thanks to you all as always for your support this evening.

DIOLCH PAWB!

N.Aykroyd

Nigel Aykroyd Interview | Bala Town vs Gresford

Gresford’s Road to the Quarter Final | Bala Town vs Gresford

Gresford Athletic’s Road To The Quarter Final

Gresford’s Road To The Quarter Final of the Nathaniel MG Cup has seen them narrowly beat all their opponents, with either only one goal in the tie, or a penalty shootout was needed to separate the teams.

In the first round, it was an away trip to Lock Stock Ardal North West side Denbigh Town, and it was Dominic Deacon’s goal in the 54th minute which separated the teams at the end of 90 minutes with Gresford progressing through to the second round.

Next up was Cymru Premier opposition, as Airbus UK made the trip to Clappers Lane in round two. Gresford took the lead early in the second half through a Samuel Spridgeon goal, only for Airbus to hit back 12 minutes later through Jake Eyre.

Gresford would then regain the lead just five minutes later, as Spridgeon grabbed his brace, and the Cymru North side were able to hang on to their lead and progress to the third round.

Into the final eight of the competition, Gresford would face fellow Cymru North side Buckley Town away from home. It would be Buckley Town who took the lead early on, as Connor Littler opened the proceedings, before Jacob Barratt equalised late in the first half. Gresford would then take the lead through an own goal from Luke Douglas early into the second half, although Jake Roberts equalised for Buckley just three minutes from the 90. The tie was then decided on a penalty shootout! After 22 penalty kicks, Gresford scraped through with an 8-7 win on penalties, despite missing their first penalty!

Calum Woods –

Nathan Peate –

Lassana Mendes – Andi Gillbody

Luke Wall –

Chris Venables – Steve Hughes

James Davies – Sion Roberts

Kieran Smith – Andi Gillbody

Soulayman El Amri – Andi Gillbody

Dan Clark –

Antony Kay – Andi Gillbody

Paul Rutherford –

Dave Edwards – Peter Spitzmaul

Brad Bauress –

Oliver Southern –

Ross White – The Fat Boar Wrexham (www.thefatboarwrecsam.co.uk)

George Newell – Alun & Elfyn Naim Arsan –Oliver Shannon –Harri Lloyd –Colin Caton –

Stephen Fisher –Ryan Valentine –Nick Jones –Steve Crompton –

Ffiona Evans – Gwyn & Jackie Penucha

Want to sponsor a member of our Squad or Backroom staff?

Please get in contact with either Nigel at nigel.aykroyd@aykroyds.co.uk or Arwel at armano9@btinternet.com if you are interested in sponsoring a first team player or staff member for the 2022/2023 season.

balatownfc.co.uk

Gresford

Get to Know Gresford Athletic | Bala Town vs Gresford

Club Name: Gresford Athletic

Established: 1946 Nickname: The Colliers Home: Clappers Lane

The history of the present-day Gresford Athletic stretches back to 1946, although it is known that the club existed in the 1920s.

Gresford Athletic won the Welsh National East Division in the 1946/47 season. The next time the club won a league trophy was in 1962/63, when they won the Welsh National League Division Two. In 1969, Division Three was split into two sections, A and B, with Gresford Athletic Reserves winning the Welsh National League Division 3A title.

The club remained in the Welsh National League until the introduction of the Cymru Alliance in the 1990/91 season, when they became one of the founder members of the league. They remained in the Cymru Alliance for four seasons before being relegated back to the Welsh National League in 1994. During this four-year period, they reached the Cymru Alliance League Cup final, losing to a very strong Rhyl side.

Upon the re-structure of football in Wales, they re-entered the Welsh National League Premier in the 2010/11 season following nine seasons in the Cymru Alliance. This proved to be a difficult season for the club, with them finishing in the bottom four. However, the following three seasons saw them steadily move up the league table.

The 2015/16 season saw Gresford Athletic claim their highest ever finish in the second tier of Welsh football, when they finished the season in sixth place.

In the 2016/17 season, Gresford Athletic won the NEWFA Challenge Cup for the third time in their history. The final was played against Queens Park, with Gresford Athletic deservedly winning 3-2 at full time.

Two seasons later, Gresford Athletic then went onto be runners up in the NEWFA Challenge Cup, losing 4-1 to Cefn Druids in the 2018/19 final.

Ahead of the formation of the new Cymru North for the 2019/20 season, replacing the previous Cymru Alliance, Gresford Athletic underwent a restructure on the coaching staff. The club appointed their first ever Director of Football in Steve Halliwell, leaving his role as First Team Manager, within the new-look coaching staff.

Gresford Athletic finished 11th in the first season of the Cymru North, which was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and are members of the Cymru North from the 2020/21 season onwards.

finance across the MG range. Now that’s interesting!

Business

Bala Town are so grateful for the tremendous support which the 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 role which he provides to our community programmes. Smithy Garage offers a whole range of vehicle services and we would be delighted if our loyal supporters could look them up whenever there is any vehicular requirements.

Car/Van Sales - MOT’s - Servicing - Body Repairs

Thank you most sincerely on behalf of us all at Maes Tegid. Long may our relationship together continue!

Last Round Match Report vs Caernarfon Town

Lakesiders Book Their Place In The Quarters

The Town returned to Nathaniel MG Cup action this week, as we made the short journey over to the Oval to face Gwynedd Rivals Caernarfon Town, as both sides looked to book their place in the Quarter Finals.

Luke Wall starred in the match, as he grabbed himself a brace with a goal either side of the half, that was after Chris Venables headed the Lakesiders infront, and it was Kieran Smith’s superb curling effort that wrapped up the victory in the final ten minutes of the match.

Closely Fought Opening

It was an even start to the proceedings at the Oval, with both sides creating chances on goal from the off, with former Lakesider Danny Gosset coming close within the first five minutes, although luckily his curling effort from the right hand side of the box was easy enough for Ramsay to grab out of the air.

Despite the evenly fought start, it was the Lakesiders who landed the first punch, as Chris Venables leaped inside the box to get on the end of a looping cross from the right, and directed his header really efficiently into the bottom left hand corner to give us the lead after just 20 minutes!

Luke Wall At The Double!

As half-time approached, the Town doubled their advantage through Luke Wall, who found himself inside the box with the ball at his feet and without mistake, he firmly struck the ball into the net to send the Town into the break with a 2-0 lead!

Despite the hosts grabbing a goal back within two minutes of the restart through Ben Wynne, Luke Wall went down the other end and latched on to a loose ball from the keeper and tapped the ball home from a tight angle to restore our two goal advantage, while also doubling his tally for the evening!

Living Dangerously...

Despite our two goal lead, it wasn’t all comfortable for the Town, as the hosts looked to grab a goal back and get back into the game. It was Danny Gosset who came close with just shy of ten minutes remaining, as he struck a free kick from the edge of the area right onto the under-side of the bar, yet thankfully the ball bounced back into the box and we were able to clear any danger.

Last Round Match Report vs Caernarfon Town

The victory was all but sealed in the 83rd minute, as Kieran Smith cut in on his right and sent a wonderful curling effort into the far post, giving keeper Tyler French no chance in goal as the ball struck the post and into the net to seal a 4-1 victory for the Town over our Gwynedd Rivals.

Line-Ups:

Caernarfon Town - Tyler French, Iwan Cartwright, Harold Essien, Danny Gosset, Thomas MarshHughes, Aaron Simpson, Osian Evans, Ryan Williams, Ben Wynne, Joe Faux, Cai Griffiths

Bala Town - Alex Ramsay, Oliver Southern, Ross White, Nathan Peate, Naim Arsan, Paul Rutherford, Kieran Smith, Dave Edwards, Luke Wall, Lassana Mendes, Chris Venables

Goals:

Caernarfon Town - Ben Wynne (47)

Bala Town - Chris Venables (21), Luke Wall (39,49), Kieran Smith (83)

Substitutes:

Caernarfon Town - Rob Hughes > Joe Faux (72), Darren Thomas > Ben Wynne (72), Fidel O’Rourke > Osian Evans (72)

Bala Town - James Davies > Luke Wall (65), George Newell > Chris Venables (74), Soulayman El Amri > Kieran Smith (84)

Yellow Cards:

Caernarfon Town - Rob Hughes (76)

Bala Town - Kieran Smith (76), Nathan Peate (76), Lassana Mendes (86).

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