Saints on top at Bala
DESPITE the slender scoreline, The New Saints were more than convincing and well-deserved winners at Maes Tegid.
Steve Abbott scored the game's only goal, but the Saints were also denied by the woodwork and a strange refereeing decision from Lee Evans.
The only goal of the game arrived three minutes into the second-half when a deep left-wing cross from Scott Ruscoe eluded Town defender Danny Jellicoe at the far post and Abbott produced a cool finish past keeper Leon Bimpson into the far corner.
With keeper Paul Harrison never tested by the Lakesiders, the Saints dominated the game and came close to an early opener when a left-wing cross from Chris Seargeant was headed goalwards by Chris Marriott, with Bimpson scrambling at the far post to clear the ball to safety.
Saints had strong shouts for two first-half penalties, first when Jellicoe stopped Abbott with a half-Nelson inside the box.
But, when Ross Jefferies handled Marriott's cross and Abbott forced the ball into the net, referee Evans amazed everyone by awarding a free-kick for handball to Bala.
After the goal, Pip Baker side-footed against a post from another Ruscoe cross and Chris Sharp failed to find his elusive first goal in green and white, lobbing Bimpson only to see his effort hit the angle of bar and post.
Abbott had another shot blocked and cleared to safety, while John McKenna was just wide with an outstretched leg to a Ruscoe cross. |