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Huws Gray-Fitlock Cymru Alliance
Bala Town vs. Gresford Athletic. Friday 13th. August

Gresford's starting line up included new signings Steve Shaughnessy and Andy Hughes, two other new recruits Richard Carr and Darryl Hilson were on the subs bench.

Bala as expected in their first ever game in the Cymru Alliance took the game to Gresford from the off but could not find away passed a well organised Gresford defence. Gresford gradually came in to game and were looking dangerous on the counter attack. From one of these attacks Wyn Jones was tackled from behind in the penalty are for what seemed to most people a clear penalty but nothing was given.
Bala took the lead on twenty two minutes with a highly disputed goal, the Gresford rear guard appealing for offside on two occasions before Neil Davies scored Bala's first ever Cymru Alliance goal. The game was now end to end with both sides creating half chances. Bala doubled their lead on forty minutes with a well rehearsed “Sherringham” like goal from a corner. Gresford should have reduced the arrears in the last minute of the half. Danny Purdie dispossessing a Bala defence and squaring for Wyn Jones who failed to beat the keeper from eight yards.

Half Time: Bala Town 2 Gresford Athletic 0

Gresford were gutted to go in two nil at the break but on the restart took the game to Bala and were rewarded with a fifty first minute goal. Danny Purdie heading home a Wyn Jones corner for a well deserved goal.

The game now became very open with both sides creating and missing chances. The Gresford management will have been pleased with the way their team were performing and with a bit of luck could have squared the game from one of their well created chances. Their best two chances came late in the game, Andy Hughes narrowly missing the target with a chip from the edge of the penalty area and Danny Purdie firing over the bar after good set up play by Jon Ratcliffe. The nearest Bala came to a third was late in the game, with Gresford pushing players forward looking for a well deserved equalizer Bala broke away only to see a combination of Gareth Rowland, Mike Gronnow and the goalpost preventing a goal.

FINAL SCORE: BALA TOWN 2 GRESFORD ATHLETIC 1

TEAM: 1. Gareth Rowland (7) 2. Kevin Todd (7) 3. Phil Jones (7) 4. Mike Gronnow (7) 5. Steve Shaughnessy (7) 6. Wyn Jones (7) 7. Andy Hughes (7) 8. Jon Ratcliffe (7) 9. Danny Purdie (8) 10. Shaun Williams (7) 11. Carl Andrews (7) 12. Richard Carr (for Jon Ratcliffe) 14. Darryl Hilson (for Andy Hughes) 15. Matt Williams (for Carl Andrews)

MOM. DANNY PURDIE