CARDIFF MET and Bala Town shared the points on Saturday (Jan 22) as their game finished 0-0.
The game itself involved little clear-cut chances for either side with Alex Ramsay denying Adam Roscrow from close range the closest the game went to finding a winner.
Will Evans tried to break the deadlock on numerous occasions in the first-half against his former side. But it wasn’t to be, as Bala picked up their eighth draw of the season.
With Chris Venables suspended, it was Evans who led the line for Colin Caton’s side with Dave Edwards in his preferred midfield slot for the match.
It was through the former Archer that Bala went closest to scoring throughout the opening half. His first chance came in the tenth minute from a Brad Bauress free-kick which Evans clipped the side netting from with the slightest of touches.
His next effort came a few minutes later when this time it was Paul Rutherford who delivered a ball into the box that found the head of the 24-year-old, the ball unfortunately crawling past the wrong side of the post.
Again, Evans looked to test the keeper with another Bala attack from just inside the area as he found space to drill a shot that was saved well by Alex Lang in goal.
Ramsay was tested for the first time in the match minutes into the second-half when a swerving shot on goal from Thomas Price forced the Bala shot-stopper into spilling the ball inside his own box. He was able to recover quickly however to deny Lewis Rees the opportunity to jump on the rebound.
Evans continued to be the biggest threat to The Archers’ defence as Bala looked to find the attacker with every break forward.
Yet their first opportunity of the second-half fell to stand-in captain Antony Kay who was on the end of Bala’s best chance of breaking the deadlock in the second-half. But his header failed to hit the target from a cross as it sailed over the bar.
It looked as if the Lakesiders were set to be punished for one individual error and leave with nothing from South Wales when Roscrow had the chance to win it at the death, but Ramsay was there to deny him with a superb save.
Kieran Smith gave the ball away cheaply, before Harry Owen was able to receive it and play through Roscrow whose shot was met by the Bala shot stopper to deny the striker.
Ramsay’s late save ensured that Bala left with a point to show for their first half efforts with neither side doing enough to obtain the victory at Cyncoed Campus.
This stalemate means Bala remain in seventh following Caernarfon’s win on Friday night as the importance of three points continues to grow now with every game.
The Met are in action on Tuesday, January 25, as they host Barry Town United.
Bala are next in action on Friday night, January 28, as they host Newtown at Maes Tegid.
