HAYES SEES BALA TAKE ALL THREE POINTS AGAINST CARDIFF MET

BALA TOWN 1 V CARDIFF MET 0
DAFABET WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE AT MAES TEGID
5 NOVEMBER 2016 --- 2.30PM

MAES TEGID HOME OF BALA TOWN CPD

A single Mike Hayes goal after 21 minutes was enough to see Bala take all three points against league new boys Cardiff Met.  It really should have been more with a selection of chances going begging and resolute Cardiff defending denying The Lakesiders but manager Colin Caton would be happy with 3 points and a clean sheet.

BALA MANAGER COLIN CATON POINTS THE WAY

Bala Town had been on the 'to do' agenda for a little while and every time the club got to the top of the list the weather intervened and it was a visit I just could not risk over such a lengthy route and of course by public transport a mode that makes these sort of journeys so much fun!  Bala had a pitch that was often turned into a mud bath by the heavy rain of the last few winters but now with their shiny new 3g pitch all that should be put to rest and security of games become guaranteed.
Here we go then its a long day and the early rising by alarm clock just before 5am did have me thinking of a turn over and go back to sleep button but today was to be the day to see Bala.  The north wind doth blow and on the walk to the bus stop an early dog walker was out wrapped up to the nines with hoodie to protect from the biting weather.
Arriving at base station it was good to see regular customer service operative [!] Sarah back after a week off for half term and she was slightly perplexed that I was travelling on my own sadly Mick would not be making the journey today.  Just after 7am the Liverpool bound train departed and we soon arrived in Stockport well on time, thankfully, for a 7 minute connection for our Northern Rail train to Chester.  Once again seat secured it was a peaceful journey as the bright sunshine and warm carriage belied the weather that as soon as we arrived at Chester the cold bit into my double jacketed upper half.  Departure from platform 3 saw the 2 carriage Arriva service to Cardiff offer me a seat but it was soon standing the full length and once again no room even for Jeremy Corbyn.  It would appear as the train nearly unloaded at Wrexham that many of todays travellers were students returning back to the university in the town.

BALA LAKE FIRST PICTURE

A short walk to the bus station for the challenging part of the route a 1 1/2 hour bus journey to Bala via Lloyds Coaches T3 service that runs to Barmouth, indeed this complete route takes 2 1/2 hours!  Wrexham bus station was a fairly new bus station doing its best to look completely dishevelled, with no information office [now closed] poor tatty displays and a digital display board that failed to advise that there was a service T3 even to depart at 1105, could I have got it wrong?  Thankfully not, just before 11am a white non liveried single decker pulled into stand one with the correct letter/number and destination.
We were on our way just after 1105 having purchased a £6.80 Red Rover day ticket and within 1/4 of a mile we had hit a small traffic jam, soon through this we passed through the suburbs of Wrexham and past some already challenging pronunciations we went the village of Rhosllanerchrugog which set me the first challenge.   Soon down the A500 we arrived in Llangollen with its attractive river and steam rail station setting we encircled the village to meet up with the solitary bus stand to then proceed over the same road to go back out of the town.  As we departed a brand new susperstore built with smart car park was Herres fenced off and it appears Sainsburys decided against this project a year ago and the building stands awaiting a taker.
The attractive village of Corwen was next and the impressive statue of Owain Glyndwr the last Welsh Prince of Wales stood guarding our entrance to the bus station.  The autumn colours and attractiveness of this part of Wales was now becoming self evident as we veered off the main road and around Llandrillo.  As we entered the main road again Bala was just under a mile away and before we had the chance to say Rhosllanerchrugog I was off the bus by The Coop in Bala and joy of joys I had achieved landing.

BALA LAKE WITH CRAFT IN THE DISTANCE

With 2 hours to kick off I had made some provision for the hour before to take in as much as possible of Bala itself.  Straight off to the highlight a visit to Bala Lake, Llyn Tegid, on the way listening to the Welsh widely spoken here by over 80% of the population of just short of 2,000 people.  It was great to hear many young people using the language and although I have picked up a small selection of the language its a complete irrelevance when the locals speak it at their normal speed.  Approaching the water edge its just a breath taking view on this moody day with the mountains and hills disappearing below the low clouds, it really is a visit you need to make in all 4 seasons to experience the full all year round joy.  The lake is 4 miles long and I could certainly have stood there for longer but time was short today so back on the 5 minute walk to town and a quick look around the High St including the impressive Welsh bookshop Awen Meirion which had a wonderful selection of Welsh history books and guides.

THE MOUND

Towards the top of the High St is The Mound a small well...mound that was a protectorate of the town which you can now climb by a circular and ever increasing pathway which brings you to the top and some lovely views back around the town and towards the lake.

ANOTHER MOODY VIEW FROM THE MOUND

There are many interesting tales from Bala but without this becoming a Judith Chalmers travel blog it was time to move to over to visit the purpose of todays journey, Bala Town CPD.

BALA TOWN AWAITS

Just by The White Royal Lion and up the tightest of streets is were within a few strides you will find yourself on Castle St and a few more paces later in the car park of the club.  The hostelry on the High St has an A board advertising the game for the club on its forecourt and its also good to see a fair few businesses displaying match adverts for Bala too.

TURNSTILE ENTRANCE WITH A WARM WELCOME

Maes Tegid is now within touching distance and we are warmly greeted at the turnstile as the entrance fee is paid.  With rain threatening, indeed most of the game was played in alternate rain and sunshine, it was time to get some ground pictures first.

SNACK BAR IN ACTION

To the right is a mobile waggon snack bar which kept me supplied with teas and chocolate during my visit and next to this is a small covered terrace with sheeting on breeze blocks to create a heightened view.

TV GANTRY AND CASTLE ST SIDE

Over to the far side are the new dug outs with the most impressive moulded seating I have seen for a while these are separated by the TV gantry which at most Welsh Premier League grounds look massive because they are often separate structures not accompanied on top of a stand.  This side is hard standing all uncovered and behind is an increasing width of grass that sides onto Castle St which is separated by a hedge, onto behind the far goal a grass banked end behind the hard standing on top of this area offers a superb view of the proceedings and the surrounding hills and houses of the town.

THE FLAG END

The fencing to the rear of the grass bank offers a selection of Bala flags and banners for your delight and perusal.  Back to the main touch line side and a selection of 5 Atcost style stands with seating from Coventry City and Chesterfield add to the two tone blue affect.

ITS PROBABLY RAINING AGAIN BUT IT STILL LOOKS GOOD

Moving back to the entrance we have a sponsored brick development and behind this a Portacabin were a team sheet is obtained plus a badge.  Thankfully there was a moment to catch up with a couple of the clubs officials and a pleasant chat and welcome was much appreciated.  Reversing away from the pitch is the fronted up signage that tells us BALA TOWN on this chalet style changing rooms and club house that is so familiar with viewers of Sgorio. 
I popped out of the ground thanks to a steward to meet Hannah the clubs website, Twitter and programme editor for a quick introduction an it was good to catch up with somebody who does a great job promoting the club.  We had a little chat and caught up with how pleased the club are with the new 3g pitch which the local community are using widely already. The reverse journey back through the gate into the ground was thankfully made by the same steward who knew I had paid and let me back into the ground, with programmes and raffle purchased there was a few minutes to catch up with the lovely surroundings.  Interestingly here there is no club bar, not as regular readers will note that bothers me but it is certainly different.

CHRISTIAN EDWARDS AND CARDIFF MET WERE HERE

It was not only me but a fast improving Cardiff Met who had made a long journey to Bala today and thankfully when I arrived at 1.30pm they were already here and well into their pre match routine.  Bala were looking for a clean sheet after shipping a few goals over the last three games and with security of league position starting to become all the more important as the 'split' fast approaches a win for either side today would be a bonus.

MET ATTACK IN FULL VIEW OF THE FLAG END

The first half was a disjointed affair with Bala often going long and Cardiff Met failing to put anything together even though their style of football was to be on the deck they did have a
resolute look about their defending that saw them concede the only goal of the half and indeed the game.

After 21 minutes visiting keeper Will Fuller thought he'd been fouled as he appeared to flap in Mike Hayes effort initially given as an own goal by the keeper however it wasn't long before Bala and Hayes had claimed it.
One nil at Half time then to Bala and it was just about the correct score line n a tight first half with Cardiff working hard.
The second half started tentatively but gradually opened up and its in this period that Bala really should have extended their lead Hayes fired wide before turning supplier to Nathan Burke who just missed the chance to convert.

FULLER SAVES FROM VENABLES [FLOOR]

Former Aber star Chris Venables arched to get in a powerful header that Met keeper Fuller saved well from after 63 minutes.  Hayes was in the thick of the action and when Ryan Wade crossed for him he went down in the box but referee Pratt waved away Bala's penalty appeals.

On 88 minutes the interestingly numbered '88' Wade tested Fuller again who turned his effort around for a corner.

In the closing stages Cardiff Met had comeback into the game and there were a few edge of the box worries as Bala had failed to wrap up this game the visitors were always in with a chance of taking a point back down south.

REFEREE NICK PRATT READYING FOR THE FINAL WHISTLE

But time had beaten them and when referee Pratt blew the final whitsle I said my farewells to Bala Town, for now, and visited the Coop for a small selection of provisions for the bus journey back to Wrexham.  The return stop was all of 100 yards away and by now it was thrashing it down with the wet stuff and of course Bala only has one bus shelter and you've guessed it its on the other side for the west bound service to Barmouth.  The further delight was that the bus arrived 10 minutes late just after 5pm in the form of a full size double decked marked in X28 livery for the Aberystwyth to Machynlleth service. Now it was dark, throwing it down and this vehicle was large so by the time we had stopped and started down the country lanes as far as Corwen we arrived 25 minutes down.  With a 40 minute connection time in Wrexham and the chance of any more lost time coming into play the thoughts of an 'overnighter' were concerning the blogs thoughts making the return journey not as pleasant as it should have been.  By the time we arrived in Wrexham we were 20 minutes adrift and back at General station in time to find our train delayed by ten minutes plus the toilets shut up one hour earlier!
Arrival in Chester found the English allowing comfort breaks at train stations in early evenings and after half an hour connection time we were soon travelling through the Cheshire countryside to arrive in Stockport with an half an hour to wait and time for a visit to the big yellow M's for sustenance, plus large fries!
The return train via Stockport normally departs the romantically numbered platform 0 but was scheduled for number 1 but by the time 2152 arrived it had moved to platform 3, any more of this and it might not have made the station!
Base station was reached at just short of 2300 and a full day that had been utterly engrossing and enjoyable was ending with many happy memories.  If you have not been to Bala or Bala Town CPD I wold highly recommend a visit to the area and of course its football club. 
Thanks Bala you made it one of my top and memorable blogs and would echo a previous visitor to the club who described it as 'one of the most beautiful grounds to watch football at in the UK'.

ARRIVAL IN BALA FROM WREXHAM