The New Saints defeat Bala Town 3-1 to book Nathaniel MG Cup semi-final spot

Match Report

Goals: Bradley (22), Oteh (67, 86)
Substitutions: Bodenham for McGahey (77), Jones for Bradley (90)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead image: Nik Mesney/FAW

The New Saints booked their place in the semi-final of the Nathaniel MG Cup following a 3-1 victory against Bala Town.

Sion Bradley opened the scoring with a free-kick in the 22nd minute, before George Newell equalised 10 minutes after the break.

Aramide Oteh then scored twice, however, to restore the TNS advantage and make it back-to-back victories for The Saints.

Craig Harrison’s side will now face Barry Town United in the final four, as they look to lift the trophy for a second consecutive season.

The first chance of the match went the way of Bala Town in fourth minute, as George Newell beat the offside trap to break down the right.

Getting a shot away on the volley, the effort struck the side netting, causing no trouble for Connor Roberts in the TNS goal.

Down the other end, Ryan Jones denied Sion Bradley three minutes later, as both sides probed for the opening goal.

With 20 minutes on the clock, however, the deadlock was finally broken, with Bradley the man to do so.

After initially being fouled on the edge of the penalty area, the former Caernarfon Town man stepped up to take the free-kick himself, leaving the goalkeeper rooted to the spot with a finish into the bottom corner.

In the 29th minute, the Lakesiders caused problems with a free-kick of their own, with Newell’s effort deflecting behind for a corner.

From the resulting set-piece, Hussein Mehasseb (scorer of the late winner on Bala’s last visit to Park Hall) headed narrowly wide from the edge of the six-yard box.

Eight minutes before the half-time break, The Saints almost doubled their advantage. From another free-kick, slightly further out than before, Bradley struck the crossbar with a powerful effort.

It took a while for things to get going again following the restart, but with 55 minutes played, Colin Caton’s side levelled proceedings.

After racing onto Mehasseb’s through ball down the right, Osebi Abadaki looked up and picked out Newell with a pinpoint cross, allowing the Bala man to fire home from the edge of the six-yard box.

In the 62nd minute, the visitors could’ve taken the lead themselves following a good free-kick delivery from Lassana Mendes. Nathan Peate got his head to the ball in the centre of the penalty area, but his effort went wide of Roberts’ right post.

Just five minutes later though, The Saints regained control of the game.

Aramide Oteh latched onto the loose ball inside the penalty area, and stroked a first-time finish past Jones into the side of the net.

Four minutes from time, Oteh found the back of the net again to make sure of the win, as he stroked home beneath Jones at the first-time of asking again following a good pass from Rory Holden.

That goal made the score 3-1 to The New Saints and wrapped up a comfortable victory for the competition holders.

Harrison’s side will now travel to Barry Town United in the semi-final, as they look to win the Nathaniel MG Cup for a second consecutive season.

There’s more knockout action for The New Saints this weekend too, as they travel to Cardiff Metropolitan University in the third round of the JD Welsh Cup on Saturday (November 16th).

Kick-off at Cyncoed Campus is scheduled for 2pm.