Floodlight Failure Forces Bala vs The New Saints To Be Abandoned With Just Minutes To Play

Match Report

Goals: Smith (63), Astles (87)
Yellow cards: Routledge (63), Marriott (79)
Substitutions: Routledge for Redmond (17), Draper for Holland (87)

Match report by Sam Wood

With just three minutes remaining at Maes Tegid, The New Saints’ JD Cymru Premier match against Bala Town was abandoned due to floodlight failure, with the score at 2-2.

The hosts went into the half-time break with a 2-0 goal advantage, but Scott Ruscoe’s side fought back brilliantly in the second period, equalising just seconds before the lights went out.

It remains to be seen if the result will stand, or the match will have to be replayed.

It was a positive start by The Saints, who enjoyed a large amount of possession in the opening stages. Adrian Cieslewicz almost got on the end of one of several well-worked moves, but Bala’s Alex Ramsay did well to deny him down low.

With just 15 minutes played though, Scott Ruscoe was forced into an early first-half change, as Danny Redmond was unable to continue and Jon Routledge came on to replace him.

And just a minute after the change, Bala took the lead. A lofted free-kick into the penalty area caused problems for The Saints defence and Chris Venables capitalised, bundling the ball over the line from just a yard out.

The goal lifted Bala spirits and Ryan Astles needed to be alert, as he made a good interception to stop Raul Correia from beating the offside trap.

Colin Caton’s side weren’t to be deterred though and doubled their advantage in the 29th minute. Will Evans cut the ball back across the penalty area, where it struck the leg of Jon Routledge and deflected into his own net, giving The Saints man no chance at all.

However, falling two behind sprung Scott Ruscoe’s side into life and they’d have been frustrated that the half-time whistle arrived when it did, as Boateng, Routledge and Smith all had chances in the closing stages of the first-half.

And the visitors started the second period in the same fashion as they ended the first, piling the pressure on the Bala defence. With 52 minutes gone, Robles sent an inviting ball into the penalty area, but the hosts were able to clear the danger on that occasion.

Just three minutes after the hour mark though, The New Saints finally found the back of the net, and what a way to do it it was.

Collecting the ball on the halfway line, Leo Smith carried it forward, before spotting Alex Ramsey off his line. It was perfect execution from 35 yards out, as the number 21 lobbed the ball over the stranded goalkeeper and gave his side a lifeline in the game.

The Saints continued to press for the equaliser and both Cieslewicz and Astles watched efforts go over the crossbar. But it was the latter who was celebrating not long after, as he scored his first goal for the club to bring the scores level.

Still up front following a corner, the ball reached the defender at the back post, and he showed great technique to smash a volley past Ramsey and earn a point for his team.

No sooner had the match restarted though, proceedings were brought to a swift end as four of the eight floodlights at the stadium failed. After a brief period of trying to restart the system, it was to no avail, leaving referee, Iwan Griffiths, no option but to abandon the match.