Bala Town secured a hard-fought 3-1 away win against Rhyl 1879 in the Cymru North on Friday night, coming from a goal down. Craig Lindfield was the hero with two second-half goals, turning the game around after Josh Jones had given the hosts an early lead in the second period.
This victory adds three more points to Bala Town's impressive early-season tally. They currently sit third in the FAW Championship with 12 points from four wins, having scored 10 goals and conceded just three. Their next challenge is an away trip to face Porthmadog on September 5th.
How did Bala Town turn the game around?
The match at the Hops and Barley Community Stadium, a venue familiar to Bala from past European fixtures, was a tight affair for the first hour. Bala, dealing with a lengthy injury list, created the better early chances. Tom Kelly forced a save from the Rhyl goalkeeper and later saw another effort stopped after a fine pass from Craig Lindfield. At the other end, goalkeeper La'Trell Jones made a superb close-range save to keep the scores level. The first half ended 0-0, with Bala's Charlie Fisher and captain Nathan Burke both receiving bookings.
The dynamic shifted shortly after the restart. Former Bala Academy player Josh Jones broke the deadlock for Rhyl 1879, giving the home side a 1-0 advantage. Bala's response was decisive. On the hour mark, Lindfield rose to head home a Tom Kelly corner, pulling the Lakesiders level. His influence grew, and he soon put Bala ahead with a clever finish at the near post. Managerial changes followed, with Will Bell replacing Charlie Fisher and Tomas Jones coming on for Tom Kelly.
What was the decisive moment?
Lindfield's second goal, which made it 2-1, proved to be the winner, but Bala sealed the points deep into added time. Substitute Tomas Jones capped a fine individual run with a confident finish at the near post in the 94th minute, securing the 3-1 scoreline. Lindfield's contribution was so significant that he even received a yellow card in the 75th minute before he and Naim Arsan were substituted late on for James Farr and Emmanuel Osilaja. The comeback showcased the squad's depth and resilience, important traits as they prepare for their next match against Porthmadog, which you can find on our fixtures page.
Where does this result leave Bala Town?
The three points are vital for Bala's ambitions. With a perfect record of four wins from four, their strong start is built on a solid defence and a potent attack. Their goal difference of +7 is among the best in the division. This form will be tested in their upcoming match against a Porthmadog side sitting sixth in the table. Fans can track the team's progress and league position on our standings section.
Other results from Friday night in the Cymru North included wins for Bangor 1876, Buckley Town, Newtown, Caersws, and Mold Alexandra, while Penrhyncoch and Denbigh Town played out a draw. This match report is based on coverage from the Cambrian News. The team's current statistics and player information are always available on our stats and squad pages.
