Bala Town 4 Aberystwyth Town 0

Dafabet Welsh Premier League
Friday 11th November
Bala Town 4 Aberystwyth Town 0

Aber Town had a match to forget on Remembrance Day as Bala goals from Mike Hayes (3 minutes), Kieran Smith (32 and 37 mins) and Stuart Jones (47 minutes) condemned them to a heavy defeat on Maes Tegid's new 3G Surface.

On a cold night the hosts started on fire showing an intensity in their play that the visitors could not match, and it took them just three minutes to find the net as the unmarked Hayes tapped in at the far post to give the Lakesiders a dream start. Chris Venables swivelled in the box and fired over from close range, and Mullock was called on to deny Smith at close range. The Black and Greens were trying to get a foothold in the game by passing the ball around but despite a few flashes from Chris Jones down the left wing, just past the half hour a Bala corner was headed back across goal by Stuart J Jones and Smith nodded in to double the lead. Five minutes later the game was over as Smith pulled out a volley from the edge of the area for three nil. Anthony Stephens forced over and Venables shot wide, and an awful half for Aber ended with a three goal margin which in truth did not flatter the hosts.

Two minutes after the break a Venables free kick crashed off the crossbar and Jones was first to react to prod home Bala's fourth, and a cricket score was on the cards. Aber did try to respond though and sub Kostya Georgievsky sent in a great right wing cross which Luke Borrelli sent inches past the post with a thrilling diving header. Next Joe Clarke broke through Bala's defence into a great position down the left but his shot from close range skewed wide. Despite this Bala were also still creating chances: Venables set up Ryan Wade who sent a volley just wide, before going close with another free kick and Smith curled a shot over from a corner. A really disappointing night for the Black and Greens was crowned by Sam Rodon's 92nd minute dismissal for kicking out at Mark Jones, and the ordeal ended at 4-0.

This was one of Aber's poorest displays of the season and the players will know they need to put on a much improved show at home to Cefn Druids next Friday night (ko 7.45pm), with a Student Promotion likely to enlarge a bumper Park Avenue crowd. Redemption is just six days away.