Cymru Premier: Venners treble puts Bala ace top of league scoring chart

Image: Bala Town FC

Bala Town 4 (Venables 6, 28 & 45, Evans 75)
Barry Town United 0
JD Cymru Premier – October 14, 2020

Chris Venables leads the Cymru Premier scorers chart with eight goals after a tremendous hat-trick in Wednesday night’s demolition of Barry at Maes Tegid.

Early home pressure saw keeper Alex Ramsay try his luck from a free kick deep in the Bala half, as he saw the opposition custodian off his line, but the effort went over the bar.

It did not take long for the opening goal, however, captain Venables lashing a sweet half-volley into the net on six minutes after a header from Lassana Mendes fell into his path in the box.

On the half hour, Venables made it two. This time a looping cross from Sean Smith to the back post saw the skipper leap highest and head home.

In the final added minute of the half, Venables completed his treble from another Sean Smith assist.

Half-time: Bala 3 Barry 0

Ramsay’s alertness was needed to deny the visitors a reply soon after the restart.

Venables then could have had his fourth but good defending thwarted him.

On the hour, Barry saw a goalbound header inadvertently blocked by one of their own players.

Venables found the net again, but was deemed to be offside.

Goal number four finally came for the hosts on 75 minutes when a brilliant driving run from Raul Correia down the right saw him enter the box and put the ball on a plate for Will Evans to extend the lead.

Bala Town: Alex Ramsay, Sean Smith, Nathan Peate, Jonathan Spittle, Will Evans (Henry Jones 78), Raul Correia (Llyr Morris 84), Steven Leslie, Antony Kay, Lassana Mendes (Liam Davies 77), Chris Venables, Oliver Shannon. Subs not used: Andrew Burns, Anthony Stephens.

Weekend fixtures

Friday, October 16 (7.45 pm)
Aberystwyth Town v The New Saints

Saturday, October 17
Barry Town United v Connah’s Quay Nomads (5.15 pm, live on S4C)
Cardiff Met University v Flint Town United (2.30 pm)
Cefn Druids v Penybont (2.30 pm)
Haverfordwest County v Caernarfon Town (2.30 pm)
Newtown v Bala Town (2.30 pm)