‘Goal’ award looked very harsh on a Flint side in need of some luck

Flint manager Niall McGuinness (right) was incensed by Bala’s first goal

Flint Town United 1 (Alex Jones 27)
Bala Town 2 (Chris Venables 38, Steve Leslie 48)
JD Cymru Premier League – October 20, 2020

Whatever league you play in life is tough near the bottom and the last thing you need is marginal decisions going against you.

That was certainly the case for Flint last night.

The hosts were leading 1-0 against high-flyers Bala when the Lakesiders were awarded a goal when Chris Venables’ header was deemed by the officials to have crossed the line.

Replays of the incident certainly suggest it was more ‘no goal’ than ‘goal’.

Sadly, the Cymru Premier does not offer the luxury of goal-line technology.

That made it 1-1 and the visitors went on to win the game to move up to third in the standings.

Flint remain in the bottom two after a sixth straight loss.

Silkmen manager Niall McGuinness was less than impressed with the contentious goal award, labelling the decision ‘diabolical’ in an after-match interview.

Bala created some good early chances, the best of which fell to Lassana Mendes, who was unable to control a bouncing ball and put his effort over.

Having survived this let off, Flint weathered the storm and gradually made their way into the game.

A Nathan Craig free kick proved the catalyst for Flint’s goal in the 27th minute.

Ben Nash rose to head the ball back across the box, two Bala defenders appeared to get in one another’s way as they tried to clear, and the ball fell invitingly to Alex Jones just inside the six yard box. The former Prestatyn ace rifled the ball into the roof of the net.

Then, on 37 minutes, came the controversial moment when Venables met a cross at the back post, and his header was adjudged to have crossed the line, before a flying save from Aaron Jones pushed the ball out.

Will Evans spurned an opportunity for Bala in stoppage time with a header from a corner that just cleared the bar.

Half-time: 1-1

Early in the second half, a foul on Mendes in a dangerous position on the edge of the ‘D’ was to prove costly or the home side.

Steven Leslie curled the free kick around the Flint wall and with Jones possibly unsighted he was unable to make up the ground to stop the ball creeping inside the post.

Skipper Richie Foulkes went close with a left-footed volley, following a good lay off by Alex Jones, as the Silkmen looked to rally.

With 10 minutes remaining, Henry Jones missed a glorious chance to make the game safe for the Lakesiders as he directed his header wide.

Flint failed to make the most of late opportunities, but on the basis of this display there is at least some cause for optimism that their losing streak will soon come to an end when things resume.

Flint Town United – Aaron Jones, Sam Hart, Nathan Craig, Ben Nash, Kai Edwards, Rob Hughes, Richie Foulkes (c), Alex Jones, Callum Bratley (Ben Steer 39), Joe Palmer (Les Davies 72), Ben Maher. Unused Subs – Jamie King, Kai Wallis, Ben Lockley, Harry Lockley.

Bala Town – Alex Ramsey, Sean Smith, Nathan Peate, Jonny Spittle, Will Evans, Raul Correia (Anthony Stevens 90), Steven Leslie (Henry Jones 75), Anthony Kay, Lassana Mendes, Chris Venables, Oliver Shannon. Unused Subs – Liam Davies, Llyr Morris, Ryan Pryce.