Right then, little report from last nights game at Maes Tegid. A lovely little ground in the fine town that is Bala.
Bala Town 1 Wolves 3 (Ennis, Randall, Rainey).
First Half Team - 4-4-2
Beasley, Odoffin, Breslin, Finnie, Johnson, Leak, Armstrong, Herc, Wilson, Ennis, Randall
Decent run out against a team who have already played a number of games this pre-season, inc 2 Europa League games. 1st half we basically controlled the game and the pace of it and a couple of players really stood out. We took an early lead thanks to Ennis, who took advantage of a mistake by a Bala defender to go through on goal before calmy side stepping the keeper and tapping into an empty net. No long after that Randall doubled the lead after cutting in from the wing and into the space created by a great run across by Herc, he fired into the bottom corner from 20 yards. We had chances to score plenty more, some long range efforts were hit straight at the keeper and Wilson was unlucky after beating 2 in the box his shot came back off the inside of the post. We played some good football as well with Herc controlling it all and he was key to all our good play. Randall had them on toast every time he got the ball but Bala were guilty of being scmucks everytime got the ball by letting come in from the wing everytime he got the ball. Wilson and Ennis were both sharp when the ball was around the penalty area but in general play both were struggling with holding the ball with their back to goal, to easily dispossesed.
Bala's chances were limited they did score but it was ruled out for offside after we had failed to clear a free kick and there was one moment of controversy that got the Bala Ultras (about 8 angry 14 years olds) all fired up. Bala took a quick throw in on the half way line and caught us napping as it put their striker clean through in goal. Johnsin chased back and then pulled the guy down in the area. Clearest penalty you will ever see and a nailed on red card.......amazingly the ref was still on the half line didn't give it and the lino gave Bala a corner. Shocker of a decision.
Stand Out Players
Herc - As I said, controlled the midfield and the game and is close to the 1st or a loan deal with a League team now
Randall - Scored 1 could have had 2. Their full back was terrified of him
Odoffin - Looked steady in defence and joined in the attacks a lot
Armstrong - Unlike Randall who was cutting inside, he was pushing right to the line and putting in some decent crosses, unlucky not score himself
Beasley - Didn't have a save to make but he controlled his area brilliantly. Everything in the area was his and he let the defenders know.
Not so good players
Johnson - Had a mare....utter mare. From the 1st minute when he made a mistake that was it. Not one defensive decision he made was right. Constantly on the wrong side of the forward he was always having to try and make a saving challange and failed. As above, he should have been sent off for a daft challenge in the area. He was involved in a bizare on with their forward where they got their legstangled together and they spent about 30 seconds kicking each other.
Leak - Not sure if Johnson's performance affected him but he was fine one minute and poor the next.
Second Half Team - 4-4-1-1
Brown, Sanderson, Osbourne, Goodliffe, Whiitington, Heredia, Rainey, Watt, Sealey-Harris, Nazon, Allan
Complete change at half time as we brought on the younger players and Nazon (who looks like Lukaku).
The good football we played in the 1st half went out of the window in this one and we played a lot of long balls, which was odd as Allan is not a tall striker and Nazon was playing off the striker, so we didn't really have a target to aim at. The 2ns half for Wolves was the Nazon show, he is a beast. Once he has the ball under his control he just steams through the defenders and has a thunderous shot on him and it took 2 cracking saves from their keeper to deny him a goal. Bala had more of the game in this half and they got a deserved goal even though we handed it to them on a plate. A cross to the far post was strangely headed back across goal by our left back (Whittington) under no pressure at all and gave the Bala forward a simple chance to put away, We defended well though and Brown only had a couple of saves to make. Scoring was wrapped up in the last minute when Rainey picked the ball up 25 yards out and fired it into the bottom corner.
Stand Out Players
Allan - Little terror of a player. Good strength and takes no shit. The older defenders tried to bully him and he had none of it. Some great runs into space. Big future ahead for this lad
Nazon - Ah Duckons the Beast. He might not make it at Wolves but he will have a decent carear in England. We have paid money for worse players than this. He put the fear of death into defenders when he runs at them. Awesome strength, good pace and a shot and a half on him
Sealey-Harris - Little pacey winger, few tricks up his sleeve. One to keep an eye on over the next couple of season
Goodliffe - Central Defender, powerful, good touch and kept talking and organising throughout his 45 mins
Not so good players
Heredia - Can't think of anything he did. Looked tiny and lost against the Bala full backs
Whittington - Looks about 39 and makes Doherty look international class. Not even sure how he has made it this far (so Joel). Positioning woeful and his assist for the Bala goal was amazing
Att: Around 250
Other Observations - The tannoy guy at Bala makes Jason Forrestt look decent. Swear he was falling asleep half way through reading stuff out
