A hat-trick by Bala striker Lee Hunt, his third goal just a minute from full time, broke Monmouth hearts in a pulsating Welsh Cup third round tie in front of a large crowd at the Sports Ground.

The so-called minnows from the Monnow were more than making up the numbers and could, maybe should, have won the tie themselves when Nick Harrhy's late attempt rolled agonisingly wide. Just a few minute later Hunt let fly with his match winning volley that screamed in at Blackburn's far post.

The match was rightly billed as one of the most important in the Town's history with Bala arriving in fifth place in the Welsh Premier and there was a real sense of anticipation as the minutes counted down to kick off.

Bala's team was skippered by former Welsh International Mark Jones, with former Sheffield Wednesday and Hereford man Kenny Lunt on the bench and a liberal smattering of scouse accents the contrast with a Monmouth side containing mostly players born within an anglers cast of the Monnow couldn't have been more stark but the intrigue to see whether this Monmouth side really is as good as any in recent years was real enough.

Town were without suspended skipper Jack Alderdice, the raving Sam Palmer and defender Ben Evans, who failed a late fitness test, but 18-year-olds Fessey and Compton came in to partner the ageless Andrew Smith, who made his first start in four months in a completely remodelled midfield.

In a cagey opening it was hard to get real answers but soon enough Bala looked sharper in thought and deed and but for a couple of great stops by Blackburn and some profligacy in front of goal the Kingfishers might have been out of it before it had really begun.

But they stuck at it and started to find a bit more range with their passes. Elliot Ford again was blistering down the right hand side attacking the Monnow end and after a bit of pressure Town took the lead.

A corner was cleared but only as far as Ford, who headed back into the danger area. Guy stooped to flick his header into the bottom corner.

The joy didn't last long as Hunt rose to glance his first from a corner and just three minutes later Collins was allowed the freedom of Monmouth to waltz into the danger area before being upended by a belated attempt to dent his ambition.

Hunt beat Blackburn from the spot.

The Welsh Premier outfit now threatened to run away with it, looking every bit the higher placed team. The half-time whistle at least provided an opportunity for the Kingfishers to regroup.

Within 10 minutes of the restart it looked like any remote chance had evaporated when Laurie was sent off for his second booking in the space of five minutes.

As so often with such things, the 10-man Kingfishers were galvanised and took the game to Bala, creating one or two promising opportunities as Harrhy (pictured left) and MacDonald kept probing and prompting and Ford was a blur of endeavour and threat. And then Town equalised.

For the full report on this game, see this week's Beacon (12th December).