THE NEW SAINTS 1, BALA TOWN 1

A SUBLIME second half performance saw the Lakesiders gather a deserved point at unbeaten Welsh Premier League leaders The New Saints.

A superb long-range attempt from the right wing by Aeron Edwards curled into the back of the net to give the Saints a first half advantage.

Whatever was said in the dressing room at half-time worked wonders in the second half as Bala were an almost unrecognisable side from the opening 45 minutes and this was their best showing of the season to date.

There was reason to celebrate after 51 minutes.

Great work on the left saw Mark Jones turn the direction of play into the path of Kieran Smith, who carried the ball forward and laid it perfectly into the path of Rob Pearson.

He coolly drilled the ball in low for his first goal in a Bala shirt.

Town understandably took confidence from the goal and they were working extremely hard to close down their opponents, battling hard to win every ball and play the Saints at their own attacking game.

On the hour, Hunt collected a brilliant ball from midfield to flick it goalwards, but it crawled inches wide of the upright.

For more, see this week's Free Press.