HOLYHEAD Hotspur's brave Welsh Cup run was ended by Welsh Premier League high flyers Bala Town.

The Lakesiders prevailed 3-1 win in horrendous Holy Island conditions but were only six minutes from being forced to extra-time. 

Nathan Burke put last years WPL runners-up into the lead with a 29th-minute free-kick but Mike Kelly levelled for a battling Hotspur.

In the 86th minute Mike Hayes reacted well to put Bala 2-1 up and two minutes later Mark Jones tapped in to seal the visitors' place in the fifth round.

Bala had the wind at their backs in the first half and perhaps should have gone in at the break more than one goal to the good.

Mark Connolly, Jones and Hayes wasted early opportunities but Burke was clinical with a deadball effort placed to Carl Jones' right.

Kenleigh Owen had Hotspur's best chance of the first half but Ashley Morris was his equal.

With the conditions more in their favour after the break, Hotpsur improved as Ketley tested Morris on 48 minutes. They got their just reward with the equaliser on 67 minutes when Ketley's searching directed in by Kelly's fine header.

Extra-time loomed but on eighty four the visitors regained the lead when Hayes reacted quickest to backheel in from a corner. Two minutes later it was game over for the hosts when a Jones clipped in a Ryan Valentine cross. 

Bala will look to keep the pressure on WPL leaders TNS when they travel to Airbus UK Broughton on Saturday 2.30pm). Hotspur face a tough trip to promotion candidates Cefn Druids in the Huws Gray Alliance (Saturday, 2pm).