BANGOR CITY 1

BALA TOWN 2

BRILLIANT Bala Town are in the box seat to achieve European qualification.

A superb display from the Lakesiders on Friday night saw them claim a crucial victory in their high-flying JD Welsh Premier League contest with Gwynedd rivals Bangor City.

The 2-1 win lifted Bala above Bangor and into second spot in the standings.

There was a high tempo from the outset, with Chris Venables seeing his strike from an acute angle pushed away by City keeper Matthew Hall after eight minutes.

However, it was the home side who took the lead after 13 minutes.

Steven Hewitt curled a free kick curled to Yves Zama, who headed beyond Town number one Ashley Morris.

Bangor maintained their threat after this, with Gary Taylor-Fletcher deemed offside during one passage of play, while Zama fired straight at Morris from 12 yards.

Bala had a good chance to level on 35 minutes.

Lewis Short's delivery arrived to Mike Hayes, who was pushed off the ball, but referee Bryn Markham-Jones waved play on.

The Lakesiders were level six minutes prior to the interval.

Clive Rule's brilliant delivery found Stuart Jones, who headed it back across the face of goal and Venables bundled the ball over the line from two yards out.

A more determined Bala came out for the second half, with every player in a red shirt putting in a tremendous shift.

Hayes pounced on a lapse of concentration by the Bangor backline, but his shot lacked power.

Minutes later and Short's long throw was headed on by Jones, but this also lacked strength and it was collected with ease by the keeper.

Kieran Smith had a shot from the edge of the area palmed away, prior to Town being awarded a penalty.

A foul from Bembo Leta saw referee Bryn Markham-Jones point to the spot and Chris Venables stepped up to slot home the 56th minute spot kick for his second goal of the night.

Town were playing with confidence and they started putting real pressure on the home side.

Hayes had a teasing cross deflected against the post by a City defender and the ensuing corner was headed into Hall's arms by Jones.

Bala were awarded a second penalty in the 66th minute, when Taylor-Fletcher was penalised for hand ball.

Venables was looking for his hat-trick, but this time he was denied by Hall's strong save.

For the remainder of the match, Bala continued to create the better chances.

Substitute Les Davies scuffed a chance into the side netting after a Town break down the flank, before the same player went one-on-one with Hall after outrunning his marker.

Rather than striking instinctively, Davies hesitated and the chance went begging.