BALA TOWN 1

CEFN DRUIDS 0

HOW important will Mike Hayes' dramatic injury time goal turn out to be at the end of the campaign?

Just when it appeared as if Bala Town would have to settle for a point during their Thursday night meeting with Cefn Druids, up popped Hayes with a brilliant 92nd minute winner to fire the Lakesiders up into second spot in the JD Welsh Premier League rankings.

Eager for a lucky 13th success of the campaign, Town started the contest well and they saw plenty of the ball in the first half.

Nathan Burke tested Druids first when he saw his shot being blocked at the expense of a corner, before a Town chance from three yards out was saved by visiting keeper Michael Jones.

After 12 minutes of play, Chris Venables fired over the bar from around 10 yards out, prior to Hayes latching onto a great through ball from midfield, but he saw his shot palmed out for a corner by Jones.

Bala were dominating play, with Burke going even closer and firing over the woodwork after beating his marker from five yards out.

After a huge spell of pressure from the Lakesiders, Druids had a couple of chances themselves before the interval.

Fisnik Hajdari’s effort flew over the bar, before a dipping drive from Owen curled narrowly over the post.

The second half started with Michael Jones forced to make a double save.

The Druids' number one brilliantly saved Les Davies’ piledriver, while he then denied Burke and Hayes minutes later.

Down the other end and Bala keeper Ashley Morris stopped James Davies' effort and he then pushed Arek Piskorski’s strike around the post.

The game started to open up in the closing stages, with a Druids header going inches wide and then Jordan Evans’ free kick curled over.

Deep into injury time and Town’s patience eventually paid off.

Chris Venables picked out Mike Hayes, who drove into the box and rocketed the ball low into the far corner from an acute angle to ensure the three points were staying at Maes Tegid.

An excellent team effort lifted Bala Town up to second in the table and the win made it four games unbeaten for the lads in black-and-white.