BALA TOWN 1

CARDIFF MET 0

A LES Davies special has kept Bala Town well in the mix to qualify for Europe.

Dangerous Davies bagged the only goal of the contest as the Lakesiders edged to a vital 1-0 win in Saturday's JD Welsh Premier League success at home to Cardiff Met.

With fellow high-flyers Bangor City picking up a win on Friday evening and leaders The New Saints beating Connah's Quay in the early kick-off, the pressure was on Colin Caton's charges going into Saturday’s late game against Met.

The home side knew that a win would keep them right in the thick of the race for UEFA Europa League qualification.

Bala started really well, closing down their opponents from the outset and stopping them from playing their usual attacking football.

Nathan Burke had Town’s first clear-cut chance after 10 minutes when he fired over the bar from around 10 yards out.

An attack by Met saw Ashley Morris save Jordan Lam’s effort and this resulted in a Bala counter-attack, which saw Hayes' attempt being blocked by the Met defence.

The home side took the lead after a quarter-of-an-hour.

A sloppy clearance arrived at the feet of Les Davies, who instinctively struck his foot through the ball and the effort flew into the top left hand corner of the goal from the edge of the 18-yard box, very much putting himself in contention of February’s goal of the month competition!

Bala’s good play continued and Rob Pearson’s low strike fizzed wide of the upright, while Met keeper Will Fuller denied Mike Hayes when he drove into the box.

Hayes went one-on-one with Fuller again seven minutes before the interval, but he put his chance wide.

Met responded in the 41st minute when Will Evans rattled the crossbar from range and the follow-up effort was tipped over by Morris.

A solid team effort saw the Lakesiders creating plenty of chances to put the game to bed in the second half.

Bala should have doubled their tally midway through the period when Mike Hayes swivelled on the edge of the six-yard box and rifled an effort over Fuller, but the ball bounced back off the crossbar.

Chris Valentine went close when his curling effort was headed out by a defender, before a cross from the left wing arrived to an unmarked Kieran Smith, but his header was pushed over by Fuller.

Ashley Morris denied Met on two occasions down the other end, but Town’s solid defensive display ensured that the points were staying at Maes Tegid.