BALA Town are set to return to top-flight action this weekend as they face top-of-the-table The New Saints (TNS).

Covid-19 restrictions have meant that no official football of any kind has been played in Wales since December 2020.

This put the 2020/21 JD Cymru Premier season on hold, with Bala Town sat in third place in the table.

The Lakesiders’ last league match on December 12 saw them hammer Cardiff Met Uni 4-1 thanks to goals from skipper Chris Venables (2), Will Evans and Antony Kay.

Now, with ‘elite status’ having been re-instated for Wales’ top-flight some two weeks ago, Colin Caton’s side are set to play their first competitive match in nearly three months when they travel to TNS’ Park Hall on Saturday (5pm kick off).

Bala have just played two friendly matches against Cardiff Met Uni and Aberystwyth Town over the weekend as players look to reach full fitness before the season resumes.

The big story from their game against the Archers on Friday night was that midfielder Danny Gosset returned to action for the first time since being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma nearly two years ago (full story on page three).

The last time Bala and TNS met in the JD Cymru Premier, on November 7, it ended in a 1-1 draw. That fixture at Maes Tegid had to be re-scheduled after an earlier encounter was called off in the 88th minute due to a floodlight failure with the score at 2-2.

Bala are currently third in the JD Cymru Premier table, having lost just one of their 16 matches of the 20/21 campaign so far.

They have won 10 of those, drawing 5 and scoring 39 goals (the second best in the league behind TNS' total of 49).

Looking forward to the clash with TNS on Saturday, Bala manager Colin Caton said: “Preparations haven’t been ideal. We’ve been training throughout but we’ve only had two friendlies which were against Cardiff Met on Friday and against Aberystwyth on Monday.

“TNS have played quite a few more as they’re a professional side but the lads are fit and we’re more than ready to face them.

“We’re very fortunate that we’re being allowed to play - a lot of other leagues have already null and voided their seasons so we’re lucky.”

Caton added that Liam Davies and Anthony Stephens are both doubts for the match on Saturday due to knee injuries.

Following Saturday’s match v TNS, Bala Town will face Cefn Druids away on Saturday, March 13 (2.30pm) and champions Connah’s Quay Nomads at home three days later (7.45pm).

They will then face Caernarfon Town at home in the Gwynedd Derby on March 20 (2.30pm) before ending the month by travelling to Barry Town United's Jenner Park on March 27 (2.30pm).