SCORING goals has been an issue for Cefn Druids so far this season.

Heading into the weekend, they had only managed eight in their 16 Cymru Premier League matches so far this season.

While the contest at home to Bala Town ended in a 15th defeat of the season for Druids, though, they did at least gain the satisfaction of grabbing three goals, taking their tally for the campaign into double figures.

It was the Lakesiders who bolstered their hopes of achieving a top-six spot come the mid-season split courtesy of a 5-3 scoreline at The Rock.

Druids went into the Friday night contest looking for a reaction following on from a thumping 7-1 thrashing at Penybont in their previous run-out.

They were without defender Phil Mooney because of suspension and this meant that 16-year-old Academy graduate Dan Cabral stepped into the heart of the defence alongside Tyler Garratt.

Emmanuel Agyemang provided a boost as he came back into the side after recovering from injury, while captain Michael Jones returned between the sticks.

Druids could not have wished for a better start and a superb goal saw them in front inside five minutes.

Joe Faux got the ball on the right wing, drove forward, cutting inside onto his left foot and found the top corner with a stunning strike.

Unfortunately for the hosts, Bala managed to turn things around prior to the break.

Minutes before the interval, a loose ball on the edge of the area was struck by forward Will Evans through a host of bodies and it crept in at the near post.

Things got worse for Druids moments later as Bala took the lead through captain Chris Venables.

The Lakesiders' goal-den spell continued a couple of minutes after the restart with Ollie Shannon picking out the top corner of the net.

Any hopes of a Druids fightback were effectively ended after an hour had elapsed.

Charley Edge followed through on a 50-50 challenge with a Bala midfielder and a big clash broke out between both sets of players and coaches.

The referee showed red cards to Edge and Yalany Baio after discussions with his assistants.

Understandably, Bala enjoyed enjoyed the majority of the possession after this, while Druids' players were putting in a big shift to try and get back into the game.

Ex-Wales international Dave Edwards made it 4-1 when he headed in a cross, but the home side were still fighting despite their numerical disadvantage.

They pulled a goal back when Faux's low cross found Liam Buckley at the far post and he finished first time to make it 4-2.

It was end-to-end stuff as the match drew to a close.

Dave Edwards got one more for Bala, before Druids grabbed their third goal of the evening.

Mitchell Williams pressed and won the ball off the Bala keeper after a heavy touch and finished into the empty net.