Llanelli 1 Bala Town 2 

Bala’s first ever win at Stebonheath closed the gap for fourth place to three points between the teams with the home side just holding the advantage, but with three difficult away matches at Bangor, The New Saints and the return at Maes Tegid, the Reds will be hard pressed to maintain this and might well have to settle for fifth spot come the play-offs.

After the spirited display against Neath when they were unlucky not to have earned at least a point, the hosts on this occasion looked listless and out-of-sorts, particularly in the first half, while their opponents were quicker in thought and deed and deservedly two goals to the good by the interval.

Martyn Giles gifted them the opener after 21 minutes when his underhit back pass to Ashley Morris was intercepted by Ian Sheridan who rounded the stranded keeper before slotting home into the vacant net.

Craig Moses elected to cross when in the Bala box when perhaps a shot on goal might have been a better option, before the visitors went close to increasing their lead with Sheridan just failing to connect with a Peter Doran delivery across the face of the goal.

A brief rally by the hosts led to Rhys Griffiths heading over a decent chance following a Jason Bowen cross, but in first half stoppage time the Lakesiders struck again when Mark Connolly seized on a miscued header by Antonio Corbisiero to rifle a super thirty yard shot which rocketed past Morris who was off his line.

Jordan Follows was introduced at the start of the second half in place of Moses, but Bala again went close when an overhead attempt by Stuart Jones cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and back into play.

The home side were displaying some better touches in the second period, but had to rely on an own goal by Danny Williams to reduce the deficit after 59 minutes when a Craig Williams cross deflected off him and past goalkeeper Terry McCormick.

Follows was making a difference, and there were appeals for a penalty when Williams sent him clear and he rounded McCormick before being forced wide by the attentions of two defenders before coming down in the area, but Irish referee, Tim Marshall, only awarded a corner.

From this, Chris Venables directed his far post header wide, and the same player blasted over the top when he met a loose ball on the edge of the box.

Ben Collins cut out a Griffiths pass meant for Bowen which could have sent him clear on goal, while Ryan Batley who had earlier replaced Giles sent an attempt narrowly wide of the far post.

One final chance fell to Griffiths but his header did not trouble the goalkeeper, and Bala ran out worthy winners, leaving the hopes of a fourth place finish for the Reds precariously poised.

MATCH STATS.

LLANELLI; Morris; Corbisiero; Grist; Giles (Batley, 82); Jones ©; Venables; Bowen; Holloway; Williams; Griffiths; Moses (Follows, 46); Subs. not used; Llewellyn; S. Evans; Secker.

BALA TOWN; McCormick; Irving; Collins; S. Jones; Williams; Murtagh; Connolly; M. Jones ©; Doran; Sheridan (Jeffries, 89); Edwards (Mason, 79); Subs. not used; Darlington; Fisher; Pullman.

SCORERS; Llanelli – Williams (OG), 59.  Bala Town – Sheridan, 21; Connolly, 45+1.

YELLOW CARDS; Llanelli – Giles; Corbisiero; Williams.  Bala Town – Irving; S. Jones.

LLANELLI STAR MAN; Chris Holloway.

REFEREE; Mr. Tim Marshall (Northern Ireland).

ATTENDANCE; 123.