Welsh Premier League
Bala Town 3, The New Saints 4
at Maes Tegid, Bala
THE New Saints survived a sloppy second half performance to record their first away victory of the campaign and close the gap on Welsh Premier leaders Bangor City to 10 points.
A first-half Matty Williams hat-trick appeared to set them well on their way, but a spirited Bala Town side fought back to almost steal a point.
Williams scored his first after eight minutes with a 12-yarder when Chris Sharp nodded back a Tommy Holmes cross and added his second just before the half hour when the home defence failed to clear a left-wing cross.
But the hosts hit back when Shaun Kelly played a one-two before firing a 25-yarder beyond Paul Harrison’s reach into the corner.
Chris Sharp celebrated his return to the ranks by restoring the two-goal cushion within minutes with a cool finish from a Richie Partridge cross.
The Lakesiders missed a chance to reply when John Irving sent a penalty well wide of the target after Barry Hogan was adjudged to have handled. When Sharp then provided for Williams to round off his hat-trick just before half-time, the result looked done and dusted.
But, after Sharp had only been denied another by the goal line mud, the hosts went on to dominate much of the second-half.
TNS lost their shape after Williams was forced-off with an injury and only some wayward shooting prevented Bala reducing the arrears.
Sub Josh Macauley finally pulled a goal back with a far post header from John Irving’s by-line cross and had Chris Mason’s shot not hit a post and rebounded into the arms of grateful ’keeper Harrison, a grandstand finish could have been on the cards.
As it was, Macauley only grabbed Bala’s third from a spot kick deep into stoppage time, after Harrison had hauled down Kelly, and the Saints were grateful to head home with all three points.
Saints’ boss, Mike Davies, admitted he was relieved to hear the final whistle.
“Credit to Bala, we were 4-1 up at half-time and in control of the game and it was a very difficult second-half. It was a game for the attackers tonight and not so much for the defenders, we were quite fortunate in the end really.
“We could have been better but the conditions made it difficult to play and we can take a lot of credit because it’s our first win away from home in the league and I’m very pleased with that.
On Friday, Saints are at home to Llanelli (7.45pm).