BALA Town threw the title race wide open in the JD Welsh Premier League as they beat Connah’s Quay 2-1 on Boxing Day to open to door for Barry to go top.

Early goals from Sean Smith and Henry Jones set the Lakesiders on their way inside the first 15 minutes, and it could have been three shortly after, when Henry Jones failed to convert a penalty.

Nomads boss Andy Morrison sent Rob Hughes on midway through the half and his cross-come-shot from 25 yards was headed into his own net by Nathan Burketo halve the deficit - but Bala held on under heavy pressure in the second half to close the gap on Nomads to five points.

The Lakesiders started well, just like they did at Llanelli last time out, with Henry Jones and Steven Tames causing real problems in the opening minutes.

After just seven minutes Sean Smith showed plenty of determination to nick the loose ball from a misplaced pass and fired low into the net from 10 yards out.

Jones then hit the side-netting for Bala, after a brilliant break down the left between himself, Smith and Ian Sheridan.

It was 2-0 after 15 minutes, however, as visiting keeper John Danby sliced a clearance and the ball came out to Sheridan, who delivered it back into the area, and the ball was scrambled over the goal-line from a few yards out by Henry Jones.

Bala could have been further ahead when Tames was bundled over in the box for a penalty, but Jones’ kick was pushed away by the goalkeeper after 23 minutes.

The visitors started coming more into the game and they were rewarded on 35 minutes when a cross was headed into his net by the unfortunate Nathan Burke.

In the second half, Tames’ shot was blocked, and the resulting corner kick was headed over by Venables, but at the other end Andy Owens had the ball in the net, but it was ruled out for offside.

Bala’s chances saw Andrew Burns’ strike from 25 yards out land on the roof of the net, and Anthony Miley’s header was saved on the goalline by Danby.

At the other end, George Horan’s header rattled the bar, and Ashley Morris made a solid low save to deny Ryan Wignall from eight yards from a free kick.

Bala had to dig deep, but they kept the Nomads at bay, and a huge goalmouth scramble saw Bala put bodies on the line.

Jones saw a couple of efforts saved by Danby, but on 90 minutes Tames was sent off for a second yellow card and in a nervy ending, Owens headed onto the roof of the net and Rob Hughes’ shot was caught by Morris to earn Bala the spoils.

BALA: A Morris, A Burns, S Smith, S Jones, A Miley, N Burke (D Gosset 74 minutes), K Smith, C Venables, S Tames, I Sheridan (S J Jones 87 minutes), H Jones (E Horwood 90’). Subs not used: R Pearson, M Hayes.

CONNAH’S QUAY J Danby, D Poole, J Disney, G Horan (J Spittle 85’), L Wilson, M Parker, C Morris, M Wilde (R Hughes 26’), R Wignall, M Bakare (N Woolfe 70’), A Owens. Subs not used: E Green (gk), J Owen, J Kenny. Attendance: 254. Referee: H Jones.

LLANELLI 1 BALA TOWN 7

BALA TOWN got their Christmas party started early as they hit hosts Llanelli for seven at Stebonheath, with striker Steven Tames bagging a four goal haul for the visitors to cement their position in the top half of the JD Welsh Premier League.

It took just two minutes for the Lakesiders to open the scoring when a cross from the left was initially blocked into the path of Tames to fire home from close range.

Bala doubled their lead on seven minutes as Henry Jones nutmegged Kurtis March and his teasing cross was headed into his own net by defender Dan Alfei.

It got even better for Bala on 14 minutes as Sean Smith danced down the wing and picked out Chris Venables, who leapt highest to head home from close range.

Nathan Burke’s dipping strike from 30 yards went inches over, and Andrew Burns’ defence splitting low ball arrived to Venables, who pulled it just wide.

On the half-hour, Llanelli hit back with a fine effort from 25 yards by Chris Jones, which curled into the left corner, giving Ashley Morris no chance of saving.

At the other end, Henry Jones broke towards the box, but his opportunity was turned around the post by the keeper, and Bala ran the show in the second half.

Ian Sheridan fired over from the edge of the box, Henry Jones’ powerful drive was pushed around the post, and Smith and Tames linked up to force a decent save.

Tames notched his second goal on 56 minutes when he beat the offside trap, raced through the middle and unleashed a shot into the right hand corner for 4-1.

Ian Sheridan further extended the lead with a looping header from Venables’ pin-point cross, and then Tames completed his a hat-trick when he skipped past the keeper to poke home from a tight angle, following Jones’ brilliant back-heel.

Tames then rounded off a good day at the office when he got on the end of a Venables counter attack for his fourth goal.

LLANELLI: O Davies, D Alfie, A Nelson (T Jenkins 74’), K March, J Clark, A Finselbach, J Davies, M George (R Islam Khaton 74’), C Thomas (J Owen 68’), C Jones, J Loveridge.BALA TOWN: A Morris, A Burns (R Pearson 80’), S Smith (E Horwood 55’), A Miley, S Jones, N Burke, K Smith (D Gosset 66’), C Venables, S Tames, I Sheridan, H Jones. Subs not used: S J Jones, V Charles (gk). Attendance: 181. Referee: Dean John.