THREE first half strikes put Bala Town on track for a solid 3-0 away win over Airbus UK Broughton at the Airfield - to stay within six points of Dafabet Welsh Premier League leaders The New Saints.

Goals from Conall Murtagh, Mark Connolly and former Wingmaker Mike Hayes put the Lakesiders on track for victory, and they will go into their crunch top of the table clash with the Saints at Maes Tegid in confident mood this Saturday.

“We didn’t really turn up in the previous game against Airbus, so we had a point to prove,” said scorer Connolly.

“In the first 20 minutes it was pretty tight, but we then started getting into the game and getting the ball up the channels, and we were 3-0 up at half-time.”

Both teams played the majority of the match with 10 men as Ashley Williams and Rob Pearson were sent for an early shower after a 34th minute confrontation.

“The two sendings off didn’t really affect the outcome of the game, we were already 2-0 up, although it opened the game up more and there was more space created in midfield,” said Connolly.

“We knew that if we got behind them, then we could cause them problems.”

Looking ahead to this weekend’s top of the table showdown, Connolly said his side were keen to close the gap on TNS.

“We are looking up the table, not down, and we want to catch them,” he said.

“We have still got to play TNS twice, and I believe we can push them. If we do not believe, we are not going to get there.”

Airbus came into the game six matches unbeaten and an even first 20 minutes on the 3G surface saw chances at both ends.

Andy Jones glanced a header wide in the first opportunity for the home side, whilst down the other end Hayes had an effort blocked inside the six yard box. A David Thompson strike dipped over the bar and Murtagh glanced an effort wide, before Bala scored on 18 minutes.A scramble in the box fell to Murtagh on the penalty spot and he swivelled and turned the ball powerfully into the net.

Hayes saw his close range shot blocked, and Connolly directed a through-ball out to Thompson, who fired over, before Bala doubled their advantage on 31 minutes.

Connolly’s strike rebounded back into his path, and he volleyed home into the bottom right hand corner from 18 yards.

Tempers flared when Pearson reacted to a challenge by Ashley Williams and both players were sent off by referee Iwan Griffith 11 minutes before half-time.

James Murphy tested Bala keeper Ashley Morris with a shot, but seven minutes before the break Mike Hayes lobbed the ball over James Coates to make it 3-0.

Airbus started the second half with purpose and it took a flying save from Morris to keep out Murphy’s strike, and he then managed to hold a fierce Jordan Barrow strike after initially spilling the ball.

Keeper Coates saved a Nathan Burke shot, before Hayes curled an effort over the far post from Thompson’s delivery.

A 30-yarder from Anthony Stephens also flew over the home bar, whilst down the other end Tony Gray headed against the Bala woodwork - but the visitors ran out comfortable and deserved winners.

AIRBUS UK: J Coates, B Jackson (M McGinn 79), M Pearson, I Kearney, A Williams, J Murphy, J Barrow, J Owen (L Owens 61), T Gray, A Jones (R Wade 55), W Riley. Subs not used: K Jones (gk), C Budrys, A Mendes.

BALA TOWN: A Morris, A Stephens, S Jones, J Irving, C Murtagh, M Connolly (L Hunt 81), M Jones (K Smith 61), R Pearson, N Burke (R Valentine 58), D Thompson, M Hayes . Subs not used: C Vernon (gk), W Bell. Att: 269.