BALA Town rode their luck to edge a 1-0 win at Cardiff Met on a wet Sunday afternoon, with the newly-promoted hosts causing plenty of problems on their home debut in the top flight.

Despite producing better football for much of the contest, the newly-promoted hosts were sunk by an 18th-minute penalty from Anthony Stephens, after Emlyn Lewis had been penalised for a challenge in the penalty box.

Keeper Will Fuller had earlier made a superb fingertip save, but John Littlemore drew a good save from Bala’s Alex Lynch and Eliot Evans had a good shot saved in the second half as the Lakesiders held on.

Manager Colin Caton will have been pleased with his side’s second successive clean sheet, but it promises to be another tough assignment against Bangor City at Nantporth this Saturday (ko 5.15pm).

Bala took time to settle against a committed Cardiff Met, although Nathan Burke fired an effort over the upright, and Chris Venables played a brilliant crossfield ball through to Ryan Edwards, who brought it down and squared to Ian Sheridan, but the chance went begging.

Mark Connolly also had am effort deflected over the bar for the Lakesiders, before a free-kick from 20 yards was soared over the crossbar by Burke.

The breakthrough arrived on 18 minutes when Sheridan slipped through two centre halves and was brought down in the penalty area by Lewis, and Stephens stepped up and confidently dispatched it into the right hand side of the home goal.

The hosts, however, continued to work hard to close down Bala in midfield and had a good spell of pressure, with defender Stuart Jones heading a chance clear.

The Met also squandered a close range effort, and Lynch impressively palmed the ball over the bar from John Littlemore’s point blank downward header.

As the weather deteriorated in the second half so did the quality of play, although a teasing cross did find Connolly, only for his header to soar over the bar.

Connolly came close again to scoring his first goal of the season, but his shot was cleared for a corner, from which Stuart Jones then flicked wide of the target.

Ryan Valentine also saw a free kick bounce through everyone in the 18 yard box, but Met counter attacked quickly and forced Lynch to tip over a good chace.

Bala could have made the game safe as Connolly’s pin-point cross found Venables, but last year’s Welsh Premier Golden Boot scooped over from three yards.

New signing Ryan Wade replaced Nathan Burke and was involved straight away in winning Bala a free-kick, which Stephens swung in and found Venables, but the midfielder was caught offside.

The hosts, however, continued to win every second ball and came close again to getting on the scoresheet when Bala's new keeper Lynch again was quick to save.

With four minutes added, Stephens managed to get a crucial touch to put the ball out for a corner, which was superbly blocked off the line by Ryan Wade, and Bala held on for a hard-earned away win.

It was an improved performance from the goalless draw against Newtown, but the Lakesiders, with four points from two games, will feel that they are still yet to hit their top gear.

CARDIFF MET: W Fuller, I Philpot, K McCarthy, B Woolridge, E Lewis, B Bowler, E Evans (D Spencer 62), C Baker, J Littlemore (G Howell 73’), C Corsby, J Lam. Substitutes, not used: R Morgan, J Barnett, L Black.

BALA TOWN: A Lynch, R Valentine, A Stephens, S Jones, S J Jones (J Crowther 85), L Owens, M Connolly, R Edwards, N Burke (R Wade 69), C Venables, I Sheridan. Subs not used: A Morris (gk), M Hayes, P Marsh.Attendance: 221. Referee: Tom Williams.