BALA Town’s hopes of automatic European qualification appear to be over following a 4-1 home defeat at the hands of champions The New Saints last Friday.

Goals from Ryan Brobbel, Greg Draper, Kevin Kauber and Aeron Edwards sentenced the Lakesiders to their fourth successive defeat, and Colin Caton’s men are now five points adrift of third-placed Bangor City, with two league games to go.

Bala will be looking to finish their campaign positively, with games at Cardiff Met on Saturday and at home to Bangor the following Friday, before the possibility of the play-offs, but manager Caton says that nothing has been resolved yet.

With top three rivals Connah’s Quay and Bangor City both being refused the UEFA licences required to play in European competition in the first instance, there is still a chance of qualification for Bala.

“There’s a lot of scenarios to go down,” said Caton. “We have got our European licence, and I applaud the club for that, and it will be interesting to see who gets one.

“There will be twists and turns in the battle for third place, and if Connah’s Quay win the Welsh Cup, third place would automatically get us into Europe.

“Everything will go to the wire, and we play Bangor last game, so the pressure is on them to go and win their games now.”

The New Saints, at least temporarily, extended their lead at the top of the JD Welsh Premier League to 16 points, with a 4-1 win over Bala Town at Maes Tegid.

It was a thoroughly professional display from the Welsh champions, who had four different goal scorers get in on the action.

It was the perfect start for the visitors after just seven minutes. Ryan Brobbel opened the scoring with a well-hit effort, after Greg Draper was denied well one on one by Bala goalkeeper Ashley Morris.

TNS continued to dominate the early stages, and it took a brilliant tackle from a Bala defender to deny Draper a shot on goal with 15 minutes on the clock.

Some good intricate play on the edge of the box from Dean Ebbe, Brobbel and Simon Spender, who was once again occupying the left-back position, looked promising, but the final pass was lacking.

Draper wasn’t to be denied on 28 minutes though. Continuing the rich vein of form he showed in the home win against Cefn Druids, he was quickest to react when Morris parried his initial shot, turning the ball home. The goal led to confusion around the ground as most people though his shot had hit the side netting.

The second goal seemed to spring Bala into life, as they started to grow into the game. They enjoyed some good sustained pressure on the edge of the TNS box, but unfortunately the final ball was lacking.

Saints’ boss Scott Ruscoe was clearly impressed with what he’d seen in the first 45 minutes, and just four minutes into the second half, Draper’s deft touch gave Ebbe a chance on goal, but his chipped effort only found the goalkeeper’s arms.

TNS did finally find their third goal on 59 minutes. Scoring his second goal of the season, Kevin Kauber slotted the ball beneath Ashley Morris to extend the lead.

Kauber nearly had a second just five minutes later. Picking the ball up on the edge of the box, he fired a shot at goal, but the ball cannoned back off the crossbar.

Bala didn’t let their heads drop, and they forced a corner after more good pressure, which Ian Sheridan was able to divert into the net for a lifeline on 73 minutes.

That didn’t last long though, as after 81 minutes the Saints had a fourth. Ryan Brobbel stole the ball in midfield, before playing a pass out left to Ebbe, who selflessly slid the ball across goal for Aeron Edwards to convert, ensuring the Saints beat Bala for the fourth time this season.

BALA TOWN: A Morris, S Jones (L Owens 46 minutes), S J Jones, E Horwood, J Disney, N Burke, R Pearson, J Evans (M Hayes 65 minutes), I Sheridan (J Jones 86’), G Rule, K Smith. Subs not used: R Valentine, L Short.

THE NEW SAINTS: P Harrison, S Spender, C Rawlinson, B Hudson (S Saunders 79’), C Craven, A Edwards, T Holland (R Pryce 68’), R Brobbel (H Bower 81’), K Kauber, G Draper, D Ebbe . Subs not used: A Jones (gk), L Ihekwoaba, J Parry. Att: 224. Referee: M Petch.