Bala Town will host Cardiff Metropolitan University in Sunday’s Welsh Premier Play-Off final, after goals from Kieran Smith and Henry Jones secured a 2-1 win over Newtown at Latham Park.

A crucial tie now awaits Colin Caton’s men against the Cardiff students at Maes Tegid, as they chase a place in the Europa League for the sixth time in seven years.

The Robins’ Nick Rushton had the ball in the net on 15 minutes, only to see his effort ruled out by the offside flag, and it never seemed like being Newtown’s day.

At the other end, Mike Hayes was denied by keeper Dave Jones, and Smith and Jones were both narrowly off target as the Lakesiders stepped things up.

Visiting keeper Keighan Jones made a great save to deny Rushton, but Bala were ahead five minutes before half-time when Smith headed home after Chris Venables had flicked on Andy Burns’ pass.

The Lakesiders continued to attack with purpose after the half-time break, and Hayes and Venables both went close to increasing the lead, before a second goal arrived for Caton’s men on 53 minutes. Jones met a left wing cross from Sean Smith to head home inside the left post.

With Bala’s tails up, Jones then saw a powerful effort kept out by keeper Jones after a swift break, and Venables’ 20-yard volley was pushed around the post.

Newtown rallied late on and Rushton was again denied by an offside decision after his strike was ruled to have taken a deflection off substitute Porya Ahmadi on its way into the back of the net.

The Robins did halve the deficit two minutes from time when Joe Kenton fired home a low shot, despite claims for handball, but Bala held firm to secure the win.

The Lakesiders will now have home advantage against a Cardiff Met side that overturned an early deficit to run out 3-2 winners in their semi-final at The Oval.

Despite taking the lead through Darren Thomas’ headed goal on 19 minutes, the Cofis were undone by goals by Chris Baker on 36, Adam Roscrow on 68 and Kyle McCarthy on 82, before Nathan Craig netted a late reply from the penalty spot.

The play-off semi-final will be played on Sunday, 19 May at Maes Tegid (5.15pm).

NEWTOWN: D Jones, C Roberts, K Mills-Evans, J Denny, N Mitchell, N Rushton, S Leslie (L Boundford 57’), J Kenton, G Hughes (P Ahmadi 74’), C Williams, A Fletcher. Subs: J Perry (gk), S Phillips, W Evans, S Barnes.

BALA K Jones, A Burns, S Smith, A Miley, S Jones, N Burke, K Smith, D Gosset, C Venables, H Jones, M Hayes (I Sheridan 89’). Subs not used: S J Jones, E Horwood, C Seargeant, S Kelly. Attendance: 424. Referee: Kevin Parry.