BALA Town regained the upper hand in the race for Europe by leap-frogging above Gap Connah’s Quay into second place, with a 3-2 away win at Cardiff Met.

The students led twice through Chris Baker and Adam Roscrow, but the Lakesiders levelled with goals from Chris Venables and Jordan Evans, before sub Lee Hunt scored their 77th-minute winner.

This hard-earned win leaves Colin Caton’s men in good heart for their Welsh Cup semi-final showdown with Caernarfon Town at Belle Vue this Saturday.

Without a win in the Championship Conference, Cardiff Met came blazing out of the blocks, and Bala’s defence had to deal with some good crosses into the box.

With Bala looking very dangerous on the counter-attack, Jordan Evans shook off his marker to pick out Ryan Wade, whose cross was cleared by Liam Black.

A David Thompson cross was also cleared away, and then Chris Venables headed the ball on to Keiran Smith, but keeper Will Fuller came out to collect.

It was the home side, however, that opened the scoring on 26 minutes as Chris Baker headed home from a corner kick.

The Lakesiders battled back and they levelled matters just on half-time when Anthony Stephens’ in-swinging corner kick was flicked on and Venables powerfully headed into the roof of the home net.

Five minutes into the second period, however, the Archers re-took the lead.

Jordan Lam curled in a shot from the edge of the area, which keeper Ashley Morris managed to save, but Adam Roscrow was quick to react to slot home.

Further home pressure saw Charlie Corsby’s effort deflected out for a corner, from which Matt Swindlehurst then headed the ball narrowly wide of the upright.

Yet, Bala were back on level terms on the hour when the ball rebounded around the box, before Jordan Evans fired into the net to notch his first goal for the Lakesiders.

Keiran Smith and Ian Sheridan combined well to create a chance, before Hunt sent a shot narrowly over the crossbar.

At the other end, keeper Morris was called into action and he superbly cleared off the line, to keep the scoreline level.

A cross from Venables was flicked wide from Mike Hayes, with Bala looking more of a danger in the final third and testing the Met’s defence on the counter attack.

The winner came on 77 minutes when Hayes flicked a header on from Smith and brilliantly outpaced his marker to deliver a belter of a cross for Hunt to power a diving header past Fuller from eight yards.

A nervy final 12 minutes followed but Town kept their focus to hold on for another valuable win, taking them back up to second, spot following a 90th minute Bangor City equaliser at Connah’s Quay.

CARDIFF MET: W Fuller, C Baker, J Barnett, L Black, C Corsby, E Evans (R Thomas 80 minutes), K McCarthy, H Owen (J Lam 28), A Roscrow, M Swindlehurst (W Evans 90), M Taylor. Subs not used: J Letori, H Lloyd (gk).

BALA TOWN: A Morris, A Stephens (M Hayes 62), S Jones, S J Jones, J Irving, D Thompson, C Murtagh, R Wade (I Sheridan 62’), J Evans (L Hunt 62), C Venables, K Smith. Substitutes not used: R Goldston (gk), R Valentine.

Attendance: 159. Referee: Nick Pratt.