BALA Town were unable to make a winning start to 2019 as they slipped to a 3-0 defeat away at Cardiff Met at Cyncoed - and Colin Caton’s men are now nine points adrift of a top three position.

A goal in each half from Will Evans, either side of an Adam Roscrow strike just after the break, sealed the points for Met, who had looked in control for large parts.

The Cardiff students came firing out of the blocks, and they opened the scoring after only eight minutes when Roscrow attacked down the left and crossed the ball for Will Evans to convert from close range.

Met’s set up was proving extremely difficult for Bala to break down, with the Lakesiders unable to capitalise on their half chances as Met stood strong.

Eliot Evans curled the ball around the post for Met, after a good move through the middle, but at the other end Henry Jones delivered a neat cross into the box, but nobody was able to capitalise on it.

Kieran Smith also saw his powerful effort soar over the crossbar, but improvement was needed in the second half from Bala - and the Lakesiders did improve.

Anthony Miley fired a good chance over the bar from Jones’ free-kick - but Met responded with a sucker punch to go 2-0 up through Roscrow, when he got on the end of a cross from the left to poke home.

Evan Horwood and Mike Hayes came on to freshen things up and for 20 minutes the visiting side were now in ascendancy. Hayes found Jones, but his close range effort was blocked, and Stuart Jones saw his header tipped over from a corner.

Their biggest chance of the game saw a massive goalmouth melee, with Seven Tames rattling the crossbar, before Miley’s follow-up header was hacked off the line.

Home keeper Alex Lang collected Jones’ teasing delivery, and then Hayes saw his rocket of a strike from the edge of the area pull just inches wide of the home upright.

Despite their dominant spell, Bala’s hopes of a comeback were ruined 10 minutes from time as they played the ball in short from a set-piece, and Will Evans blasted the ball past keeper Ashley Morris to complete a miserable day for Bala.

CARDIFF MET: A Lang, D Rees, K McCarthy, B Woolridge, E Lewis, J Edwards, E Evans, C Baker (H Owen 79’), A Roscrow (D Phillips 85’), C Corsby, W Evans. Subs not used: G Williams, R Morgan, L Black, H Horwood, W Fuller (gk).

BALA TOWN: A Morris, A Burns, S Smith, A Miley, S Jones, D Gosset, N Burke (R Pearson 83’), K Smith (E Horwood 58’), S Tames, I Sheridan (M Hayes 58’), H Jones. Subs not used: S J Jones, R Valentine. Attendance: 166.