COLIN Caton celebrated his 600th match in charge of Bala Town as the Lakesiders drew level on points with third-placed Bangor in the Welsh Premier League with a 1-0 away win at Barry Town United.

Mike Hayes scored the game’s only goal on 67 minutes to move Caton’s men to within two points of second-placed Connah’s Quay - and the race is on for second place in the second half of the season.

A surprise presentation by Barry’s manager Gavin Chesterfield to Caton set the scene for a landmark occasion for the Bala boss, and it was an entertaining game in front of a crowd of almost 600.

“It was a good occasion, and I’d like to thank Gavin and Barry Town for the hospitality and the present they gave, I really appreciated that,” commented Caton.

“I’m really proud of the way the lads performed today, I thought they did really well and had the better chances, apart from a free header, which we gave away.

“Apart from that we were in control of the game, and we managed them well.”

He added: “Results went for us elsewhere, but we have just got to concentrate on ourselves. We’ve got a break now, which has come at a good time for us, as we’ve had a lot of injuries, and we have come to Barry without five players.”

Barry’s Kayne McLaggon had the first chance of the game, following a break down the wing, but he wasn’t able to connect with the cross and a Bala counter attack saw Nathan Burke’s effort saved.

Bala were a threat on the break throughout, and a cross by Ryan Valentine almost found the incoming Stuart Jones, before Burke saw his chance hacked off the line.

A free kick following a foul on Hayes saw Chris Venables go close, before a Les Davies strike fizzled narrowly wide after a break down the right flank, and Stuart Jones blazed over from six yards out.

Good work by Venables and Burke in the middle saw Valentine to fire over before the half-time break, and Bala cranked up the pressure in the second period.

A move between Venables and Davies saw a vital block by the Barry defence, but down the other end McLaggon skipped down the wing but keeper Ashley Morris strongly pushed the ball out of play.

Luke Cooper also headed over the crossbar for the home side on the hour, but it was Bala who made the breakthrough.

Substitute Jordan Evans broke forward and delivered the ball to Hayes, who turned his marker and from an almost impossible acute angle he fired past the home keeper into the back of the net.

Bala were in full control and they went close when Evans linked up with Hayes, whose curling strike rattled the crossbar.

A long throw from Lewis Short was also scrambled away by the Barry defence, but with five minutes left to play, the home side could have levelled when Cooper’s delivery found McLaggon, who directed his free header inches wide of the far post.

BARRY: J Massaro, P Morgan, L Cooper, C Watkins, C Hugh, C Sainty, J Saddler (S Jones 83’), J Cotterill (R Newman 83’), D Fahiya, K McLaggon, T Webbe (E Scotcher 83’). Subs not used: L Gerrard, L Cosslett, J Baker (gk).

BALA: A Morris, R Valentine, S Jones, J Disney, C Venables, N Burke (J Evans 60’), L Short, M Hayes, I Sheridan, G Rule, L Davies. Subs not used: C Vernon (gk), E Horwood, H Tanner. Attendance: 590. Referee: Kris Hames.