BALA Town provided a Boxing Day feast of goals as they trounced a weakened Rhyl 6-1 at Maes Tegid, with striker Lee Hunt setting them on their way a first half hat-trick against one of his former clubs.

Top scorer Mike Hayes then added a brace for the Lakesiders before the break, taking his league tally to 13 goals for the season, to complete Bala’s nap hand.

The visitors pulled a goal back through Carl Lamb, but their hopes ended as they received yet another red card, with the dismissal of Rob Hughes on 38 minutes.

Despite some resolute defence from the 10-man visitors after the break, Stuart J Jones added the Lakesiders’ sixth goal five minutes from time as Colin Caton’s men registered a ninth successive victory.

Bala in complete control

Bala could have taken the lead after just 20 seconds when Mike Hayes broke free and pulled his shot wide from 14 yards, but within six minutes they were ahead.

Chris Venables brilliantly turned his marker to deliver a pin-point cross to the unmarked Hunt, to score from six yards.

Hunt also glanced a header wide of the upright soon afterwards, but Rhyl responded well, only to be hit by a brilliant counter-attacking move on 17 minutes.

Michael Walsh collided with Rhyl teammate Rob Hughes, and David Thompson picked up the loose ball, charged forward and crossed for the predatory Hunt to home his second goal from six yards out.

A cross from Anthony Stephens was then pushed away by Owen Evans, before another counter attack rattled the post.

It became 3-0 on 34 minutes as Hayes’ initial left-footed effort was palmed away, and Hunt was there again to convert the rebound and round off a quick hat-trick.

A minute later it became 4-0 as Rhyl’s backline was caught napping and Hayes slotted home his first of the afternoon.

A defensive mix-up between keeper Ashley Morris and John Irving allowed Rhyl striker Carl Lamb an easy chance to net his eighth league goal of the season to give the Lilywhites an outside hope.

This was shortly-lived, however, as ill-discipline cost Rhyl dear once again as Rob Hughes appeared to kick out at David Thompson. and referee Lee Evans had no hesitation to show the red card, Rhyl’s seventh in the last five matches.

With Rhyl now in free-fall, a Bala attack presented Hayes with the opportunity to finish from close range and put the hosts into a commanding 5-1 lead at half time.

The second half saw Bala carry on from where they had left off in the second half.

Mark Connolly’s strike cleared the bar from long range, Hayes headed over from the penalty spot, and Thompson’s spectacular chip from the byline rattled the crossbar as Bala continued their pressure.

With acres of space to work from in the midfield, Stephens’ long range effort was blocked, and then Connolly rocketed the ball into the side-netting, before Hunt’s glancing header was saved by Evans.

Hayes thought he had completed a hat-trick when he put the ball in the net following a great passage of play, but the linesman deemed him to be offside.

Venables headed wide from Thompson’s ball, before Nathan Burke headed wide and Hayes headed into Evans’ arms.

Stuart Jones’ bullet header from 18 yards from a corner was also brilliantly palmed away by the goalkeeper as Rhyl ‘parked the bus’ to keep down the scoreline.

With five minutes to go, however, Mark Jones’ floated corner was powered downwards by Stuart J. Jones from the edge of the 18 yard box to complete the scoring.

BALA TOWN: A Morris, A Stephens (C Murtagh 65), S Jones, S J Jones, J Irving, M Connolly (R Valentine 78), D Thompson, N Burke (M Jones 71), M Hayes, L Hunt, C Venables. Subs not used: I Sheridan, K Smith.

RHYL: O Evans, A Young, R Hughes, D Collins, J Bell, C Lamb, P Ahmadi (O Buckley 35), T Hartley, J Miller (K Pierce 71), S Halewood, T Jones (I Murray 79). Subs not used: R Crowther (gk), M Walsh, L Fitzpatrick. Attendance: 211.