LES Davies netted a quality strike to ensure that Cardiff Met remained winless in phase two of the JD Welsh Premier League after a 1-0 defeat at Maes Tegid.

The powerful 33-year-old striker rifled a shot into the top corner to put the Lakesiders ahead on 15 minutes, and there was no way back for the students.

Manager Colin Caton could take heart from another clean sheet as his side did what it takes to keep up the pressure for runners-up spot in the table.

“The performance wasn’t the best, I thought we did really well in the first half, but in the second half we looked jaded,” said Caton. “But at the end of the day, all that matters is the points.

“I would prefer to play badly and win, than to play well and lose the match. The lads put a good shift in, and all credit to Cardiff Met as they always come here and pass the ball about and can be a difficult team, so it’s a great result for us.”

Caton added: “It could have been two or three before the break, and we just need to kill teams off, but that’s my only criticism of the lads, they know that.

“Another goal might have taken pressure off us, but I’d take a 1-0 every week, and perhaps that’s why our 'goals for' is not too good.

“It was a brilliant strike by Les, and a goal to win any match, so it was good for him and great for us to win. If we take our chances, the game is dead and buried, but if you don’t, you leave it late to hang on.”

With Bangor City winning on Friday, and Connah’s Quay losing to The New Saints, the Lakesiders went into Saturday’s late game knowing a win would keep them right in the thick of the race for Europe this season.

Nathan Burke had their first clear-cut chance when he fired over the bar from around 10 yards out, and when Ashely Morris saved Jordan Lam’s effort, a swift counter attack saw Mike Hayes’ effort well-blocked.

The Lakesiders made the breakthrough after a quarter of an hour, when a half clearance arrived to the feet of marksman Davies, whose instinctive strike flew into the top left corner from the edge of the penalty box.

Bala’s good play continued as Rob Pearson’s low strike fizzed wide of the upright, and Hayes drove down the wing, cutting into the area, but Met goalkeeper Will Fuller denied him.

Hayes went one-on-one with Fuller again seven minutes before the interval, but he put his chance wide.

Met had shown flashes during the first half, but they came closest to scoring in the 41st minute when Will Evans rattled the crossbar from distance, and the follow up was tipped over by home custodian Morris.

The second half saw a solid and professional team effort by the Lakesiders, and they had plenty of chances to put the game to bed.

Midway through the half, Hayes rifled the ball over the keeper from close range, but it came back off the bar.

Ryan Valentine then came close when his curling effort was headed out by a defender, before a cross from the left wing arrived to an unmarked Kieran Smith, but his header was pushed over by goalkeeper Fuller.

Down the other end, Morris made a couple of decent saves, but a solid defensive display ensured that Bala kept another clean sheet to make it five games unbeaten for the Lakesiders.

“From where we were 10 games ago, we’ve done remarkably well to get where we are, and we want to finish as high up the table as we can,” reflected Caton, whose side is just two points adrift of second-placed Bangor, with a game in hand.

BALA: A Morris, R Valentine, S J Jones, J Disney, E Horwood, R Pearson, C Venables, N Burke, M Hayes, K Smith (A Jones 81’), L Davies. Subs not used: C Vernon (gk), D Thompson, J Jones, I Sheridan, G Rule.

CARDIFF MET: W Fuller, D Rees, K McCarthy, E Lewis, E Evans, C Corsby, J Lam, J Edwards, J Barnett (H Owen 65’), G Howell (H Hope 71’), W Evans. Subs not used: R Thomas, A James, D Evans (gk), R Morgan. Attendance: 303. Referee: Kris Hames.