JUST eight days after playing in the Uefa Europa League, Bala Town’s pre-season campaign got under way with a 4-2 win over Cymru Alliance outfit Gresford Athletic at Clappers Lane on Friday night.

A strong Bala line-up started the game in glorious sunshine, with two trialists in the squad, and a debut being handed to prize summer signing Chris Venables.

Under 19’s goalkeeper Ryan Goldston also started his first senior game, and he also made a very promising debut.

Bala dominated the first half, and Kieran Smith headed an early effort wide of the target from Mark Connolly’s pin-point ball into the area, and Mike Hayes also saw an effort blocked by the defence.

Bala then saw Anthony Stephens deliver the ball to Smith on the edge of the area, and he brought the ball down to Mark Jones, who tested the Gresford keeper.

The chances kept coming for the Lakesiders as Stephens and Smith linked up again, but Smith was unable to capitalise.

A goal was imminent, and it was a trialist that gave Bala the lead, when Smith pulled the ball back into the area for him to smash home from six yards out.

Bala defender Stuart Jones was then on target with header that was gathered by the home keeper, before Smith skipped past three players, only to blaze over.

Gresford, however, levelled matters five minutes before the interval when a shot took a wicked deflection and wrong-footed Goldston, before crossing the line.

Bala then reeled in the changes in the second half, with David Thompson, Nathan Burke, Ian Sheridan, Stuart Jones and another trialist all entering the fray.

Within five minutes the Lakesiders had doubled their lead, when a superb strike from last season’s Welsh Premier League Golden Boot Venables went into the bottom corner of the net from 15 yards out.

Thompson came close to make it three, waltzing down the wing and turning his marker - but he fired into the side netting.

Minutes later, however, Burke weaved past three defenders, before his right-footed effort from just inside the penalty box found the back of the net for 3-1.

A looping header by Smith then landed on top of the netting as Bala continued to put the home defence under pressure.

A mistake from Stephens, however, saw Gresford pull a goal back, with the ball being squared and buried into the net.

Burke continued to look lively, and Welsh Premier League Golden Boot Venables saw a free header brilliantly tipped onto the post by Gresford’s goalkeeper.

Then, five minutes before the end, Bala finished off the match in style as a great team move led to Jones linking up with Venables to slot home from eight yards out, to complete a positive performance.