ABERYSTWYTH Town were unable to halt Bala Town’s resurgence as two goals from Mike Hayes extended the Lakesiders’ fine unbeaten run to six matches with a 2-1 away win on Friday evening.

In front of a bumper crowd of 643 at Park Avenue, Hayes pounced to break the deadlock on 52 minutes, before crucially doubling the visitors’ lead with 10 minutes left of an exciting contest.

Home keeper Chris Mullock had kept Aber in the game with a superb penalty save from former Seasider Chris Venables, but although they did manage to get a goal back, Neville Powell’s men were unable to prevent back-to-back defeats.“When they scored their goal, they threw the kitchen sink at us, but we've had a lot of chances to kill off the game before then,” said Bala boss Colin Caton.“I can’t fault the lads, but my only criticism is that the game should have already been dead and buried and we should have been comfortable.“Seven games ago we were third from bottom, but we are on a fantastic run of results, with five wins and a draw against Connah's Quay, and that’s European form."The lads were fantastic tonight and I cannot praise them enough, we’ll keep climbing the table, like we did last season.”The Lakesiders had started the game strongest, and Venables saw an early goal-bound header blocked by Aber’s Matthew Jones, before Hayes fired a shot just over.

Aber created a good opportunity themselves when John Owen back-heeled a lovely ball into the path of Declan Walker, who lobbed the ball just over Ashley Morris’ crossbar.

Soon after, Bala went even closer as the impressive Mullock made an incredible finger-tip save to keep out Venables’ header, before the keeper smothered the follow up.

The visitors continued to press, but Aber also began to find some joy in attack as Ryan Wade sent an inviting cross into the penalty area, which was cleared for a corner kick.

From the resulting corner, Wade saw his goal-bound effort cleared off the line as Bala counted themselves fortunate not to be behind.

As half-time approached, the visitors threatened once more as Les Davies rattled the crossbar with a header, before Hayes again sent a left footed drive just over, but it was to remain goalless at the break.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with Bala looking likely to open the scoring.

On 49 minutes, Mullock was again called into action as first he saved Jordan Evans’ low strike, before then also producing a fantastic full-stretch save to deny Evans.

On 52 minutes, however, the visitors finally broke the deadlock as Evans played in Hayes, who produced a clinical left footed finish.

Just 60 seconds later Aber were almost level as full back Declan Walker, looking for his fifth goal in six games, fired an outrageous 30-yard effort against the crossbar.

Soon after, the Seasiders were denied by the woodwork yet again as the ball fell to captain Jonny Spittle, who turned and volleyed his shot against the outside of the post.

The game began to open up as Aber committed more men forwards, with Craig Hobson replacing the industrious Luke Borrelli to add physical presence up front.

As the hosts pushed for the equaliser, however, they were caught on the counter-attack as Hayes surged into the penalty area and was brought down by John McKenna.

Referee Dean John had no option but to point to the spot, but when Venables fired his penalty towards the top right corner, Mullock dived at full stretch to tip the ball over the crossbar with an astounding save.

It gave Aber renewed hope, but on 80 minutes home hopes were soon dashed as Hayes latched onto a loose ball in the penalty area and fired past Mullock to make it 2-0.

Aber were soon back in the game as Ashley Young’s delivery into the box was nodded into his own net by Les Davies, and Aber stepped up their pressure on the Bala goal.

Wade fired a shot just wide on 86 minutes, and he sent a header straight at keeper Morris in the dying seconds - but it wasn’t to be.

ABERYSTWYTH: C Mullock, D Walker, J McKenna, J Spittle, R Wollacott, M Jones, A Young, M Melvin, L Borrelli (C Hobson 64), R Wade, J Owen (J Phillips 71). Substitutes not used: J Rimmer, H Rowe, H Horwood, L Jenkins.

BALA TOWN: A Morris, R Valentine, D Thompson, S Jones (W Bell 35), S J Jones, G Rule (E Horwood 83), N Burke, C Venables, J Evans (I Sheridan 80), L Davies, M Hayes. Subs not used: A Jones, C Vernon (gk). Att: 643.