A BRACE from Mike Hayes saw the Bala Town striker take the lead in the race for the Welsh Premier League’s Golden Boot as they notched their seventh successive win with a 3-0 triumph over Llandudno.

Visiting keeper Dave Roberts had saved a Lee Hunt penalty on 42 minutes, but Mike Hayes headed the Lakesiders into a 52nd minute lead, and he then netted his 11th league of the season on 79 minutes.

Sub Mark Connolly sealed the points with a third goal in the last minute as the Lakesiders moved within three points of second-placed rivals Gap Connah’s Quay.

After a two-week break from their Welsh Cup win over Caldicot, Bala came firing out of the blocks and almost opened the scoring in the first minute when a clearance from goalkeeper Roberts fell to Hayes, who volleyed wide of the upright.

Roberts was called into further action when Hunt glanced a header towards goal, and Chris Venables saw a chance palmed away as the Lakesiders pressed.

Bala’s Nathan Burke curled a shot around the post from 20 yards, and a spectacular effort from Hunt was impressively tipped over the bar by the keeper.

With Bala playing quick and slick football on the fast surface, Anthony Stephens’ fired over, before a great move resulted in Hayes’ low strike being saved.

Bala then had a golden chance when frontrunner Hayes was brought down in the box, but Roberts did well to dive to his left and turn Hunt’s spot kick around the post, three minutes before the interval.

The deadlock was finally broken seven minutes into the second half when a pin-point delivery from John Irving was headed home in by top scorer Hayes.

Llandudno threw caution to the wind and John Owen’s low strike went out for a corner, whilst Danny Hughes’ shot from distance flew over the crossbar and Lewis Buckley also blasted over the Bala goal.

Bala, however, then extended their lead when Venables’ cross picked out Hayes at the back post to tap in from six yards.

Brilliant play between John Irving and Burke allowed Venables to break through but his curling shot missed the bottom corner, with only the keeper to beat.

Victory was sealed on 90 minutes when substitute Mark Connolly turned the ball in from eight yards as Bala’s impressive run continued into the Christmas period.

BALA TOWN: A Morris, A Stephens, S Jones (R Valentine 90 minutes), S J Jones, J Irving, D Thompson, C Venables, N Burke, M Hayes, I Sheridan (M Jones 85), L Hunt (M Connolly 81). Substitute not used: K Smith.

LLANDUDNO: D Roberts, D Taylor, J Joyce, D Shaw, D Hughes, L Thomas, J Owen, L Riley, J Crawford (S McCaffery 31), M Williams, L Buckley. Not used: T Williams, P Rutter (gk).

Attendance: 238. Referee: David Morgan.