A STOPPAGE time winner from Mike Hayes finally broke the deadlock at Maes Tegid as Bala Town beat Cefn Druids 1-0 to move up into the Welsh Premier League’s second spot on Thursday.

With 92 minutes gone, Chris Venables picked out Hayes, who drove into the box before firing a low effort into the far corner of the net from wide on the right.

The Lakesiders, looking to build on their draw at Connah’s Quay, started well and saw plenty of the ball in the first half.

Nathan Burke saw a shot blocked for a corner, and Chris Venables then fired over the crossbar from around 10 yards out.

Further pressure saw Hayes latch onto a great throughball from midfield, before seeing his shot palmed out for a corner. Bala were in charge, and Burke went even closer when firing over the goal, after beating his marker from five yards out.

After a huge spell of pressure from the Lakesiders, Druids fought back to create a couple of chances before the interval. Fisnik Hajdari’s effort flew over the crossbar, and a dipping drive from Matty Owen curled narrowly over the post.

At the start of the second half, however, visiting keeper Michael Jones was forced to brilliantly save Les Davies’ pile-driver, and then deny both Burke and Hayes.

Down the other end Bala custodian Ashley Morris stopped a James Davies effort and then pushed Arek Piskorski’s chance around the post as the game opened up.

In the closing stages Jordan Evans’ freekick curled over for Bala, but deep into stoppage time, the deadlock was broken.

Venables picked out Hayes on the right side and he drove into the box and rocketed the ball low into the far corner of the net from a tight angle to snatch the points.

The win lifted Colin Caton’s men a point clear of both Bangor City and Connah’s Quay ahead the weekend’s matches.

BALA TOWN: A Morris, R Valentine, S Jones, J Disney, R Pearson, C Venables, N Burke, L Short (E Horwood 34’), M Hayes, K Smith J Evans 69’), L Davies. Subs not used: C Vernon (gk), J Jones, I Sheridan, G Rule.

CEFN DRUIDS: M Jones, N Arsan, N Peate, M Owen, A Mudimu, J Davies (A Ruane 79’), I Cartwright, F Hajdari, A Piskorski (M Pritchard 88’), A Morris, N Ashton. Subs not used: A Simpson, I ap Gareth, L Buckley.Attendance: 154. Referee: Dean John.