STEVEN Tames scored twice as Bala Town launched their new campaign in the JD Welsh Premier League with a 2-1 win over Carmarthen - but it was a moment of sheer magic from fellow newcomer Henry Jones that stole the show.

The former Bangor City midfielder, who has joined from AFC Fylde, produced some outrageous trickery on 34 minutes when crossing from the left of the box for Tames to head in at the far post, courtesy of a stunning ‘rabona’ with his right foot.

It set the scene for a good opening performance at Maes Tegid by the Lakesiders, and boss Colin Caton praised the contribution of two of his summer recruits.

“I’m really pleased for Steven to get off the mark with two goals, which will do him the world of good. He’s been excellent and works hard,” reflected Caton.

“It was a great bit of skill from Henry for the first goal, he has got a lot of natural ability, and I’m sure that he is going to light up the Welsh Premier League.

“The only downside was that we conceded a late goal after we had dominated the game. It put pressure on us, and we made it hard for ourselves when we should have been convincing winners.”

Jones had threatened after only three minutes, but keeper Lee Idzi collected his early effort, and Kieran Smith was next to test the keeper with a neat curling strike.

Down the other end, Luke Bowen’s shot was blocked by Anthony Miley, but Bala’s midfield of Danny Gosset, Nathan Burke, Chris Venables and Jones was creating plenty of problems for the visitors.

A slick passage of play saw Venables break through the defence, but he fired over with only Idzi to beat, and Tames also had an effort blocked minutes later.

The moment of sheer magic came on 34 minutes when good work by Sean Smith saw the ball find Henry Jones, who drove at and turned Aidan O’Kelly, before producing a perfect rabona to the far post, where Tames powered home his header.

Jones went close again on 43 minutes when he whipped a free kick inches wide of the left post - but the second half saw the visitors start the second half well.

Luke Bowen fired into the side-netting and the Old Gold then squandered a free header on the hour - but Tames also failed to capitalise on a defensive mix-up when he could only prod his effort just wide.

The Lakesiders got their crucial second goal on 65 minutes when Tames picked up the ball from Sean Smith and won the tackle to power forward, before rocketing the ball home from 25 yards into the net.

He could have made it a hat-trick on 78 minutes when he failed to capitalise on a good cross into the box, but six minutes from time, the visitors halved the deficit.

Bowen broke free and delivered a good cross for the unmarked Sean Hanbury to slot home - and then a further chance for Carmarthen was cleared off the goal line, before Bala claimed the three points.

BALA TOWN: A Morris, A Burns, S Jones, A Miley, D Gosset, C Venables, N Burke, H Jones, S Smith, K Smith (I Sheridan 80’), S Tames. Subs not used: M Hayes, S J Jones, R Valentine, V Charles (GK), J Jones, C Williams.

CARMARTHEN: L Idzi, G Walters, L Surman, L Cummings, T Webbe, D Carroll, C Morgan L Thomas, A O’Kelly, J Vickers (S Hanbury 72’), L Bowen. Subs not used: D Vincent, J Woodford, C Hanford. Attendance: 264.