BALA Town have turned their attentions to securing runners-up spot in the Dafabet Welsh Premier League after The New Saints of Oswestry clinched a fifth successive championship title with a 2-0 win at Park Hall on Saturday.

The Lakesiders went into the game looking to close the gap at the top to just two points, but goals from Ryan Brobbel and Aeron Edwards in the final 20 minutes ensured that the Saints took the honours.

Bala must now take on third-placed Mbi Llandudno in their penultimate game at Maes Tegid on Saturday, knowing that a win would secure second position, along with a place in Europa League qualifiers.

The Saints controlled much of the game in their top of the table showdown, with Jamie Mullan, Simon Spender and Brobbel all trying shots at the Lakesiders’ goal.

At the other end, Lee Hunt’s header hit the base of the post, but the Saints remained on top with Ashley Morris easily saving from Chris Seargeant’s free kick.

Hunt went through against keeper Paul Harrison, but the ball was gathered, and good link up play saw David Thompson swing the ball into the area, but it was over-hit as Bala looked to break through.

The Saints created half-chances for Edwards, Mullan and Spender but it was still even at the break, with all to play for.Indeed, the second half started well for Bala, and a long range curling strike from Nathan Burke went narrowly wide of the target, before he again came close when his overhead kick was saved by Harrison.

Down the other end, Matty Williams’ strike soared over from Mullan’s cross, but Bala’s John Irving saw his deflected low strike caught by Harrison, and some brilliant work by Hunt found substitute Mark Jones, but his effort was cleared.

It was the Saints who made the breakthrough when a quick counterattack saw Scott Quigley pick out Brobbel, who tucked the ball away to secure the lead.

As the home pressure mounted, Morris palmed away Mullan’s cross, before Edwards placed the ball wide of the left post. Bala battled on and Hunt was unable to pick out Keiran Smith or Ian Sheridan either side of him on the edge of the box.

The Saints, however, made it 2-0 on 79 minutes as Adrian Cieslewicz crossed for Aeron Edwards to net from close range and secure another Welsh Premier title for the full-timers.

TNS: P Harrison, S Spender, K Edwards, C Rawlinson, R Pryce, A Edwards, C Seargeant, M Williams, R Brobbel, S Quigley, J Mullan (A Cieslewicz 72). Subs not used: A Wycherley (gk), P Baker, R Edwards, G Draper, M Wilde.

BALA TOWN: A Morris, R Valentine, S Jones, J Irving, C Murtagh, M Connolly, N Burke (M Jones 65), D Thompson, M Hayes (K Smith 57), I Sheridan, L Hunt (C Platt 85). Subs not used: C Vernon (gk), W Bell. Att: 623. Ref: K Parry.