BALA Town manager Colin Caton spoke of his pride after his side stepped up their challenge for an automatic Europa League spot by beating Bangor City 2-1 at Nantporth on Friday, to leapfrog above their rivals into second place in the table.

Yves Zama had headed the Citizens into the lead on 14 minutes, but Chris Venables levelled matters with his strike in the 38th minute, before he then fired them ahead from the penalty spot after 56 minutes.

Venables then missed-out on a hat-trick when another spot kick was saved by keeper Matthew Hall, but Caton was well-pleased with the deserved away win.

“We were absolutely outstanding,” said Caton. “I’m proud of every one of the lads in the squad, we thoroughly deserved it.

“My only criticism is that we could have won 5-1 at the end of the game, after missing some good chances, and a penalty. It’s a tough place to come and get a result, but we were not troubled in the second half, and it was a great performance.”

He added: “There’s still a long way to go, and some tough games to still to play this season, but we have been quietly been getting on with it and picking up points.”

Bala started at a high tempo, with Venables seeing his strike from an acute angle pushed away by Hall after eight minutes.

It was the hosts who took the lead after 13 minutes, however, when a Steven Hewitt free kick was curled towards Yves Zama, who headed home for the Citizens.

Zama also fired straight at keeper Ashley Morris from 12 yards, but Bala were back level on 39 minutes as Glenn Rule brilliantly whipped the ball towards Stuart Jones, who headed back across goal for Venables to bundle over from two yards.

In the second half, Kieran Smith saw his shot palmed away from the edge of the penalty area, but then a foul from Bembo Leta saw referee Bryn Markham-Jones point to the spot, and Venables stepped up to slot the ball home on 56 minutes.

Hayes saw a teasing cross deflected onto the post and Jones headed into Hall’s arms from a corner, but on 66 minutes, Bala were awarded a second penalty when Taylor-Fletcher handled in the area.

Venables, looking for his hat-trick, was this time denied from the spot, with home keeper Hall saving his powerful drive.

Substitute Les Davies fired a chance into the side-netting, and went one-on-one with Hall, but that chance went begging as Bala emerged convincing winners.

BANGOR CITY: M Hall, J Bembo-Leta, L Wilson, L Wall, A Miley, D Gosset, G Taylor-Fletcher, S Hewitt, Y Zama (G Harry 65’), D Rittenberg (A Darlington 81’), D Holmes. Subs not used: C Roberts (gk), G Thomas, T Kennedy, G Williams, S Jones.

BALA: A Morris, S Jones, S J Jones, J Disney, R Pearson, C Venables, L Short, M Hayes (A Jones 72’), I Sheridan, G Rule, K Smith (L Davies 81’). Subs not used: C Vernon (gk), E Horwood, D Thompson, J Jones.

Attendance: 425. Referee: B Markham-Jones.