BALA Town’s 2-1 comeback win against Carmarthen Town on Tuesday night ensured their top six place in the Dafabet Welsh Premier League when the league is split, as Colin Caton’s side lifted themselves back into a top three position.

Mark Jones had headed the visitors into a 38th-minute lead, but quick-fire goals from Ian Sheridan and Lee Hunt early in the second half earned Bala the points.

Carmarthen, currently seventh in the table, can still reach the top six if they beat Rhyl in their remaining fixture of the first phase, and if other results go their way.

At wintry Maes Tegid, Bala began brightly, with John Irving and Ian Sheridan directing a couple of dangerous crosses to striker Lee Hunt, prior to a free header by Stuart Jones going well wide.

It was all Bala in the first half, with Hunt seeing a header blocked, before Jones drove a half volley over the bar, and Mike Hayes was also causing real trouble for the Carmarthen rearguard.

Bala’s Christian Platt was forced off early on through injury, to be replaced by Mark Connolly, but Bala remained on the front foot and a superb move saw Sheridan’s drive into the box blocked.

With plenty of physical battles all over the park, Hunt and Carmarthen’s Dwaine Bailey both picked up yellow cards, before a peach of a cross from Hayes on the right fell to Sheridan, but the Carmarthen defence managed to hack the ball away.

Chances were building from the Lakesiders, but they were unable to capitalise, and the visitors took an unexpected lead.

Mark Jones met a cross from the left and his bullet header beat keeper Ashley Morris to open the scoring on 38 minutes.

Before the interval, Connolly curled a free kick from the edge of the box around the wall, but keeper Lee Idzi parried it, and the rebound was fired over the bar.

The Lakesiders made the perfect start to the second half as they brought themselves level, with Ian Sheridan coolly slotting the ball past Idzi from 15 yards.

As in the first half, Bala were dominant, and Irving’s cross was glanced wide, before Sheridan curled a shot over from distance, and Keiran Smith’s cross-come-shot found Hunt, who failed to connect.

Hunt, however, got his deserved goal on 58 minutes when Hayes was brought down in the area and referee Kevin Parry pointed to the spot. Up stepped Hunt to confidently dispatch the ball down the left, and put the hosts into the lead.

The Lakesiders continued to show determination and passion, and Sheridan had the ball in the net again after 75 minutes, but it was ruled out for offside.

Bala continued to push forward and Hayes was unable to capitalise on a goalmouth scramble five yards out, before a free kick was awarded to the visitors.

Hayes then closed down a clearance from Idzi to create the chance for Hunt, who was inches short of reaching it, and Bala ran out as well-deserved winners.

With two games still to go until the split, Bala host Haverfordwest on Saturday.

BALA TOWN: A Morris, A Stephens, S Jones, J Irving (D Artell 89), C Murtagh, D Thompson, M Hayes (R Valentine 89), I Sheridan, K Smith, L Hunt, C Platt (M Connolly 10). Sub: C Vernon (gk), S Fisher.

CARMARTHEN: L Idzi, D Sheehan, C Thomas (D Thomas 69), D Bailey, J Knott, C Morgan (J White 58), K Lewis, L Harling, M Jones, L Thomas, S Walters (L Prosser 75). Sub not used: D Vincent. Attendance: 128.