BALA TOWN closed the gap at the top of the Dafabet Welsh Premier League to five points with a 3-1 win over Airbus UK Broughton at Maes Tegid, and the Lakesiders will be keen to take their title challenge to the wire.

Airbus boss Andy Preece had rested several key players ahead of their Welsh Cup semi-final, but, despite the absence of skipper Ian Kearney, leading scorer Tony Gray and several others, the Wingmakers put up a real fight, before former player Ian Sheridan settled the contest with Bala's third goal in the 70th-minute.

Airbus were under the cosh in the early stages and James Coates was twice forced into saves from Lee Hunt as the Lakesiders’ marksmen went in search of the 200th Welsh Premier goal of his career.

It was no surprise when the hosts took a 13th minute lead, with Mark Connolly turning the ball into the back of the net at the far post from Ryan Valentine’s free kick.

Airbus, however, were soon back in the game when Jay Owen’s long range shot hit the post and Liam Blake scored from the rebound, on his full first team debut.

Chris Budrys could have handed Airbus the lead, but headed over the angle from Ryan Fraughan’s cross, before Bala regained the advantage, with Stuart Jones firing home from close range in a goal mouth scramble.

Airbus perhaps had more of the play after the break but, with both sides finding control difficult on a bumpy pitch, they were unable to make their chances pay.

Bala stepped up again, however, and on 70 minutes, Coates came off his line and completely missed the ball under pressure from Hunt, allowing Sheridan to tap the ball home into an empty net.

BALA TOWN : A Morris, R Valentine, A Stephens, S Jones, J Irving, M Connolly, N Burke, M Hayes (D Thompson 61), I Sheridan, L Hunt, C Platt (C Murtagh 77). Subs not used: C Vernon (gk), W Bell, T Davies.

AIRBUS UK BROUGHTON: J Coates, L Owens, M McGinn (B Jackson 84), J Spittle, M Pearson, J Barrow, A Mendes, R Fraughan, L lake, C Budrys (R Wade 69), J Owen. Subs not used: K Jones (gk), I Kearney, R Wignall, T Gray, K Monteiro. Attendance: 346. Ref: L Evans.