BALA Town have been handed home advantage against Welsh League side Penybont in the fourth round of the JD Welsh Cup after the Lakesiders sailed through with a 6-1 home win over Caldicot Town.

The visitors had scored first at Maes Tegid through Matt James - but a Lee Hunt hat-trick settled Bala Town’s nerves and further goals from Mark Jones, Chris Venables and Mike Hayes sealed their win.

Colin Caton’s men will be relishing the visit of Penybont in January, but they will be taking nothing for granted against Rhys Griffiths’s side, who dumped Airbus UK Broughton out of the competition.

Against Welsh League outfit Caldicot, Bala came blazing out of the blocks with striker Hunt heading over the crossbar.

The visitors, however, took a shock lead on 17 minutes when a long throw by Ashley Palmer led to James heading home.

Bala were level within five minutes when a pin-point cross from John Irving saw Hunt connect perfectly with his head for his first goal of the afternoon.

Chris Venables’ curling shot hit the post, and although Alex Jarman forced a reaction save from home keeper Ashley Morris, that man Hunt again went close when he floated a header over the crossbar.

Bala continued to gold the upper hand and they finally took the lead on 44 minutes when Thompson’s cross led to Hunt directing his header into the bottom corner.

The Lakesiders then made it 3-1 two minutes into the second half when Hunt’s diving header rolled over the goal line, and there was to be no way back for the visitors.

Hunt also rattled the woodwork from 20 yards, Mike Hayes’ diving header hit the base of the post, and a Hayes’ strike hit the post again, as Bala took full control.

They extended their lead when a quick move down the left saw the ball delivered to substitute Mark Jones at the back post to score with his first touch on 73 minutes.

A low strike by Anthony Stephens then smashed the post from 30 yards and Venables slotted home, but he was deemed offside - but he did score from 10 yards after a pass from the left to make it 5-1.

The Lakesiders were in top gear and looking like scoring on every attack, and they extended their lead on 81 minutes with perhaps their best move of the game.

Ryan Valentine’s ball to Nathan Burke was quickly crossed in on a plate for Hayes, who had the simple job of tapping in from three yards for a 6-1 triumph.