BALA Town consolidated their top three position in the JD Cymru League as first half goals from Louis Robles and Chris Venables proved enough to secure a 2-1 victory over Newtown at Latham Park.

The Robins replied through Ian Sheridan’s second half header, but despite late pressure Colin Caton’s men held firm to stay on track for a guaranteed Europa League spot, if either Connah’s Quay or The New Saints win the Welsh Cup.

A bright start from Bala saw Louis Robles go one-on-one with keeper Dave Jones, but the keeper smothered the effort - but at the other end Newtown’s Alex Fletcher won a corner, which forced Bala custodian Josh Tibbetts into a save.

The hosts had a decent spell of pressure midway through the half, but Bala stood firm at the back and rode out the storm and begin to create opportunities themselves.

Henry Jones and Chris Venables linked up to set up Kieran Smith, but his strike was fired straight at Jones, and then Venables was denied at close range by Kieran Mills-Evans, before Henry Jones’ follow-up effort rattled the hosts’ post.

The Lakesiders’ perseverance paid off as they scored two goals in two minutes.

Ollie Shannon’s cross into the box caused the home defence problems, and Robles pounced to fire the loose ball into the far corner of the net on 32 minutes.

Then, from the restart, Henry Jones’ 30-yard effort deflected off Mills-Evans to Chris Venables, and he danced past keeper Jones to double the advantage.

Newtown came out with fresh impetus in the second half, with Sheridan firing wide from the edge of the box and Nick Rushton hit an effort over the bar.

At the other end Robles broke free and squared to Jones, who fired over, before a great team move saw Kieran Smith also put his chance went over the bar.

The Lakesiders did then manahe to get the ball into the net again in the 69th minute when Robles teed up Venables to slot home, but it was ruled offside.

Newtown broke forward and they halved the deficit on 72 minutes when Lifumpa Mwandwe delivered a ball into the area and Sheridan headed home.

The Robins forced a series of set-pieces, but Bala were able to clear, and Tibbetts made an excellent reaction save to keep out Alex Fletcher’s goalbound header.

The Lakesiders, however, held firm through five minutes of injury time, and the Robins’ frustration showed as referee Nick Pratt dismissed both Rushton and the substituted Sheridan for dissent.

NEWTOWN : D Jones, S McAllister (Matty Williams 86’), K Mills-Evans, R Edwards, N Mitchell, N Rushton, I Sheridan (G Harry 85’), J Kenton (L Mwandwe 63’), C Williams, A Fletcher, J Kelly. Subs: J Thorn, T Goodwin.

BALA TOWN: J Tibbetts, A Burns, S Smith, A Stephens, N Burke, H Jones (L Molyneux 86’), K Smith, L Robles (S Leslie 82’), L Mendes, O Shannon, C Venables. Subs not used: S Kelly, M Kondjo, H Lloyd.

Referee: N Pratt. Attendance: 222.