BALA Town’s campaign clicked up a gear as they registered a solid 2-0 win at their adopted home of Belle Vue, to end the four-match unbeaten run of Cefn Druids.

Mike Hayes opened the scoring for the Lakesiders midway through the first half, and Chris Venables netted his fourth goal in two matches to wrap up the three points six minutes into the second period.

After ther 5-1 midweek win at Flint in the Nathaniel MG Cup, Colin Caton’s men are looking back on track, and they will travel to face all-conquering The New Saints in determined mood this Saturday.

Ryan Edwards, Ryan Wade and Ian Sheridan came into the side for the hosts, with Kieran Smith, Mark Connolly and Lee Owens on the bench nursing injuries.

In the early stages Mike Pritchard drove an early low shot towards Bala keeper Alex Lynch, who also gathered Aaron Bowen’s tame effort minutes, but the Lakesiders kept composure and took control.

A cross by Anthony Stephens curled wide of the far post and Ian Sheridan went one on one with Michael Jones, but his lob was at a comfortable height for the keeper.

Mike Hayes came close to breaking the deadlock when Ryan Wade’s delivery arrived at his feet, but the forward couldn’t quite capitalise on the decent opportunity.

At the other end a goalbound strike from Aaron Bowen was headed clear by Conall Murtagh, but it was the Lakesiders who took a deserved lead on 23 minutes.

Ryan Edwards’ throughball picked out Hayes, and his strike deflected off the goalkeeper’s boot into the bottom corner.

Druids responded positively as Stephens and Nathan Burke cleared to safety, and Steve Blenkinsop forced Lynch to save.

Bala, however, nearly doubled their lead when Stephens was found unmarked, but directed his header just wide of the post.

Ryan Valentine then saw a shot dip inches over the crossbar, which was followed by a spectacular scissor volley from Wade, which nicked a deflection for a corner.

Then, when Hayes was bundled over by Adam Hesp, a powerful free-kick from Valentine rocketed just shy of the left post.

Bala carried on where they had left off at the start of the second period, and they doubled their advantage on 51 minutes.

Ian Sheridan delivered a pin-point ball to Hayes who drove into the box and played a perfect ball to an unmarked Venables, who had an easy job of slotting home.

The chances continued as Burke blazed a volley over from 25 yards, and Sheridan glanced the ball just over from close in.

At the other end, Kyle Parle saw a shot deflected away, and Jordan Barrow’s effort whistled just wide, but Bala’s backline held firm - and with Lynch pulling off a stunning reaction save, they registered their fourth clean sheet from six matches.

BALA TOWN: A Lynch, R Valentine, A Stephens, S Jones, C Murtagh, R Wade, R Edwards, N Burke, C Venables, I Sheridan, M Hayes. Subs not used: A Morris (gk), L Owens, S Fisher, M Connolly, K Smith.

CEFN DRUIDS: M Jones, K Parle, A Hesp, M Eckersley, J Barrow, M Cook, S Blenkinsop (S Cook 46), M Pritchard, A Bowen, J Phillips (G Partridge 46), A Ruane. Subs not used: D MacIntyre, F Hajdari, C Roper.

Attendance: 137. Referee: Huw Jones.