BALA Town signed off the first phase of their JD Welsh Premier League campaign with a defeat as Cefn Druids came from behind to win 2-1 at Maes Tegid - but the visitors still missed out on a top six spot.

Louis Robles had given the Lakesiders the lead, but two goals from new Druids signing Jamie Reed secured three points for Huw Griffiths’ side, only to miss the cut by a single point to rivals Newtown.

Missed chances proved costly for Bala, as they were undone by an injury time winner for the second week in a row, leaving them five points adrift of second-placed rivals Connah’s Quay at the split.

Nathan Burke’s 30-yard strike soared over the woodwork, and Henry Jones’ curling effort was saved in a very promising start from Bala - and when an attack down the right was cleared into Louis Robles’ path, his effort was deflected away.

The chances continued to flow as a cross by Andy Burns into the penalty area was cleared, before Jones saw his bullet header palmed away by keeper Michael Jones, and Burns went down in the box, only to see his penalty claims waved away.

The deadlock was finally broken three minutes into the second half as Burns drilled the ball into the box and Robles’ header was pushed back into his path to fire in the rebound from four yards out.

Bala remained dominant and they should have been further ahead when a scramble on the line saw Jones and Chris Venables unable to take advantage of the ball bouncing around in the danger area.

Minutes later, Venables missed a teasing ball from Mendes, and a series of corner kicks then saw Mendes having a chance from distance, but it went over.

The Lakesiders were then made to pay for missed chances on 76 minutes as Reed got on the end of Naim Arsan’s cross and fired in from the edge of the six-yard box.

The Druids had their tails up and home keeper Josh Tibbetts was called into action as the Ancients pushed for a winner.

Then, in the 93rd minute, Reed got on the end of a long defensive clearance and slid the ball into the net from 18 yards, to dramatically steal victory for the visitors.

BALA: J Tibbetts, A Burns, S Smith, A Stephens, J Spittle, N Burke, H Jones (M Hayes 80’), K Smith (S Leslie 84’), L Robles, L Mendes (O Shannon 88’), C Venables. Subs not used: S Jones, L Molyneux, S Sullivan.

CEFN DRUIDS: M Jones, N Arsan, P Mooney, N Peate, J Davies (T Ofori 70’), A Simpson, R Howarth, S Edwards, H Brazel, C Edge, J Reed. Subs not used: T Reilly, H Fuller, D Evans. Attendance: 275. Referee: T Owen.