BALA Town lifted themselves up to third position in the JD Welsh Premier as a Steven Tames double sealed their third league win of the season in a 3-1 success over Llanelli at Maes Tegid.

The striker’s brace, either side of a goal from stand-in captain Nathan Burke, took his tally to five this term as the Lakesiders got their campaign back on track.

The Reds managed to pull one goal back through Chris Jones’ penalty around the hour, but their hopes were dented by the second half dismissals of Scott Tancock and Kurtis March.

Bala had enough chances to have emerged as more convincing winners, and manager Colin Caton admits there’s still room for improvement.

“I was disappointed with the way we started for the first 20 minutes, we looked flat, but as soon as we scored, we dominated the game,” he said.

“It was too easy at times, and we should have won by a lot more, but took the wrong options. We need to be more clinical. We let them back in after giving away a poor penalty, but in the end it was a good result.”

At a rainy Maes Tegid, the Lakesiders were eager to bounce back from their defeat at Newtown, and after a slow start, Anthony Miley headed over the crossbar from Henry Jones’ corner, and Sean Smith floated a freekick that was directed wide of goal.

Bala make the breakthrough on 20 minutes when Steven Tames broke down the left side and powerfully curled the ball into the far corner.

Two minutes later, Bala doubled their lead as Nathan Burke pounced on a loose ball and fired into the bottom corner of the goal from 18 yards.

Jones also fired wide from 20 yards, and Mike Hayes volleyed a great chance over the crossbar, but at the other end James Loveridge half volleyed wide of the upright for the Reds.

Hayes had a big penalty shout five minutes into the second period, but the referee booked him for diving, and then Llanelli were down to 10 men as Tancock picked up a second yellow for a foul on Henry Jones.

Jones fired over the bar and forced a save as Bala looked to press home their one-man advantage, but then Llanelli halved the deficit on the hour.

Chris Jones converted a spot kick, following a foul by keeper Ashley Morris, but Bala gave themselves some breathing space when Tames added his second on 72 minutes.

Llanelli finished with nine men after March was dismissed for his second caution, and Bala had a string of chances to add a third goal, with keeper Oliver Davies denying Tames a hat-trick when he burst through.

Sub Ian Sheridan, Hayes and Jones had chances as Bala finished strongly.

BALA: A Morris, A Burns, S Smith, A Miley, S J Jones, N Burke, H Jones, D Gosset (R Valentine 86 minutes), R Pearson, S Tames, M Hayes (I Sheridan 71’). Subs not used: V Charles (gk), J Edwards, J Jones, S Fisher, S Jones.

LLANELLI: O Davies, R Jones, C Smith, S Tancock, C Thomas, J Clark, K March, J Davies (J Jones 81 minutes), C Jones (R Islam Khaton 90’+1), M Jones, J Loveridge (J Follows 76’). Subs not used: K Rees (gk), A Nelson, L Evans, T Jenkins.

Attendance: 141. Referee: G Townsend.