A LAST-GASP strike from Chris Venables got Bala Town’s Welsh Premier League campaign back on track as Cardiff Met were forced to surrender their unbeaten home record at the Cyncoed Stadium.

Mike Hayes gave the Lakesiders a 51st minute lead when he rounded keeper Will Fuller to fire into an empty net, but Elliot Evans got the students back on terms.

The match looked to be heading for a draw but, three minutes into stoppage time, Venables curled home the winner, to earn Colin Caton’s side a crucial victory.

“I thought the lads were absolutely tremendous today,” said the Bala manager.“Their work-rate and endeavour was fantastic, I couldn’t have asked for more.

“If we continue to work as hard as we did today, we’ll get the results we deserve.

“It was a very good team performance, we scored some good goals, and I thought we could have won more comfortably.”

After the frustrations of two heavy defeats - and a postponement - the Lakesiders started well, with Les Davies seeing his strike well saved by Fuller, and then firing another effort just wide of the post.

A decent ball from Jordan Evans then picked out an umarked Mike Hayes, but his header was placed wide of the target.

Met responded with some good spells of possession, but a Bala defence that had leaked nine goals in two games, kept tight.

The deadlock was broken on 54 minutes when a throughball by Venables found Hayes, who skipped past his marker, turned Fuller and fired into an empty net.

That lead was short-lived, however, as two minutes later Kyle McCarthy turned Lee Owens to fire a dangerous ball across the face of goal, and Elliot Evans found the pace to convert from five yards out.

Bala keeper Ashley Morris had to make a superb point-blank save to deny Chris Baker, but down the other end, Fuller palmed a low goalbound strike from Davies around the post, and collected a Davies header from Evans’ floated free-kick.

Hayes also saw his diving header go just inches wide of the far upright, and then Ian Sheridan pounced on a chance, but with only Fuller to beat, he blazed over.

Met pushed forward in the closing stages, and Baker had the ball in the net, but he was deemed offside, whilst Jordan Lam also curled an effort wide of Morris’ goal.

Bala’s resilience paid off in the fourth minute of injury time, however, as Venables, from the edge of the box, unleashed a fierce strike into the top corner for a goal that was worthy of winning any match.

CARDIFF MET: W Fuller, D Rees, K McCarthy, B Woolridge, E Lewis, B Bowler, E Evans, C Baker, D Spencer (H Owen 55’), C Corsby, J Lam. Subs not used: R Thomas, A James, J Barnett, R Morgan, D Evans (gk).

BALA TOWN: A Morris, S Jones, S J Jones, L Owens, C Venables, N Burke, J Evans, M Hayes, I Sheridan, G Rule (H Tanner 72’), L Davies (D Thompson 78’ [R Valentine 90’]). Subs not used: C Vernon (gk), W Bell.

Attendance: 152 Referee: Rob Jenkins.