BALA provided a Christmas cracker as they notched a superb 2-1 win at the Oval on Boxing Day, to remain third in the JD Cymru Premier table, just three points behind The New Saints.

After a goalless first half, Chris Venables nodded the Lakesiders in front, and although Jamie Breese equalised with just eight minutes to go, Venables struck again two minutes from time to make it six wins in seven for Colin Caton’s side.

In front of an 800-strong crowd, Daniel Brookwell fired over from the edge of the box for the hosts, before a quick break by Bala deemed Louis Robles to be offside.

Lassana Mendes’ delivery arrived to an unmarked Louis Robles, but his diving header was cleared by Alex Ramsey, and Venables drove down the right wing and found Henry Jones, but he blazed wide.

The hosts should have been ahead as Brookwell’s strike rattled the bar, but Bala’s Anthony Stephens headed wide from a corner, and Sean Smith put in a teasing ball for Robles, but he headed over.

After the half-time interval, Mendes saw his shot go narrowly wide of the target, and Andrew Burns was brought down in the box, only to see his claims for a penalty be waved away by the referee.

Then, just before the hour, the Lakesiders finally made the breakthrough as Robles’ floating delivery picked out Venables and he strongly headed home a well-deserved goal.

Jones was then played through with an impressive ball by Venables, but his lob from 25 yards went just wide of the post, and the hosts were still in the game.

Yet, Caernarfon upped the pressure late on and when Leo Smith’s struck the bar from 25 yards, Gruffydd John’s follow-up was saved, but Breese tucked home.

Their joy was shortlived, however, as Mendes set up Venables, who weaved past three defenders and powered an effort through Ramsey’s legs to make it 2-1.

CAERNARFON: A Ramsay, N Craig, D Thomas, D Brookwell, G John, B Clark, R Williams, S Cavanagh (G Evans 81’), S Bradley (J Breese 69’), C Jones (S Jones 81’), L Smith. Subs: O Goulding, J Williams, A Williams.

BALA TOWN: J Tibbetts, A Burns, S Smith, A Stephens, J Spittle, N Burke, H Jones (M Hayes 86’), K Smith, L Robles (S Leslie 75’), L Mendes, C Venables. Subs not used: A Morris (gk), S Jones, L Molyneux, S Sullivan.Attendance: 842.